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
59 (of 135)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
554
Commander-in-Cheif : Over such commanders, there used be
commander-in-chief who is the bravest of all commanders.
a
We are informed that for hundred of commanders there was
chief of staff (Senapati) under whose control the armed
forces used to be there. On his appointment, he was
highly honoured by the king with tauryatrika (dance, song
and music) while the bards sang praises for him and the
king came out to honour him with precious presents. Thus,
for each 10,000 (myriad) (ayuta) of soldiers there was a
commander-in-chief (28-30).
Observation : SLP
information of recruiting soldiers from
martial races, holds good even in case of the present day
Armed Forces and so al so the case with recruiting from a
family whose members have already served the army. However,
SLP does not inform us about the classification of the foot-
soldiers into six categories like Maula, Bhrtya, Maitra,
Graina,
Atavika and Amitra
Atavika and Amitra (Manasa. 2.6.556), AS
(9.2.1) etc. and the seventh category like the Autsahika
AS (9.2.26) which is raised during war. Nor, we have any
reference to pay and remuneration of such soldiers about
which others have shown much concern.
Kirata (1.19) etc.
Manasa (2.6.568-69),
Similarly we only get cryptic information about
their dress, weapons, organisation and the Commander-in-chief.
