Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 142

Sec. VIIB] STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
117
publican chieftains (ganarajas1) whose loyalty to their sovereign depended on the feudal relation, military strength of the defence force, and vigilence of the state.
Under these circumstances it was the primary duty of every independent sovereign ruler to organize and maintain a regular well-trained and well-equipped army for the safety and security of the state against internal and external dangers of war.
The BhS' gives an idea of the form of army, nature of war, fighting services, military conscription, ethics of war, art of fighting, weapons used in war, etc. as known to the time of Lord Mahāvīra. Here an attempt will be made to deal with the military organization, fighting services and ethics of war, as they are connected with the part of administration of the state. The art of war, weapons, etc. will be discussed in connection with the topic 'military science' in the sixth chapter
education.
Military Organization
The study of this work clearly shows that the military organization of the period was based on the traditional four-fold division of army consisting of four parts furnished with cavalry, elephant, chariot and infantry (hayagaya-rathayohakaliyāe caurangiņie seņāe),
Cavalry
on
According to the order of the armed forces as mentioned here it appears that cavalry occupied the first and foremost place as a fighting unit in the army for guarding the advanced position and charging the enemy ranks by its swift and dashing attack from all flanks. It also acted as the forward guard during a royal journey, marching in front of all contingents.*
Horses which were the most essential component parts of the cavalry were also used to draw both the war-chariots and ordinary ones driven by princes and nobles.
1 BHS, 7, 9, 300.
* Ib, 7, 9, 300-303.
31b, 7, 9, 300. Army is also called Bala (BhS, 7, 9, 303). 4 BhS, 9, 33, 385. 5 Ib, 7, 9, 300; 7, 9, 303; 9, 33, 385.