Early History of Orissa

SR No.: 006922
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Amarchand Mittal
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society
Publication Year: 1957
Total Pages: 506
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 363

SECTION III MILITARY FORCE OF KHĀRAVELA
The Law books state that one of the chief qualifications for kingship was to have a desire to extend his rule. That, however, depended upon the numerical strength and equipment of his army. Numerical Strength
As to the numerical strength of Khāravela's ariny, the eighth year's record in the Hāthigumphā inscription mentions that he marched out with a mighty army, having sacked Goradhagiri, brought a terrible pressure to bear upon Rājagļiha. The second year's record states that he (Khāravela) disregarding Sātakarni, despatched to the western regions an army strong in cavalry, ele
1. Manu, IX, 251; X, 119 etc.
2. Original : "Athame cha vise mahatū senā...goradhagirim ghütů. payitä rå jagahain upapidä payati." (Line 7)
3. Original : "Dutiye cha vase achitayiti sūtalaniin pachhini disa ii haya-gaja-nara-radha bahulam dundam pathipayati." (Line 4)
4. It is difficult to fix tho period at which cavalry in the proper sense of the word was first used in India. Horse-riding was known as early as the Vedic Age (Rig Veda, I, 162, 17; 160, 9; V, 61, 1-3 mentions the horses, the reins, and the whip laid upon the flank'. In riding horgog 'the heroes stretched their thighs apart like women when the babe is born'], but there is no satisfactory record of the use of cavalry in battles in those days.
In the Epics, the cavalry is recognized as a separate arm, but does not appear to be as organised as in later times. In the battle of Hydas pes (Jhelam), the cavalry in the service of king Porus was posted in two flanks of the Indian army. The Macedonian horsemen were however far superior in skill and discipline.
Horses from the Indus were of special value (Brihadāraṇyaka Upanishad, VI, 2, 13; Sārkbāyana Aranyaka, IX, 7). "Vajinivati" occurs as an epithet for horses from the Sindhu (RV, X, 75, 8), from Sarasvati (1, 3, 10 ; II, 41, 18 ; VI, 61, 3, 4 ; VII, 96, 3).