10. The Army (fourfold classification)

On account of her peculiar geographical features, 58 the ancient Indian state had to make an extensive use of mounted The forces which comprised cavalry, chariots and elephants.59 Brahma-Purana mentions the classical fourfold army constituting of chariots, elephants, horses and infantry, collectively known as the caturangabala. The Indradyumna was well-equipped with elephants, horses, chariots and foot-soldiers (43.24). The armies of Kalayavana (196.7) and RkmI (199.10) also constituted Dikshitar V.R.R., War in Ancient India, P.326. 56 57 58 59 Kantawala S.C., Op.Cit.,Vide also Dikshitar, Op.Cit.,PP. 325-331. For the influence of geography on the Indian wars, see Ray H.C.- Notes on war in ancient India, Journal of the Department of Letters, 1927. Dikshitar, Op.Cit., P. 155.

1095 of the same forces. The king Ila is said to have established a city with a caturanga army in the Dandaka-forest (108.117-118). 61 Chariots:- Chariots were used in the war from very remote times.60 A chariot was an important apparatus of war, and it attracted the minds of warriors of, all leading nations of the world. All the well-known warriors of ancient India, with few exceptions, were chariot fighters and belonged to the high military nobility, forming a distinct section of their own, apart from the rank and file. The Brahma Purana also alludes to chariots many a times. Indra had given a chariot to Yayati. It was very shining and divine horses were yoked to it. Yayati conquered the whole world, gods and demons within six nights with the help of this chariot. The chariot was the cherished possession of the Pauravas till the time of Janamejaya who lost it, because of a curse of Gargya to Vasu, the king of Cedi country. From him it passed to Brhadratha and when Jarasandha, a descendant of Brhadratha was killed by Bhima, krsna, got it from him 62 King Jyamagha used a chariot in his victorious campaigns (15.14-17). Lord krsna pursued king Satadhanva in a chariot (17.12-17). Lord Parasurama pulled down Arjuna Kartavirya 60 Dikshitar, Op.Cit., PP.157-166; Chakravarti, P.C., The art of war in Ancient India, PP. 22-32. 61 Date G.T., Op.Cit., P. 46. 62 12.6-24; vide also Patil D.R., Cultural History from the Vayu-Purana, P. 102.

1096 from his chariot and cut his thousand hands (213.116). This shining chariot of king Kartavirya had the lustre of Sun and with its held he had conquered the whole world (13.171-177). The chariots in the army of king Indradyumna were like aeroplanes and they were decorated by the banners (44.17). When Candra manifested from Atri, Brahma carried him on his chariot and they travelled together round the whole earth for 21 times (9.4-14). Elephants:- The next important force of war consisted From very early times the elephant was used in 63 of elephants. peace as a vehicle and in war as a combatant. Four-toothed elephants were considered to be excellent. Lord krsna sent 6,000 four-toothed elephants to Dwarka when he conquered Prag jyotispura (201.32). The Brahma Purana further describes elephants as those belonging to Himalaya, as big as mountains, being terrible and intoxicated and decorated with banners and bells. The Brahma Purana further alludes to persons who were experts in elephant fights (44.19,20).sxxak Cavalry:- The third division of the army common to both east and west was cavalry. Horse-riding was known as early as the vedic age but there is no satisfactory record of the use of 63 For details regarding elephants, vide Dikshitar, Op.Cit. PP. 166-174; Chakravati, Op. cit., PP. 47-54, Date, Op.Cit., PP. 49-51.

1097 cavalry in battles of that period.64 The Brahma Purana frequently refers to horses. In the fight between Bhoja Satadhanvan and krsna, the former was riding a more capable of covering a hundred yojanas at a stretch. This mare had the name Hrdaya. The animal, however, died through fatigue.. Krsna who was pursuing Satadhanvan, came to know of the fate of the mare. got down from the chariot, continued his pursuit and afterwards killed Satadhanvan.65 The horses of Kamboja and Gandhara He Lord krsna (13.151) countries were considered to be excellent. sent twenty one lakh horses of Kamboja country to Dwarka when he conquered the city Pragjyotispura (202.16-12). The Asuras used horses (213.91) and the horses of king Indradyumna were as swift as wind (44.18). E Infantry:- The next important division of the army was infantry. Originally chariots and elephants were mostly. used for warfare but with the march of time, the nation came to be entertained that the more numerically strong the army, the greater were the possibilities of its success. The Brahma Purana states that there were innumerable foot-soldiers in the army of king Indradyumna. They held bows, Parasu and swords in their 66 hands and were very brave and enthusiastic, 65 17.12-17; Patil D.R., Op.Cit., P.101. They decorated 66 Dikshitar, Op.Cit., PP.179-204; Chakravarti, Op.Cit.,PP.15-18.

1098 themselves with garlands and fragrant ointments (44.10-12). 67 Besides the caturanga army, the Brahma Purana alludes to Aksauhini army. According to the Udyogaparvan, 500 elephants, 500 charlots, 1500 cavalry and 2500 foot soldiers constitute a sena and 10 senas = prtana, 10 prtanas = 1 vahini, 10 vahinis = dhvajini, 10 dhvajinis camu, 10 camus = aksauhini. The Brahma Purana states that king Jarasandha had twenty three aksauhini armies (105.3). When the earth was oppressed by the burden of many demons and their armies consisting of Aksauhinis, she approached lord Visnu and asked him to take birth to relieve her (180.10-12) and lord krsna freed her from her burden by killing the Aksauhini armies (210.2).