The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s5.45

c2.s5.45

∗ v. 151. 50 ff. In the abstract of this portion of my paper as already reported (Proceedings, May, 1887), I have suggested that the Manavic orders of march really refer to battle-arrays. They do, but I should have put the case differently. What is described in the Manavic code is a series of battle-arrays and at the same time of march-arrays. In other words, the law-book implies that, from the time the king leaves his capital, he shall draw out his forces in full preparation for conflict. Thinking of long marches, I overlooked this possibility, and was thence led to believe that the ‘battle-arrays’ of the code were only for the field of conflict with instant prospect of fighting. And in fact the fighting is supposed to be immediate. All is here described as on a battlefield. Hence an imminent foe must be intended, and the ‘march’ is from its beginning an advance against a possibly instantaneous attack. *Vyūha* is, I think, not used for a long march. *Senāyoga* or *yātrā* is the proper term for that (or *yātrikam*, xii. 100. 10; 69. 20; 103, 40). Thus, in v. 151. 56, we find an irregular body of the Pāndus advancing (*prayātānām*) toward Kurukshetra, their only care being to keep the king in the middle. But when they arrive on the field, they are spread out at once in a *vyūha*, which is not the case before (*āsādya tu kurukṣetram vyūdhānīkāḥ prahāriṇaḥ, pāṇḍavaḥ samadṛçyanta nardanto vṛṣabhā iva*, so in xv. 7. 12 ff. the king is first to march (*yātrāṃ gacchet*), and then to set his army before the foe in proper order, using the ‘wagon,’ ‘lily,’ or ‘thunderbolt’ array, as explained by Uçanas. Compare also R. ii. 90. 12, 19; 87. 1, 4, where the general-in-chief goes in advance on a march; and roadmakers, ditch-diggers, machine-makers, etc., etc., go before the army to facilitate the journey. I said that *mārga* was manœuvre in the Manavic passage. I was wrong; it is the route; used as e. g. the word appears in the story of Rāma, Mbh. iii. 283. 40; 291. 60, and in R. ii. 90. 32, *çāstradṛṣṭena mārgeṇa*. But here, too, the route is taken by the army arranged as if for battle; for such is the meaning of the following words: *bṛhaspatinayena ca*, ‘according to the rule of Bṛhaspati’ (explained below).