War in Ancient India c5.s5.30

c5.s5.30

It has been realised that the use of poison, fire, and similar means which are features of the kūṭayuddha were regarded neither just nor fair in war. For they would result in a vast amount of destruction of men, property, cattle, and of other non-combatants. Thus laying the villages and corn-fields of the enemy to waste, poisoning of tanks and wells, using weapons with poisoned tips, setting fire to the camp, striking the enemy concealed, decoying him into an unfavourable position and striking him there, attacking him when fatigued or in sleep or engaged in hunting, are the various methods of attacking the enemy. Other methods which were resorted to in kūṭayuddha were to stir up rebellion among the enemy's subjects by bribery and through secret agents, to murder him, to make surprise attacks on him at night. In short, the baser methods of diplomacy, like māyā and indrajālā, underlay the kūṭayuddha.¹⁴⁹