War in Ancient India c9.s4.41

c9.s4.41

Another method employed in Kūṭayuddha is to attack the enemy fighting on another front when he was engaged or the would-be conqueror would feign an open attack or retreat, draw the enemy into a trap and overwhelm him in the rear by attacks previously arranged. This is what we understand to-day as enveloping tactics. Generally the attacks were direct, and rarely was this tactical method adopted. When the Pāṇḍavas realised that Bhīṣma could not be conquered by a frontal attack, they arranged a plan of campaign in which the enemy would be overwhelmed from all sides. Indeed it proved effective to the Pāṇḍavas and detrimental to the Kurus. No restrictions embarrassed a king pursuing an unrighteous war. The enemy might be attacked whenever he was wearied or careless. Or he might be killed when asleep during day or night.⁹⁹ Thus the use of stratagem for destroying an enemy seems to have been advocated even by good men. Aśvatthāma cites the authority of Vedic scholars for the use of poison, fire, and illusory weapons as the road to victory.