Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c3.86

c3.86

reference to elephants turning the scale of victory, which is to be compared with Kauṭilya’s हस्तिप्रमाणं विजयो राज्ञाम् [II, ii, 20]; his reference to “exercising the body by friction” is supported by the duties of the संवाहक, as mentioned in the chapter on आत्मरक्षितकम् [Bk. I]; that about “the care of the king’s person being entrusted to women” is supported by the chapters on आत्मरक्षितकम् [Bk. I] and स्त्र्यध्यक्ष [Bk. II]. His observation that “the king may not sleep during the day-time” is supported by the account of the king’s daily duties in chapter राजप्रणिधिः [Bk. I]; that about “the guard of armed women” by Chāṇakya’s जीवदैः वनिभिः of chapter आत्मरक्षितकं [Bk. I]; that about “enclosures” for the king’s hunting may be compared with मृगवनं विहारार्थं राज्ञः कारयेत् as referred to in the chapter भूमिच्छिद्रविधानं [Bk. II]. The reference about the king’s processions being very well guarded finds its parallel in what Kauṭilya says about them towards the end of the chapter on आत्मरक्षितकम्.¹ Women attendants of the king, on chariots, as mentioned by Megasthenes, are also mentioned by Kauṭilya in his chapter on मविकाध्यक्ष: [Bk. II]. The reference about “houses being left unguarded” as contained in Megasthenes is perhaps connected with the custom mentioned in the *Arthaśāstra* of leaving some parts of every house [“अपिगृहमास्य”] open for all [III, viii, 61]. The mention by Megasthenes of the marriage dowry of “a yoke of oxen” corresponds to Kauṭilya’s गोमिथुनादावा- दार्तः [III, ii, 59]. The practice of the Admiralty “letting out ships on hire for transport of passengers and merchandise” is also referred to in the chapter on नावध्यक्ष. Overseers as a class of officials as mentioned by Megasthenes correspond to the *chāras* of the *Arthaśāstra* about whom so much has been said in its several chapters. Megasthenes’ reference to horses and elephants with persons specially “appointed to take care of them” is amply borne out by the chapters अश्वध्यक्ष and हस्त्यध्यक्ष as indicated above. The reference of Megasthenes to the *Royal Road* from east to west is corroborated by the accounts of roads in the *Arthaśāstra* [VII, xii, 116] in which roads leading to the Himalayas [हिमवत:] and to the west [पूर्वपश्चिम वणिक्पथ:] are specifically mentioned. The precautions against fire as detailed in the *Arthaśāstra* [II, xxxvi, 56, and IV, ii, 78], where ten different remedies are laid down [दशमूलौषधम्] for universal use of householders, as also the municipal regulations by virtue of which, in all the principal roads of a city and in front of royal buildings, vessels filled with water were kept; which forbade building straw houses in the city, and confined those who worked with fire, e.g. blacksmiths, to isolated parts of the city: all these have really a reference to the wooden architecture prevalent in the period as indicated in the chapter on दुर्गविधानं [Bk. II] and also mentioned by Megasthenes [Frag. xxvi].