War in Ancient India c5.s2.98

c5.s2.98

21. Prisoners of war were generally to be accorded generous treatment. In the epoch of the Brāhmaṇas the fettered prisoner was sent out of the kingdom and was permitted to remain on the outskirts. Sometimes the captive agreed to become a slave of the captor for a period of one year after which he became a free man.⁹⁷ If maidens were among the prisoners of war, they were courteously treated and were induced to marry persons of the conqueror's choice. If they declined the offer, they were sent back to their homes under proper escort.⁹⁸ Hospitality, the sacredness of the refugee, the law not to forget a kindness or a hurt, and not to refuse to fight when challenged, are some features of fair fighting according to the epic code.⁹⁹ According to the Mudrā-rākṣasa, Kautalya-Cāṇakya set free prisoners captured in war by Candragupta. Kanaka and Vijaya, the northern kings who were taken captives in the Ganges expedition, were liberated by Śeṅguṭṭuvan after some time and sent back to their capitals.100