History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.467.2

v4.c62.467.2

Chariots of great warriors were drawn by four horses e. g. Ādi. 198. 15, Udyoga 48. 50, Droṇa 145. 81. Udyoga 83. 15-21 describe the chariot of Kṛṣṇa and Udyoga 140. 21 states that chariots had small tinkling bells attached to them and also screens of tiger-skin. The Ṛg. contains very graphic descriptions of chariots. Chariots were generally drawn by two horses in the vedic age (Ṛg. V. 30. 1, V. 36. 5, VI. 23. 1) and had two wheels, but the chariot of the Aśvins is described as having three wheels ( Ṛg. I. 118. 2, I. 157. 3, X. 41. 1 ). Ghaṭotkaca, however, had eight wheels to his chariot ( Droṇa 156. 61, 175. 13 ). The Śukranītisāra (II. 140-148) mentions another method of grouping the army. Five or six foot-soldiers made a *patti* over which there was an officer called *pattipa*, over 30 pattipālas there was the gaulmika, over 100 gaulmikas was the officer called śatānīka, who had as his assistants an officer called anuśatika, a senānī and a lekhaka (scribe); the officer over twenty elephants or horses was called *nāyaka* (compare modern "naik"). Each of these officers should have a distinctive badge indicative of their position. Ayodhyā 100. 32 (=Sabhā 5. 48) asks: 'I hope you give at the proper time pay and rations to your soldiers according to their deserts and do not delay payment'. Both Nār. (sambhūya-22) and Bṛ. state that among persons who work for hire the best is the soldier. The Mānasollāsa (II. 6. 566-569 p.