Forms of Equipments and Work of Arraying a Rival Force further entails that the army which comprises of Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras and which accounts for bigger account of bravery bears slight stress of danger as the enemy can win over the army of Brahmans through prostration while the army comprising of Kshatriyas who are trained in wielding weapons is better and the army consisting of Vaishyas and Sudras add to the number of heads in the army. Hence Kautilya advises the conqueror that at the time of recruiting the army the conqueror should keep in mind the composition of the army and array it accordingly which shall organise his war strategy as well. Forms of Equipments and Work of Arraying a Rival Force then enlists the type of equipments to be used by the army. While the army shall possess elephants, machines, chariots, cavalry, and infantry; it shall use equipments like Sakatagarbha, Kunta (a wooden rod), Prasa (a weapon 24 inches long, with two handles), Kharvataka, bamboo sticks and iron sticks. In case of opposing the enemy army with chariots the soldiers are supposed to use weapons like stones, clubs, armour, hooks, and spears in plenty; same shall be used to attack the elephants and cavalry; while horses can be used to oppose men. As such men, clad in armour, chariots, men possessing defensive weapons and infantry can oppose the army consisting of all the four constituents (elephants, chariots, cavalry as well as infantry). Thus Forms of Equipments and Work of Arraying a Rival Force discusses the forms of equipments to be used by both the conqueror and his enemy in opposing each other. This stands as one of the most important work of an invader as this shall exhibit the strength of the conqueror. |