2.6. Element of the Fort and Army (Durga and Bala)

The next elements of the State are Fort and Army. The defence of the State is based on the forts (Durgas) and the army (Bala). These two are among the seven prakrtis or constituents of the State. of these two, durga is more important and is placed earlier than army in the list of prakrtis. It represents the fortified capital of the state, where the King, if hard pressed by a strong enemy, can entrench himself and withstand a siege over a long period, during which diplomatic moves can be made to ease the enemy's pressure and avert a calamity. The army, it is true, can be used for offence as well as for defence, but if it is defeated, the king becomes altogether helpless and is at the mercy of the enemy. Somesvara's great military achievements would not have been possible without extensive preparation and planning. Manasollasa gives details regarding his efforts to build a mighty army, to put his treasury on a sound

59 basis, and to organise an efficient system of espionage. The rulers of the Calukyas had good fighting forces to protect their kingdoms. The next recommends a series of posts along the frontier, each in charge of an antapala. In particular, there are to be four posts in the four principal directions, which are to serve as gates of entry into the State. The frontier posts, it seems, are to be some kind of natural fastnesses, not regular forts built by man. Four types of impregnable places are mentioned, with protection secured by water, mountain, desert and forest. The army consisted of infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots. 57 in the State is at the capital city. The principal fort Full details are given about the construction of the forts in Manasollasa. 58 There are nine types of Forts or Durgas. Giri-durga and Jala-durga are most powerful.59 57. Since the fort is a place 1 idrk caturbalam vidvan yuddhaya vijitasramah | kuryadatandrito raja satru samharanodyatah || 2.6.684. 58. jaladurga giridurgam durga pasananirmitam | istikabhih krtam durga durgam syanmrttikamayam || vanadurga masdurgam durgam daruvinirmitam | naradurga ca navamam tesam vaksyami laksanam || 2.3.541-542. 59. etesamuttamam durgam girijam jalajam tatha | madhyamanitaranyahuh kanistha syacca darujam || 2.2.549. - matsyapurana 217.6 - 7. tatra durga nrpah kuryat sannamekatamam budhah | dhanu-durga mahi-durgam naradurgam tathaiva ca || varksya caivambudurgam ca giridurgam ca parthiva | sarvesameva durganam giridurgam prasasyate ||

6 Q of shelter, in which one may have to remain entrenched over a long period, it is stated that the fort should have plenty of supplies stored in it and that there should Manu says 60 also be secret means of escaping from it in case of need. about Durga: "One bow man, placed on a rampart, is a match in battle for one hundred foes, one hundred for ten thousand; hence it is prescribed in the Sastras that a king shall possess a fortress." The Manasollasa vividly shows how attentive Somesvara was to the precepts of statecraft. It states that if the armies of the feudatory chiefs could make the king strong, he would be far stronger if he himself possessed a powerful army. Determined to build such an army, Somesvara, set about taking stock of things. Somesvara clearly realised that dependence upon feudatory chiefs was not good, and that the king must have a large independent force under his direct control. This realisation led to some important changes in the system of military administration. strong central army enabled him to take independent decisions and pursue his policies effectively. A 60. manusmrti 7.74. ekah satam yodhayati prakarastho dhanurdharah | satam dasasahastrani tasmad durgam vidhiyate || ||

61 Somesvara was shrewd enough to realise that regular payments to the army personnel was essential for a wellorgandised, disciplined, and strong army. He, therefore, arranged for regular payments. He appointed suitable men to various assignments for the army. Having consolidated his forces, he made significant observation regularly. 62 Everywhere a soldier puts forth his best efforts not so much for the prospect of monetary gain as for the honour expected from his master. The soldiers should be ready to lay down their lives to save their king on the battle-field. All the same, a ruler should be careful and punctual in paying his forces. "what is the use of a cloud which does not rain in time?"63 61. bhrtyanam vaitanam dadyat yathakalamatandritah | pratyaham pratimasam va mastrayamathapi va || 2.6.568. 62. pratyaham viksanam karyamalubdhairatmapurusaih | 630 paksa paksa svayam pasyed vetanairvidhrtan bhatan || 2.6.570. somadevasya nitivakyamrta 214.15. tavaddeyam yavadasritah sampurnatamapnuvanti | kim tena jaladena yah kale na varsati ||

62 From another point of view the troops are said to be 64 of six kinds: Maulabala, Bhrtyabala, Mitrabala, srenibala, Atavibala, and Amitrabala. The nature and works of these is assumed to be well-known. Of these, the Maulabala appears to refer to the standing army of the State, recruited from families of hereditary soldiers, loyal 65 to the ruling dynasty. The word Maula is derived from mula, which often refers to the native land, the base from which the Vijigisu starts on an expedition of conquest. Primarily then the expression means native force. However, the Bhrtyabala is also recruited from the natives of the land. The difference appears to consist in this that they do not form a standing army, but are recruited for a particular occasion. The Bhrtyabala is naturally regarded as inferior to the Maulabala. The troops of an ally which come to join in an expedition or to help in defence are the Mitrabala, while troops belonging to some enemy, either conquered, borrowed, 64. maulam bhrtyam tatha maitram srenamatavikam balam | amitramaparam sastham saptamam nopalabhyate || 2.6.556. mahabharata - asramavasika parva 7.7. adadita balam raja maulam mitram balam tatha | atavibalam bhrtam caiva tatha srenibalam prabho || 65. vamsakramagatam maulam bhrtyam dravinadanatah | maitrikaranato maitram sresthametad balatrayam || 2.4.557.

