History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.454

v4.c62.454

Bala is also called *daṇḍa* in Kauṭ. and elsewhere. According to Sumantu daṇḍa means 'punishment, corporal or monetary' and the army with its four arms is included by Sumantu under kośa (acc. to S. V. p. 46).²⁶⁰ In the Ṛgveda we have frequent references to armies, weapons, battles &c. The word *senānī* occurs in Ṛg. X. 84. 2 where *Manyu* (martial Fury) is invoked to be the Commander.²⁶¹ Ṛg. VI. 75 is full of references to bows, arrows, armour, bow-strings, quiver, charioteer, horses, chariots &c. Kām. (XIII. 34-37) states that the king possessed of a sound financial position increases his depleted army, supports his own subjects and is depended upon even by his enemies. All the following result from the possession of a (powerful) army viz. increase of the wealth of one's friends and enemies and of the (king's) territories, prompt attainment of objects that seemed distant, protection of what is already secured, destruction of the armies of the enemy, the keeping together of one's army. Most authorities agree in saying that troops are of six kinds viz. *maula* (hereditary), *bhṛta* or *bhṛtaka* or *bhṛtya* (hired troops), *śreṇī* (guild troops), *mitra* (troops of an ally or friendly power or feudatories), *amitra* (troops that once belonged to the enemy), *aṭavī* or *āṭavika* (wild tribes as troops). Vide Kauṭ.²⁶² IX. 2 (first sentence), Kām. XVIII. 4, Agnipurāṇa 242. 1-2, Mānasollāsa (II. 6, verse 556 p. 76). The first three works say that each earlier variety of troops is superior to each later one. *Maula* troops corresponded to the modern standing army, since Kauṭ. (IX. 2) prefers them on the ground that they depend on the king for maintenance and are being constantly drilled. They most probably consisted of persons who and whose ancestors got tax-free lands in lieu of military service. The Sabhāparva 5. 63 appears to refer to four kinds (omitting śreṇi and amitra) and Yuddhakāṇḍa 17. 24 refers to five (omitting śreṇi).