History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.458.3

v4.c62.458.3

D.) Bhaṭārka, the founder of the Valabhi dynasty, is said to have secured the kingdom with the help of maula, bhṛta, mitra and śreṇi troops (Gupta Inscriptions p. 165). Śukra (II. 137-139) says that the soldiers may be śūdras, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, mlecchas or of mixed castes, provided they are brave, restrained, well-built, devoted to their master and their dharma, and hate the enemy. Śānti (101. 3-5) describes in what respects soldiers from Gāndhāra, Sindhu and other countries and Yavanas and Deccan soldiers excel, remarks that brave and strong men are to be found everywhere (verse 6) and that men from the border (i. e. *bhillus* and *kaivartas* according to Nīlakaṇṭha) are desperate fighters, would never run away from battle and so should be preferred for enlistment in the army (verse 19). The Yaśastilaka III (pp. 461-467) describes the characteristics of Northern Indian (auttarāpatha), Deccan (dākṣiṇātya), Dramila (South Indian), Tirhut (Tairabhukta) and Gurjara soldiers. An army was said to be composed of four parts, viz. elephants, horses, chariots and foot-soldiers (caturaṅga bala). Kām. XVIII. 24 says that *bala* is sixfold, viz. the four sections of infantry, cavalry, chariots and elephants together with *mantra* (line of policy) and kośa (treasury). In Śānti. 103. 38 the army is said to have six aṅgas (the well-known four plus kośa and roads for traffic). According to Kauṭilya (II. 2, VII. 11) and Kām. XIX.