63 hired or purchased from him, constitute the Amitrabala. Srenibala appears to differ from the Bhrtyabala in that it is organised in bands, each under its own srenimukhya, whereas in the latter each soldier is recruited individually. Atavikabala refers to forest tribes such as --Sabaras, Pulindas and others. These are under their own chiefs. " The loyalty of the troops is of utmost importance and therefore it is recommended that they should be under the constant surveillance of spies, prostitutes, artisans, actors and singers in secret service, besides being under the watchful eye of senior army officers. The importance of the training of the armed forces is naturally emphasised. There is to be practice of the fighting arts every day except on holidays and the king is to carry out an inspection of the various units and their fighting qualities at frequent intervals. There is a very detailed classification of weapons in the Manasollasa. Description of weapons in such works 66 as the Yuktikalpataru of Bhoja, show little or no affinity 66. bhojaraja viracitah yuktikalpataru pr . 139. Q.139. dandasadhyam yato rajyam sa dandah sastra samsritah | kramat BRATIM HRHYTMTAi fascy-a aa: puta || 27 || astrani bhumipalanam

64 with the contents of this second chapter. Manasollasa mentions a large number of Yantras and Ayudhas of which there is no trace in the other works. The Manasollasa contains many details about the care of weapons and the training of horses and elephants. This is a subject dealt with at great length in this text, which claims to be based on the teaching of the founders of the Asvasastra and the Hastisastra, namely, Salihotra of Nakula and Palakapaya respectively. A comparison with these works again shows that the Manasollasa is based on different traditions. For example, the Asvacikitsa of Nakula mentions rajika, Kharasana, Kekana, sindhupura, and so on as types of horses in accordance with the place of their origin. The Manasollasa knows the horses from Yavanadesa and 67 Kamboja. 68 Nakula tells about Yavanadesa horses. According to somesvara Podhara, Kandaleya, Yaudheya, Vajapeya, Vanayaja, and Parasika types of horses are very 67. saindhavairyavanodbhutaih kamboja prabhavairapi | siksitairbahubhirvahi samyuktam balamuttamam || 26.573. 68. nakulasya asvasastram . kulalaksanadhyayah - carunayannakapolastanuhanu- vakrasturamgamah sastah | yavanasturaga vipulah prthughanavaksolalatanayana syuh || dirghah sukustikah sukhara laghukramah sastah | priyadarsanah suvarnah spastayatatanumahakayah | tejah sattvopetah tanutvacascapi suksmaromanah ||

65 69 important. The Arthasastra of Kautilya knows only the horses from Sindhu, but refers to other types like Kambojaka, 70 Arattaja, Bahlika etc. Horses are praised for their utility in war and mention is made of various characteristics of efficient chargers. Particularly good are the well-trained ones with well-proportioned, symmetrical and Good horses have large foreheads, mouths compact limbs. depressed on the outside, smooth skins, stout shoulders, 71 long legs, broad backs, and lean bellies. Their colours are like those of pearls, or blue lotuses, or gold, or filaments of flowers, or collyrium, or bees or the rising sun, or Asoka flowers, or parrots. The neighing of good horses is deep like the trumpeting of elephants, or the roar of lions, or the bellowing of oxen, or like the sound of trumpets, drums or clouds. The smell of good horses is like that of red lotuses, blue lotuses or Malati flowers. These are some of the characteristics of good horses. 69. paudharah kandaleyasca yaudheya vajapeyakah | vanayujah parasikah sadete cottama hayah || 4.4.670. 70. kautilya arthasastra - 2.30.29. 71. somadevasya yasastilakah - 2.203. visalabhala bahiranatasyah suksmatvacah pivarabahudesah | sudirghajanghah prthuprstamadhyastanudarah kamakrtasturangah ||

66 Like horses, elephants are also praised for their utility in war, and mention is made of various characteristics of efficient elephants. Manasollasa refers to the origin of elephants from Brahman, Prajapati, Indra, Kubera, Varuna, Candra, Agni, Visnu, and so on, or from the eight quarter-elephants (diggajas). They also classify elephants as Devansa, Gandharvasa, Brahmanasa, Ksatriyamsa, Sudramsa, Raksasamsa, etc. according to their sattva. (2.3.221-281). 72 72. prabadhya kumjaran raja tesam laksanamuttamam | anukamamsakam sattvam kulam samyag vicarayet || 2.3.221. susnigdhau radanau vrttau daksinasca samunnatah | akrstam talu tamram ca dasastau nakharah subhah || apandu maihanam sastam valayuktaca valadhih | acchidri vistrtau karnau madhupingavilocane || brmhitam meghagambhiram lohitam puskaram varam | anguli vartula dirgha gaurasyama tano chavih || subham laksanametat syad gajanam jayakarinam | tasmallaksanasamyukta gaja grahaya mahibhuja 112.3.226-229. evam laksanasampurno gajo brahmamsako matah | pujadasau narendranam vijayarogyavardhanah || 2.3.235. bahukalamadah suro meghanadena hrsyati | prajapatyamsako nagah prajavrddhikarotyasau || 2.3.237. raktotpalaptame netre sa syadindramsako gajah | samare vijayam dadhat parabhupalasampadah || 2.3.239. dhanadamsasamudbhuto dhanaratnasamrddhikrt | nrpanam bhavane tisthan pujitah kunjarottamah || 2.3.241. pravati pracurah danam vasanamsakasambhavah | ahave ripusamhari nijabhaturjayapradah || 2.3.243.

