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
57 (of 135)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
552
din of battle is never known to retrace his steps, who
with exemplary courage fights out and kills any elephant
or horse that chances to come his way etc. Also, we have
examples of such brave soldiers who, while placing their
master in the rear, continue to fight at the front of the
battle field, regardless of their lives. Such combatants
while fighting, value their own kith and kins as nothing
better than the spectacles of a dream. Thus without any
family attachment they fight for the master. Further, the
author expects them to fight unitedly in thought (aikamatya)
and action, (Cp. Kirata 1.19) while keeping their mind,
which is very unsteady, like the leaf of a holy fig tree,
under restraint (6-12).
he is the
meritorious
Bravery: In the opinion of SLP
warrior, who in the midst of great wars does resist the
stream of arrows of enemy with the nonchalance of one who
has abandoned worldly objects (tyagavan). The warriors are
variously compared with the becursed heavenly beings who,
on dwindling of merits, have fallen from the starry
kingdom (naksatra-pada) etc. (13-14).
Dress, Physical features, Weapons etc. : From the description
of SLP it can begleaned that a soldier used
to wear
a dress flowing upto his feet (ahaddhaka帽cuka pada) and
