History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.458.1

v4.c62.458.1

The Āśramavāsikaparva²⁶³ (7. 7-8) names five kinds (except *amitra*) and states that maula and mitra armies are superior to the rest and hired troops and śreṇi troops are each other's equals. This division of armies into various kinds is mentioned in the grant of Dhruvasena I of Valabhī in Gupta-Valabhī year 206 (E. I. vol. XI. p. 106, where the king is said to have acquired the kingdom with the help of maula, bhṛta, mitra and śreṇi armies). Mānasollāsa defines the āṭavika²⁶⁴ army as consisting of *niṣādas*, *mlecchas* and similar castes dwelling in the vicinity of mountains and *amitra* troops as soldiers who once belonged to an enemy king but being defeated were taken captive and made slaves. According to the Rājanītiratnākara (p. 38) 'aribala' means 'troops that come to a king after leaving the king's enemy'. Kām. XVIII. 7 says that the āṭavika troops are, by nature, irreligious, greedy, *anāryas* and non-observers of truth. They correspond to the *pendharis* and freebooters of later times. The reasons why hereditary and other troops are superior to amitra and āṭavika varieties are explained at great length by Kauṭ. IX. 2 and Kām. XVIII. 5-9. Kauṭ. (IX. 2) states that an *amitra* army led by an ārya is superior to wild tribe troops. Both of them are out for plunder and in case no plunder can be had or when there is a disaster they may prove as dangerous as snakes.