War in Ancient India c5.s2.33

c5.s2.33

The warrior's code ruled that on the day before the battle the king should sleep in his chariot with his weapons by his side. Astrologers and soothsayers observed the various omens and predicted the good or bad results foretold by them.⁷⁸ The king was asked to begin his march at an auspicious hour, after satisfying himself with regard to the strength of the forces and the attendant circumstances. If the omens brought with them good signs, the kings were to give certain peace offerings (śānti), for, according to the belief of the time, these propitious rites were likened to an armour shielding the warrior from a volley of arrows.⁷⁹