War in Ancient India c8.s1.29

c8.s1.29

It is pertinent to ask whether the Commander-in-Chief was a permanent officer of the State, or was appointed whenever a war broke out and held office to the end of that campaign. Evidence is in favour of both. Bhīṣma and Dhṛṣṭadyumna, generalissimos respectively of the Kaurava and Pāṇḍava hosts, were appointed by the war council on the eve of the Kurukṣetra battle and relinquished their offices after the campaign was over. But Kauṭalya makes him a permanent officer on a pay of 48,000 paṇas. This shows that both practices were in vogue in ancient India.