Local Government in Ancient India c13.128.2

c13.128.2

In the discussion of the comparative gravity of the various sources of trouble to the king, that created by a refractory assembly is considered along with that created by rebellious chiefs. Kauṭilya cites the opinion of the previous Ācāryas that the *śreṇī* on account of its numerical strength (*bāhulyāt*) is more difficult to be subdued than individual recalcitrant chiefs. Kauṭilya, however, dissents from this view, for he holds that the fortunes of the assembly are vitally bound up with those of the king, and hence they cannot stand out long against him, while they may also be subdued by arresting either their leaders (*gaṇamukhyas*) or a section of the assembly (VIII. iv). In another place (IX. ii) Kauṭilya mentions the *śreṇī* as a source of recruitment for the army, and the army thus formed is called *śreṇī-bala*. The soldiers supplied by the *śreṇī* are even spoken of as worthy of being trusted both for offensive and defensive purposes. They are led by their special commander called *śreṇīmukhya* who is paid a salary equal to that of the commanders of the elephant force, the cavalry, the chariots and the *pradeṣṭāraḥ* (the Divisional Commissioners), and sufficient to command a good following (V. iii). The military strength of the guild is also referred to in the *Mahābhārata* in some of the passages already cited. The power of the corporations is regarded as being equal to that of the king's standing or mercenary army.