War in Ancient India c9.s1.t1.21

c9.s1.t1.21

The camp was generally a self-sufficient unit. It was a miniature town. There were minstrels and women of lower and higher ranks. For instance, Draupadī and Subhadrā, in the Pāṇḍava camp of the Mahābhārata war, lamented the death of Abhimanyu. They were escorted back home by aged men.²⁰ All the four varṇas were found in it. The storing of arms as wells as of food-stuffs was ample. Physicians and surgeons were available for the treatment of the sick and the wounded.²¹ The army retired to rest after the day’s labour. On waking up their first business was to offer prayers.²² In this connexion Kauṭalya remarks: “Kings and allies, in order to secure their triumph should observe in their encampment, the strict rules of self-denial, liberality and religion.”²³