Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c9.27

c9.27

*Defences.* The provincial defences were well organized. The approaches to the Province were protected by the frontier pickets under the Warden of the Frontiers called *Antapāla* (*Janapada-dvārān-yantapālādhishṭhitāni sthāpayet*), while the interior was protected and policed by a special staff recruited from deer-trappers, Śabaras (‘born of Śūdra father and Bhil mother’), Pulindas (‘born of Nishṭaya or Mlechchha father and Kirāta mother’), Chaṇḍālas and Foresters (*teshāmantarāṇi Vāgurika-Śabara-Pulinda-Chaṇḍālāraṇyacharāḥ raksheyuḥ*). In the four extremities of the Province [II. 3] (*chaturdiśaṁ janapadānte samparāyikaṁ daivakṛitaṁ durgaṁ kārayet*; again [II. 1]: *Anteshvantapāla-durgāṇi*) were constructed four forts which utilized the natural fortifications afforded by water or mountain, desert or forest (*nadī-parvatadurgaṁ janapadā-rakshasthānaṁ dhānvanavanadurgaṁ*).