We know from the words of Brihaspati that few (troops) must be made to fight be forming them in a solid array, and many may be expanded according to pleasure.
महर्षेर्वचनात् तात वेदयन्ति बृहस्पतेः। संहतान् योधयेदल्पान् कामं विस्तारयेद् बहून्॥