War in Ancient India c4.s3.2

c4.s3.2

In this connexion we may examine a few passages in the *Aitareya Brāhmaṇa*³ᵃ where it is said that a war broke out between the Devas and the Asuras. The latter had an organization and a leader and were successful the unorganized hordes of the Devas, identified with Indo-Aryans, who were utterly routed. This signal defeat at the hands of the Asuras set the Devas think about their future. So they resolved to elect a king who was to be their leader in war. The Indo-Aryans attributed the success of their enemies to their leader and king. So the Aryan peoples met and elected a king from among themselves.