War in Ancient India c9.s4.2

c9.s4.2

In tactics we call a battle defensive if the enemy takes the initiative, and the defender awaits him from his own station. Among the six prescriptions of foreign relations we can roughly speak of *vigraha* as a war of offence and *āsana* as one of defence. In the great battle of Laṅkā it was Rāma who took the offensive, while Rāvaṇa adopted a defensive policy. It was a long and weary march from Kiṣkindhā to Laṅkā. Further, there was the sea to be crossed. This was possible only by a rough causeway which was specially constructed by the engineering skill of Nila at the instance of Rāma. This must certainly have lost Rāma much time; and Rāvaṇa, if he had wished, could have obstructed the building of the causeway. Common sense would have dictated that he should prevent the enemy from crossing the bridge by direct defence from the other shore. Apparently Rāvaṇa realised the advantage of the condition of the approaching enemy as well as of the ground on which he could reinforce his troops and draw them up in orderly array. Judged by the result, Rāvaṇa's adoption of this defensive policy was a tactical blunder.