The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s5.768

c2.s5.768

Priests join the regular eulogists in praising the king (xii. 38. 12), as do all the people (iii. 257.1): such praises being of course cries of congratulation, not songs with music, and being also common on the battlefield. Thus, as the troops draw out at dawn, the king is praised ‘with wishes for victory’: though even here we also find to the same end the singing of ‘triumphant war-verses’;* but as a general thing the battlefield praises are confined to ‘hopes of good luck and wishes for a good day’ (*jayāçis, puṇyāha*) chanted by heralds and Māgadhas.†