War in Ancient India c8.s1.t1.1

c8.s1.t1.1

The schedule of military officers was, by no means uniform. According to one calculation the Pattipāla was the leader of 5 or 6 foot-soldiers. The Gaulmika was the head of thirty footmen. Both these officials also supervised watchmen especially on night duty. Both Śatānīka and Anuśatika are said to be leaders of one hundred warriors. The Anuśatika must have been an intermediary official between the Śatānīka and the Gaulmika. Sahasrānīka was the officer in charge of 1,000 foot-soldiers, and Ayuktika of 10,000 warriors. All these officers belonged to the infantry corps. The Śatānīka had the additional function of drilling soldiers in military exercises both in the morning and in the evening.⁷⁶ According to the Śukranīti the Nāyaka was in charge of twenty elephants or twenty horses. All the officials were distinguished by appropriate uniforms.