Essay name: Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika (Study)
Author:
Artatrana Sarangi
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Department of Sanskrit and Prakrit Languages
This is a study in English of the Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika (written by Lolla Lakshmidhara) representing an encyclopedic manual for emperors. The Samrajyalaksmipithika encompasses about 3870 verses in addressing topics such as public festivals, governance, warfare (military strategy), and rituals associated with the Tantric worship for the deity Samrajya-Lakshmi.
Chapter 5 - Forts, Castrametation and the Royal Army
5 (of 135)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
500
archaeological evidence. Mbh. (1.999.29) contains a full-
scale informations on fortification a full proof stronghold
with lofty walls, gates, abundant stock of weapons etc. and
Ramayana (1.5) speaks of protective measures of cities
of Ayodhya, Kiskindha and Lanka.
8 The Nikayas and the Jatakas freely mention walled and
battlemented - towns.
9 These references seem to testify to the uninterrupted
line of tradition in which the art of fortification
got
evolved through the centuries till we arrive at the age of
the Brahminical texts of early and later days. Manu - smrti
and Artha sastra exclusively engage themselves on the topic
of forts and fortification and serve as models for later
writers of similar treatises like SN, YK and Manasara which
grew in the light of the former. Somadeva goes as far
as to say that a king, without a fort has no refuge, like a
bird, let loose from a ship in the mid-ocean (Nitikavy膩m峁泃a, P.80]
8.
9.
Ramayana mentions firm-gates (drdhadv膩ra) of
Ayodhya which are secured by cross-bars (argala)
(Bala, 6.28 100.40). The city of Ki峁indha has golden
gates and is surrounded by a moat (Kiskindha, 14.5)
and the fortifications of Lanka are repeatedly.
mentioned, Prakarena parik峁pta etc. (Aranya 48.11)
See Singh, AIW.. P 132, Cowell, The J膩takas,
Nos. 149,546,
