War in Ancient India
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DELHI UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 7 DELHI UNIVERSITY LIBRARY a . n o . * > 8 Ac* No, ^ b { c l ^7 Datc °* please for loan This book should be returned on or before the date last stamped below. An overdue charge o f 5 PaU« will be collected for each day the book is kept overtime, J r - f j y i j «* *, ~ < f ■ :•~vr* ; S * --------1 t ____ i | / ( y \ O'?' " < / r , ■ / .... / Wa r in an cien t indIA. BY THE SAME AUTHOB Hindu Admiiflstrative Institutions. > Studies in Tamil Literature & History The Mauryan Polity. Do. a pamphlet in the Minerva series on Indian Government. Some Aspects of Vayu Puraiia. The Matsya Purana—a study. Bharadvaja&iksa. Silappadik&ram. The LalitS Cult. \/kulottunga Chola III (in Tamil). WAR IN ANCIENT INDIA BY V. R. RAMACHANDRA DIKSHITAR, m . a . University of Madras WITH A FOREWORD BY Lt.-Col. Dewan Bahadtjb Dr. A. LAKSIIMANASWAMI MUDALIAIi, M.D., LL.D., D.SC., F.R.C.O.G., F.A.C.S. Vice-Chanccllor, University of Madras MACMILLAN. AND CO. LIMITED MADRAS,'BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, LONDON 1941 FOREWORD I deem it a privilege to be given the opportunity of writing a foreword to this excellent publication, War . in 'Ancient India, at the request of the author, Mr. V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar. Mi*. Dikshitar’s works have attracted the notice of scholars, both in the East and the West, and some of his classics like the Silappadikaram, have justly'won for him wide appreciation. In bringing out this monumental work on War in Ancient India, at this particular juncture, Mr. Dikshitar has placed historians, more particularly Indian historians, under a deep debt of gratitude. War is as old as the Human race, and despite pious resolutions and possible prophylactic measures, it threatens to repeat itself at intervals as long as the human race lasts! Each century has witnessed a war more grirrand devastating in its effect than the last, and despite thjpso-called march of civilization, atrocities are being perpetrated in modern times which would make the warriors of old turn in their graves. It is refreshing to note how in ancient times at least, the laws of war were designed to bring out the best and not the worst of human traits. Chivalry, individual heroism, qualities o f mercy and nobility of outlook even in the grimmest of struggles were not unknown to the soldiers of ancient India. Thus among the laws of war, w© find that (1) a warrior in armour must not fight with Vl FOREWORD one not so clad (2) one should fight only one enemy and cease fighting if the opponent is disabled (3) aged men, women and children, the retreating, or one who held a /straw in his lips as a sign of unconditional surrender should not be killed. It is of topical interest to note that ' one of the laws enjoins the army to leave the fruit and ffower gardens, temples and other places of public worship unmolested. « Tlie chapters dealing with' the Departments of Army, their respective duties, the weapons used in ancient warfare and strategy and tactics in! war have been: presented in a masterly way and give the reader a realistic conception of how wars were carried on in ancient India. No less interesting is the chapter on Diplomacy and War although1 one may not be inclined ’ to agree with the ethics underlying some of these diplo macies. But perhaps state-craft can never be freed from such unfortunate trends, and one may console oneself with the thought that it is not the soldiers who are responsible 'ior such state-craft in all ages. This is a foreword and not a critical review, which should be left to competent scholars. To the lay mind, the theme and the method o f exposition are so interest ing that the book furnishes entertaining reading. It is gratifying to note that the author has come to the same conclusion which has been forced on most thinking men, that war cannot be eradicted, but should be ennobled. And this can be done only if men of good will foregather, i f men forget the pride o f race^tnd birth which history t ’ORfiWORD Vii unfortunately tries indirectly to preach, if men apply their minds honestly to the task of the regeneration of mankind and if humanity adheres to the fundamentals of all religions and strives to foster