War in Ancient India c5.s2.27

c5.s2.27

War meant victory or defeat. The warrior would either come out victorious or be slain in the contest. No one would prefer the latter. To earn a victory was the ruling passion. It was believed that that could not be effected by mere physical strength or assertion of might. But if the human endeavour was backed by divine power (daiva balam), then it was thought that success would attend on him. Hence throughout the week preceding the march the king should spend his time, in prayers to God. On the first day he should worship Hari, Śambhu and Vināyaka; on the second the Lokapālas; on the third the other deities; on the fourth the planets; on the fifth the Aśvins, the presiding deities of the rivers, mountains, trees and other objects; and on the last two days Narasimha and also war animals and weapons.⁷²