War in Ancient India c9.s1.t1.7

c9.s1.t1.7

The Nāyaka led the army while the Senāpati guarded the rear. If the road on the route of the march was sufficiently broad, it was recommended that the front ranks should march in a crocodile-like (makara) order, and the rear in a cart-like order, both flanks marching in a diamond-like array. But if the march lay through a narrow path, the army was to move in pin-like (sūci) order. These, in modern literature, are explained as perpendicular and parallel or flank marches. The march was undertaken only after the roads had been examined and cleared of thorns and shrubs.¹⁰ Conditions then were quite different from what they are to-day. Even on the march the army went arranged in battle order. This was undoubtedly in order to meet a sudden attack. It might be that the enemy would make a surprise attack on the route; and if the army marched with no order or in an irregular order, it would not be possible to face the enemy effectively.