[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947) › c8.t4 # 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 - **Language:** English ### Infantry ### [c8.t4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.c8.t4.5) II ## Cites (3) - [Mānava Dharmaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.manu.7.64) — Manu & Bhṛgu, Sanskrit - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.c8.t4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.c8.t4) · Pramāṇa