the spirit of brother hood. In the words! of the author ‘ Let us think and act not in terms of nationalism but in terms of inter nationalism And by such unselfish conduct even the most self-centered may feel ultimately that he ensures his own happiness and that of his narrow clan, or country much more assuredly than by m^ans of conflicts, chaos and conflagration! U n iv e r s it y o f M a d r a s , "i ' I A. LAKSHMANAS WAMI MUDALIAR ■ 1st April, 1944. J TO THE CHERISHED MEMORY OF MY ELDER BROTHERS BRAHMASRI RAMASWAMI DIKSHITAR (1874-1941) AND b r a h m a Sr ! n a t e Sa d Jk s h i t a r (1879-1940) OF VISHNAMPET, TANJORE DISTRICT, WHO WERE 6RAUTINS IN THE LITERAL SENSE OF THE TERM, AND WHO, AS DISTINGUISHED VEDIC SCHOLARS, FOLLOWED THEIR FORE-FATHERS BY PERFORMING A NUMBER OF VEDIC YAJNAS LIKE SOMAYAGA, CATURMASYA, APTORYAMA AND G ARU P AC AY ANA. PREFACE The following pages are based on lectures delivered in the Annamalai University in 1934. This is first attempt to give an almost complete expositic the art and the science of war in Ancient Indi id a consecutive account and the history of Indian-----tary tradition. The subject matter covers the whole period from the earliest times to the end of the Vijayanagai epoch. The work has been carried through the press under heavy pressure of war times, and I claim, gn that ground, the indulgence of my readers for jmis-prints that may have passed uncorrected. I offer my tribute of respect to Lt.-Col. Dewan Bahadur Dr. A. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar, Vice- Chancellor, University of Madras, who has contributed a foreword to this book; his profound learning and vast experience are only equalled by his courtesy and readi ness to afford to others advice, the soundness and value of which it would be difficult to over-rate. Nor must I omit to express my warmest gratitude to Rao Bahadur K. V. Rangaswami Aiyangar and Rao Bahadur C. S. Srinivasachari for kindly reading the proofs, and making helpful suggestions, and to the Rev. Fr. T. N. Siqueira, S.,I., for reading the manuscript of the work. For the arduous task of the compilation of the Index, I owe thanks to Dr. T. V. iVIahalingam, M.A., D.Litt., I also desire to thank the Madras School-book and Literature Society for the generous contribution towards this publication. I V' R- RAMACIIANPRA d i k s h i t a r , 5th April 19441 ) CONTENTS C h a p t e r P age I T h e P sychological B ack grou n d, of W ar . .. 1-39 II T h e L a w s of W a r : Sec. i The W arrior’s Code . 41-57 „ ii The Ethics of War . 58-75 „ iii Celebrating Victory 75-78 „ iv Miscellaneous Regulations . 78-80 „ v Dharma Vijaya, Asura Vi jay a and Lobha Vijaya. 81-92 IIIr W ea po n s of W a r as gath ered fr o m L it e r a t u r e : S6c. i Bows and Arrows 93-101 „ ii Fire Arms 101-106 „ iii Other Weapons .. 106-109 „ iv The Amukta weapons 110-119 „ v Minor and Mystical wea pons of Warfare 119-125 „ vi On Armour 126-129 „ vii Arms and Armour from Sculpture 130-151 IV A r m y a n d A r m y D iv isio n s : Sec. i Introductory 153-156 „ ii Further Divisions 156-157 „ ‘ v iii % Chariots 157-166 „ y iv Elephants 166-174 „ y V Cavalry 174-179 xiv CONTENTS Chapter P age Sec. * vi Infantry 179-182 vii The Commissariat 182-186 99 viii The Admiralty 186-190 99 ix Characteristics of a good Army 190-197 99 X Units of the Army 198-199 Departments of th e Army: Sec. i War Council 201-206 ii War Finance* 206-214 99 * • • 99 m The Arsenal 214-217 99 iv Foreign Department 217-219 99 V Intelligence Department .. 219-220 99 vi Army Officers 220-231 99 vii Non-Military Officers 231-233 VI Strategy and Tactics op W ar: Sec. i Introductory 235-237 99 ii Strategical considerations.. 237-241 99 iii The Camp 241-243 99 iv Site for the Battle-field .. 243-247 99 V Construction and Siege of Forts 247-264 ' 9 9 vi Tactics 264-274 VII A eh ial a n d N aval W arfare : Sec. i Aerial Warfare 275-284 99 ii Naval Warfare 284^298 'D ip l o m a c y a n d W ar: Sec. i History of Diplomacy 299-312 99 ii The Sixfold Policy 312-3^4 99 * iii Instruments of Diplomacy. 324-SS4 99 iy Intern$tion$il Relations* CONSENTS JtV Chapter P age IX D iplom atic A gents: Sec. i The Place and Function of Ambassadors 337-551 ii .Espionage in War 351-361 Conclusion 361-362 A ppendix i Manuscripts 363-366 ii Flags in Ancient India . 367-376 iii War Music .