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The Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika, while discussing forts and the allied matter (patalas 30-47) appears to have included the palace construction also as a part of fortification. Thus, in the text a palace is not discriminated from a fort and vice versa in-as-much as a palace in view of our author, is only 31 variant of the store-house fort (34.6) in which the king should dwell for the general prosperity of the seven-limbedstate (saptanga-raiyam). 31. esamanya tamam kostham kararitva susilpibhih avasam kalpayedraja saptanga balavrddhaye / (34.6)

527 Thus, it is to be seen that while dealing with the architectural informations on fort-construction, we have included similar informations on palace, throne and other indigenous material together with forts, trying to maintain the original sequence of Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika While so doing, the ritualistic aspect has been purposively kept out with a view to describe those together with analogous material. (See Chapter III). After describing the eight types of forts, the author now ordains that a king should construct for himself any one of the eight types of store-forts (Kostha-durgas) and reside therein for the general prosperty of his kingdom (34.6). To start construction of such a fort an auspicious day is selected. The king, on that day offers worship to Ganesa and Visvakarman, gratifies the masons who are invited for the purpose and asks them to start the work. (7). Site: Generally a suitable site is chosen for such purposes. Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika informs us that such a site must have a highly elevated plain devoid of low and high lands in its vicinity and be surrounded by a landmass which can be quickly made use of, at the time of necessity. A fort is constructed generally with materials such as stone, brick and mud as per the instructions mentioned below (8-9).

528 The best variety of such a fort is said to measure 32 eight hundred dandas, the middling, sixhundred and the inferior variety, four hundred dandas only (12). The spade-work begins by digging earth according to the type of fort sought to be constructed and then the site is purified with sand as per the rules. When thus the digging of earth is over, a foundation wall (bhitti) of 10 x 3 cubits is raised, part by part, and is cemented with time. It should also have a number of minarets (grriga) with holes and in rows, immitating the shape of nyagrodha (fig tree) leaves (13-16). This is said to serve the double purpose of hiding the soldiers (during attack) and beautifying the fort as well. As the wall reaches navel-high, the architects whould emboss on the stones ferocious yantras of bhairava, naga, trisula, raiju, kastha, mausala, visakantaka, Sukla, sulamukha, kastha, dhanu, 33 vyatastya and many other murals like those of the duals of yaksa, gandharva, kinnaras etc. (17-19). Then is constructed the vapra-vedi, ten cubits 'apart from the wall, which is transparent like a mirror and which has steps of either stone or brick. (20-21). 32. One danda is said to equal four hastas (cubits) Monier-Williams, p.466. 33. Cf. Visvakarmavastusastra (10.46), Samaranganasutradhara (10.27) and Aparajitaprecha (72.14) which mention the images of vidyadharis alongwith such machines as outer murals of a fort-wall.

529 rampart is Thus, when the construction of the main accomplished, work on inner buildings is said to begin At . a distance of twenty cubits on all sides, from the outer wall another enclosure is made by raising a wall as high as eight cubits and with minarets, as in the case of the earlier. Within this enclosure are constructed the building complex. (35.3-4). Now steps are taken to dig a moat at a distance of three cubits from the outer wall in a circular shape like The moat should be of 20 X 20 that of a waist-string. cubits. Both its banks are reinforced with stones or bricks to make these stronger. directions (5-7). Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika Now, are fixed doors in different informs that somekings prefer their forts to have three rampart walls and also three ditches, obviously to make these extra streng (8). The Arthasastra description on this aspect seems to be much akin to Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika which records that around the fort of any description, "three ditches with an intermediate space of one danda (four cubits) from each other, four teen, twelve and ten dandas respectively in width, with depth less by one quarter or by half of their width, square at their bottom and one third as wide as at their top, with sides built of stones or bricks, filled with perennial flow of water or

530 with water drawn from some other source and possessing crocodiles and lotus plants, shall be constructed " 34 To such a fort are now fitted many gates (dvara). and high as The gate which is wide as three kiskus 35 six, and has pumsila sounding like gong is the best, one, having 5 x 2 1/2 cubits' measurement is the medium which has strisila sounding like stringed instrument and the adhama or the inferior gate is said to be of 4 x 2 cubits' measurement and has the napumsaka sila, sounding like bell-metal (36.2-6). Each gate should have beautiful exteriors with mukhabhadras and auspicious motiffs of yaksas, raksasas and fearful lions in the posture of attack. These gates are said to carry above them the (load of) three to fivestoreyed buildings. Each gate from outside is supported by a quadrangular threshold and is designed in the shape of leopard's mouth with a height almost commensurate with that of the wall. (7-10). 34. _AS (2.3) translation Shama sastri pp.50-51. 35. One kisku is said to equal a cubit of forty two. -angulas. cf. Brahmandapurana (7.5.99)

531 The various apartments (halls) on the left and right (of these gates) are connected by a straight and wide hall (kostha) (sub-way) in the middle, each kaksa having a door. A gopura (principal gate) is constructed on the top of the last-door in the fashion of a three-storeyed building of the Vedasra type. In the inner circle of this _gopura is raised a pillared pavilion with many rooms to permanently house the warriors and guards. This is also said to be accomplished in fasion of a leopard's mouth (11-13). h Now, both ends of the outer walls (upasala) are joined. The doors fitted to such a fort also appear to to follow a prescribed schedule, the eastern, facing the ren south, the southern to the west, the western to the north and northern to the east. These should also immitate the shape of a teopard's face (14-15). Statutes of deities like Ganesa, Bhairava, Bhadrakali, and Hanumat are to be installed at the eastern, southern, western and northern doors respectively. Added to the big gates already mentioned, four small gates with two-fold doors are to be opened in the four sub-quarters (vidie) which should not be done after the tiger's mouth. All the doors are platted with sheets of iron, have strong bolts (argala) Samku) in the are and provided with pointed iron-pegs A shape of plantain-buds. This infrastructure

532 elephants. is said to render futile the canine attacks of enemy's Each of these small gate further carries the 36 provision of small-straight cause-ways, made of wooden planks, bricks or stones to enable one to cross the moat (16-21).