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ADMINISTRATION AND STATECRAFT
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hand.' Kācaraka and Kāndarāta, the two hefty steed-drivers have been described as riding horses that had lost their saddles, wearing expansive corselets (Tanutrāņau) adjusted over their chests. They had their heads wrapped tight with the halved out hem of a scarlet scarf. They carried sharp spears fisted close in the left hand and the reins of the horses.?
The feudatories of Meghavāhana fighting under the command of Vajrāyudha against feudatories of Kusumasekhara (both acting as soldiers) have been described as inexorable on account of their effervescence manifested thereon. Both the parties slighted down (lit. rebuked) the chivalry of either side. The warriors (Subhata) were full of spite (Samatsara) and gave out roaring like those of lions deafening thereby the auricular passages of the men sauntering hardby. The stones thrown from the catapults rendered the atmospheric regions as if like the grounds. The weapons in the hands of the timid were being scared asunder by the relentless calls of the trumpets. The strongholds of the foot soldiers were being broken by the sprays of oil decocted on fire and showered through syringes. The diadems on the enemy vessels were melting down with nārācas clinging to them, being hot with fire etc.
The weapons used by the solders were -
gadā (a mace), Cakra (a disc), Kunta, Prāsa etc. and Sakti (javelin), Căpayaşți (a bow), Nārāca (a type of arrow), Krpāna (a poniard, a scimitar), Triśūla (a trident), Kārmuka (a bow).'
The forts used to be the mainstay of warfare. A fort was resorted to by an enemy who was weak and incapable of facing his stronger foe in an open combat. Kusumasekhara chastised by Vajrāyudha is shown as taking recourse to the organisation of a fort in accordance with the injunctions of the Sastra (science of polity i.e. Arthaśāstra), with his resources classified accordingly having deemed the biding of time the best opportune recourse to be adopted, being unable to launch an open combat on account of his lack of strength or power and unwilling to approach him on account of his
1. दक्षिण करेणाच्छिद्य परिचारकहस्तात्..... कृपाणम् इतरपाणिना प्रेड्डयन्.... प्रकोष्ठनि विष्टमष्टापदफलकम्। TM
Vol. II p. 198. 2. उरः कपाट घटितातनु तनुत्राणो तत्क्षणविपाटितकाषायपटाघन्तिपीडतोत्तमागो गृहीतनिशितप्राम मुष्टिना वामेन
fofacket af 7 1... 09114GET gaftrafe Tallaghtag arti TM Vol. II
pp. 199-200. 3. Ibid. Vol. II pp. 204-205, 250, 251.
