Hindu Administrative Institutions c11.s3.12

c11.s3.12

To kill in war or to be killed in war was not deemed unrighteous. On the eve of the battle at Kurukṣetra when Arjuna sees in the battlefield, his near and dear ones not excluding even the *ācāryas* on the other side, he becomes despondent and resolves not to fight. It is for Lord Kṛṣṇa to initiate him into the subtleties of the Kṣatriya *dharma* and rouse him to action.¹ But it was no indiscriminate fighting into which the ancients launched themselves. For the *Mahābhārata* rules that only equals could fight with each other, either beast or man. Elephants were to fight with elephants, horses with horses and so on.² This means there was to be fighting between equals. For example one could not be attacked by odds. And again a Kṣatriya could not call to arms any soldier who is not prepared to fight, or who has no armour on. Therefore a warrior in war-suit who proclaims his readiness to accept an engagement could be fought. A keen sense of duty animated the ancient Kṣatriyas of both north and south India. The death of a Kṣatriya at home is not