Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘War Finance (Pay Structure)’ of the study on the Nitiprakasika by Vaisampayana which deals primarily with with Dhanurveda, i.e., the science of war, weapons and military strategies of ancient Indian society. It further contains details on Niti-shastra, i.e., the science of politics and state administration but most verses of the Nitiprakashika deal with the classification and description of different varieties of weapons, based on the four groups of Mukta, Amukta, Muktamukta and Mantramukta.
War Finance (Pay Structure)
[Cf. Nītiprakāśikā VII. 33-41]
In nine verses, Nītiprakāśikā gives complete detail about the pay structure of those connected with military forces starting from the crown-prince down to the persons incharge of keeping the count of the soldiers. The table below provides the details in a brief form:
| Designation | Wages | Verse |
| Yuvarājā (Prince) | 5000 varvas | [...] |
| Sarvasenāpraṇetā (Leader of army unit-Passive) | 4000 varvas | [...] |
| Atiratha | 3000 varvas | [...] |
| Mahāratha | 2000 varvas | [...] |
| Rathika (Fighter on the chariot) | 1000 varvas | [...] |
| Gajayodhi (Fighter on the elephant) | 1000 varvas | [...] |
| Ardharatha | 500 varvas | [...] |
| Ekaratha | 300 Niśkās | [...] |
| Gajasādi (Elephant warrior) | 300 Niśkās | [...] |
| Gajarakṣakau (Elephant guards) | 300 Niśkas | [...] |
| Sarvāśvādhipati (Superintendent of horses) | 3000 varvas | [...] |
| Padātādhipati (Leader of infantry) | 2000 varvas | [...] |
| Padāti sahasrasya netā (Lord of 1000 padātis) | 500 varvas | [...] |
| Aśvasahasreśa (Leader of 1000 cavalry soldiers) | 1000 varvas | [...] |
| Padāti (Foot-soldier) | 5 suvarṇas | [...] |
| Śatapatti adhipa (Leader of 100 pattis) | 7 suvarṇas | [...] |
| Hayayāyī (Horse-rider) | 7 suvarṇas | [...] |
In the next three verses, Nītiprakāśikā, (VI. 41-2) given the list of men receive 15 varvas as monthly pay: [...]
| Gajayanyantā (Mahout) | [...] |
| Sārathi (Charioteer) | [...] |
| Dhavajina (Flag-Bearer) | [...] |
| Cakrapa (Guard of wheel) | [...] |
| Padātitriśateśa (Leader of 300 soldiers) | [...] |
| Pathikoṣṭracara (One who covers 300 miles in a day on a camel) | [...] |
| Vārtikādhipati (Leader of carriers of news of the enemies) | [...] |
| Vetripati (Staff–bearer) | [...] |
| Sūta–māgadha–Vandhinām pati (Lord of bards) | [...] |
| Vīvadhādhipa (Controller of grains) | [...]–Here Tattvavivṛti explains this as controller of grains–[...] |
| Bhṛtidātā (Controller of defence accounts) | [...] |
| Bhaṭagaṇanapara (Soldiers’s numerical count tracker) | [...] |