Military Organisation in Mahabharata

Role of Kshatriyas/Rajan

Fighting class members responsible for defence of the country. Defended Kingdom, protected people &
dharma. Didn’t forget any kindness or hurt. Never backed out when challenged to fight or gamble. Martial
spirit was inborn as “It’s a sin to die in bed”.

Division, Recruitment, Training, Salary, Allowance & Merits of Army

Chaturangabala military system, later eight fold. Chariots, Elephants, Horses (Cavalry), Infantry, Burden
Carriers, Ships, Spies & Local guides. Difficult to state regarding rules of recruitment. Infantry soldiers
drawn from all sorts of people including foreigners. Importance of Infantry soldiers stressed in both Epic
& Purana.

In Mahabharata Chariot or the hero fighting from Chariot i.e. Rathi played most noticed & decisive role.
Hopkins states “Knight in his chariot equal to an army”. Everyone feared Arjuna even the Knights. Car-
Warriors enjoyed unchallenged supremacy in military organisation of post vedic India. Brahmana
Warriors; Jataka Story (Sarbhanga Jataka) refers to the training of Brahmana lad in archery. Elaborate
arrangement for training of soldiers evident from Ramayana. Santi Parva states “when army is well trained
it does fighting quite well, untrained soldiers are worthless. Therefore, considerate people properly train
them”. References of military tournaments in Mahabharata in which skill of the Kauravas & Pandavas
brothers was tested by their teacher Drona. Dhrtrastra’s speech on the qualities of his armies shows their
many sided training.

Expert in climbing, riding, quick march, beating, entering & coming put of fort and their skill in fighting on
elephants, horsemanship & charioteering has been tested. Adi Parva mentions a forest University not far
from human habitation where young learners were to receive education & general training including
military exercises. Soldiers received fixed and regular salaries. Sukraniti writes- “Strength of Army to be
increased by good payments, arms & weapons by penances & regular exercises, intelligence by
companionship of people learned in Sastras”. Sabha Parva (5.57) & Shanti Parva (86.24) refers to the
practice of granting an extra allowance in advance (marching allowance) to army personnel on eve of
expedition. Provision for the family of soldiers dying on battle field. Accd. to Puranic literature – “Regular
payment of soldier a matter of supreme importance.” These matters have been dealt in great detail in
works of Kautilya, Kamandaka & Sukra.

Battle Array

Kurukshetra war was long drawn out and destructive. People at that time must have acquired a thorough
knowledge of military tactics and recourse to strategical plans. Mahabharata give details about battle
arrays (vyahas) used by epic heroes. Pandavas changed their battle arrays everyday. Battle orders such as
Suci (needle shaped), Karunca (heron shaped), Syena(hawk array), Makara (crocodile shaped),
Mandala(circular), Vajra (thunderbolt) etc. These battle arrays represented all kinds of movements of
armies in warfare. Prof. Dikshitar’s analysis in this connection- “ close examination of arrays used in
Mahabharata battle gives evidence of four movements- circular, crooked (not straight), separate and
compact. Corresponding to deep and dense column of medieval England.

Army on March

A picture of Army on march is obtained from Udyoga Parva(Ch. 151) of Mahabharata. Description of
Pandava’s Army on march: Composed of 4 limbs, moved amidst blaze of conch- shells, beating of drums
and frequent war cries. Bhimsena and all Knights in suits of Armour. Second line Prabhadrakas & Pancalas.
King in centre, surrounded by carts & wagons filled with stores, provisions, tents, treasure chests, arms,
machines. Behind King, main army headed by Knights. Army on march seemed like “ when the roars of
the deep tide is highest on the day of new moon” .

Encampment & Fortification

As mentioned in Nitishastra internal evident of epics depict that people were not ignorant of the rules of
encampment & various necessities for maintaining and provisioning forts and armours with degree of
perfection. Agni Purana points out necessity of a good and well furnished armoury. An empty arsenal
indicates weak system of defence. Selection of suitable site was preferred for pitching of royal camp.
Accd. to Shanti Parva, region near river and forest is considered suitable for camping.

Description of Kuru Camp: “Spreading over an area of five yojanas, containing countless tents and
pavilions stored with provisions and arms. In opposing camp troops deployed for patrol duty and outpost.
Apart from combatants, non-combatants like priests, vendors, traders, bard, panegyrists, prisoners and
women of ranks.”

Forts classified under Shanti Parva: Mahidurgam, Mrudurgam, Dhavadurgam, Giridurgam,

Manusyadurgam, Vanadurgam, Mrdudurgam. These forts had sufficient no. of armed forces, armorury &
provisions.

Offensive & Defensive Weapons

Dr. Chakrabarty has given a critical account of ancient India’s arms and armours, tracing their origin to the
vedic times. Some of them are:

Offensive Weapons- Bow (Dhanu)- made of Bamboo, wood and sometimes of animal horns; Arrow (Isu)-
often iron; Sword (Praharana); Spear (Sakti)- made of iron also called Kunta ; Javelin (Tomara); Mace
(Gada); Yantra- a general term denoting an engine of offence and defence; Battle-axe (Kuthara)- weilded
by the nobility; Discuss(Cakra)- Yantra- ‘a revolving weapon, made of iron or steel’; Sataghni- (“a hundred-
killer”, “a rocket usually placed at the walls and gates of forts or fortified towns).

Defensive Weapons- Sheilds (Avarana, carma); Body Armour (Varman-Kavaca); Helmet ( of metal)
Sirartrana; Neck-protector (Kanthatrana); Shooting glove (Hastavapa); Angulitrana

Military Formations

❑ Adi Parva gives the details of following units with their constituents:
▪ Patti: Chariot-1; Elephant-1; Horse-3; Foot-5; Total-10

▪ Senamukha: Chariot-3; Elephant-3;Horse-9, Foot-15; Total-30

▪ Gulma: Chariot-9;Elephant-9; Horse-27; Foot-45; Total-90

▪ Gana: Chariot-27;Elephant-27;Horse-81; Foot-135; Total-270

▪ Vahini: Chariot-81;Elephant-81;Horse-243; Foot-405; Total-810

▪ Prtana: Chariot-243; Elephant-243; Horse-729; Foot- 1215; Total-2430

▪ Camu: Chariot-729; Elephant-729; Horse- 2187; Foot-3645;Total-7290

▪ Anikini: Chariot-2187; Elephant-2187; Horse-6561; Foot-10935;T-21870

▪ Aksauhini: Chariot-21870; Elephant-21870; Horse-65610; Foot-109350;T-218700