67 There is some agreement about the places of origin of the mediocre best, the midding and the lowest kinds of elephants in Kautilya's Arthasastra.73 The ways of catching elephants binduman panduvarnasca sasakamsakasambhavah | samgarapramgane rajnam gajo'tham vijayapradah || 2.3.245. agnyamsakasamudbhutah sacad vahnirivahave | bhasmasat kurute sainyamasesam dvisatam sada || 2.3.247. samkhacakragadakara bindavo valayo'thava | drsyante yasya nagasya sa visanvamsasamudbhavah || 2.3.262. sucyahararato nityam valirekha vivarjitah | anamayah sthirah suro devasattvo bhaved gajah || 2.3.264. raudrah prthusira hrasvasrotrahastasamanvitah | pecakedalpah sthulakalah sarvabhaumanvayo gajah || 2.3.280. kumudabhah sthulatanuh snigdhalohitalocanah | krsnavistirnastagrah kunjarah kumudanvayah || 2.3.281. bhojasya yuktikalpataruh gajapariksa - 59. aindra mitravaruna nilamanya candratoyara vivarijatare | surya - sukra-guru- somajavare sreyase bhavati kunjarayanam || 73. kalamjarekara sindhusagarasagame | vanam prancanadam proktam himalayakrtavadhi || kalingam vedikarusam dasarnam ca vanam varam | angireyam tatha pracyam madhyamam vanamisyate || CE. kautilya arthasastra 2.2.15-16. 2.3.177-178.

• 68 74 described in Manasollasa and elsewhere are not to be 75 found in Kautilya Arthasastra. King Bhulekamalla Somesvara III gives description of the training of elephants. In the old Indian armies the elephants were very important, and a number of verses occur on the importance of the 77 military role of these animals. The speed of elephants is praised in Yasastilaka of Somadeva (3.309). The writer 74. dasabandhi varibandho bandhuscanugatah parah | uttamastriprakarah syad bandhah karatinamayam || apatascavapatasca dvau bandhau ninditau matau | vinasyanti gaja yasmat tasmat tau parivarjayet || 2.3.186-187. 75. R.P.Kangle. The Kautilya-Arthasastra A Study. (University of Bombay, 1965), p.88. 76. evam pariksya yatnena laksanairuttaman gajan | svikuryadavanipalo viparitan parityajet || 2.3.282-331. 77. evam samsiksito nago vadhyavadhyesu karmasu | 17. jayatyeko'pi sangame nara-vaji - gajan bahun || 2.3.330. varanairbhadrajatiyaih kalingavanajanmabhih | siksitaih sajnitaih surairlabhyate vijayo yudhi || 2.6.620. mukhyam dantibalam rajnam samare vijayaisinam | tasmannijabale karya bahavo varanottamah || 2.6.622. hastyayurveda - 5.23. prthivya bhusanam meruh sarvarya bhusanam sasi | naranam bhusanam vidya sainyanam bhusanam gajah || 76

69 78 on polity goes as far as to offer salutation to elephants. Somadeva says, "Elephants serve as fortresses in danger, as causeway in traversing waters, as house on the wayside, and as monsters in battle. They give delight in moments of joy. What other vehicle is there in the world, comparable to them? When at the time of battle, a mighty elephant proudly begins to charge, stepping to and fro, and turning to the right and to the left, with all possible movements, the foeman's elephants are ere long pierced, the horses crushed, the chariots scattered, and the infantry reduced to pulp. "79 Vikramaditya VI tried to combine the best in the traditional knowledge regarding State-craft and military science with the current developments in these fields with a view to making the Calukya dynasty a might power. - / 78. somadevasya yasastilakah - 2.168. J 79. samodbhavaya subhalaksanaksitaya divyatmane sakaladeva niketanaya | kalyanamangalamahotsavakaranaya tubhyam namah karivaraya varaya nityam || somadevasya yasastilaka - 2.176, 180. bhayesu durgani jalesu setavo grhanisu raksatah | manah prasadesu vinodavedhaso gaja ivanyat kimihasti vahanam || purah pratyakpaksabhumibhirabhihantum vyavasito hataih sarvaigarvat samarasamaye sindhurapatau | vidirnam magaisturaga nivahaiscapi dalitam rathaih prastam padgaih pisitakavalibhutamacirat ||