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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.t4: Infantry

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.t4

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English

Infantry

c8.t4.1

The foot-soldier (*pāyatta*) constituted the main portion of the army. Kauṭilya classifies them as regulars (*maula*), hired soldiers (*bhṛta*), those supplied by fighting corporations (*śreṇī*), those recruited from the enemies' country, those recruited from the country of an ally, and lastly, those recruited from amongst wild tribes.⁴⁰

c8.t4.2

⁴⁰ *Arthaśāstra*, p 156 ⁴¹ *Ovā*, 31, p 132. ⁴² *Vivā*, 2, p. 13. ⁴³ *Ovā sū.*, 29 ⁴⁴ *Niryā.* 1. ⁴⁵ *Nāyā*, 8, p 97 ff A *dūta* ought not to be slain (*Arthaśāstra*, p. 30) ; for qualifications of a *dūta*, see Manu (VII, 64 f). ⁴⁶ 3, p 93 The *Arthaśāstra* (p 309) refers to three kinds of warfare, *viz*., open, treacherous and silent (*i.e.*, killing an enemy by employing spies when there is no talk of battle at all) ; also see p. 156. ⁴⁷ *cf. Nāyā*, 8, p. 111 ; 16, p.

c8.t4.3

The foot-soldiers carried various weapons noticeable among them being swords, javelins, spears and bows.⁴¹ They were clad in mail-coats in order to protect themselves from the attacks of the sharp arrows and other missiles (*sannaddhabaddhavammīyakavaya*).⁴²

c8.t4.4

The whole army administration was under the control of the commander-in-chief (*balavāuya*) also known as *senāvai*.⁴³ It was his duty to attend to the training and efficient organisation of the army and the enforcement of proper discipline among the soldiers.

c8.t4.5

II

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