Jain Journal 1968 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 43

War Science in Ancient India (from the Jaina sources)
Though the presumption of Jainism is based on renunciation, but in ethical stories of the Jaina literature we find sufficient materials of war science scattered here and there. In this essay, I shall try to trace out the whole picture of war science of ancient India as is available in Jaina literature. For the sake of convenience I shall arrange the whole material under the following heads: causes of war, the ethics of war, preparations for war, divisions of army, kinds of weapons, military camps and results of war.
PREMCHAND JAIN
Causes of war : It is not necessary that there should be a serious cause for starting a war. The causes of wars narrated in Jaina literature are mostly very casual1. In fact small jealousies, hatred and prejudice started many horrible wars.
Another dominating factor behind the outbreak of wars was the expansionist motive of the petty chieftains. Digvijaya was another motive which invited opposition i.e. wars2. There were matrimonial reasons too. Every svayambara opened with the sweet auspicious music but was destined to end with the trumpets of war3. Thus in those days wars were fought for property, prestige, land and woman1.
Ethics of war: In the age of Rāmāyana and Mahabharata the wars were supposed to be dharma-yuddha (wars for the preservation of dharma). Hence these were fought according to the rules". For preventing a war the principles of sāma, dāna daṇḍa and bheda were applied. Preference was for mantra-yuddha over sastra-yuddha. But when wars became inevitable they resorted to arms. Sometimes to prevent the loss of arms and the army the kings preferred to decide the issue by duels such as bahu-yuddha, malla-yuddha, cakra-yuddha, etc, Duel fight between Bharata and Bahaubali is an example of this?.
When the king was to start a war he used to send envoys to the opponent to intimate him of his decision. The envoys were expected not only to deliver the message but also to know the mind of the opponent king. Example of this can be cited from Yasastilaka of Somadeva.