The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s5.17

c2.s5.17

na tad aṇute), for what he does win belongs to him, except for the share deducted for the king. Compare M. vii. 96–97 and G. x. 20–23: the victor has all the spoils of battle except cars and riding-animals, which fall to the king; as does also a special share of all the booty saving what a knight has thus gained by a duel; all other things won in battle are divided among the army; compare also Kām. Nīt. xix. 21. Death in some holy spot is particularly desirable, such as ‘kuruṣetra, the all-holy’ (v. 141. 53). ‘To fight as long as life shall last, to bow to priests and duty’ is the summary of a warrior’s code (v. 134. 40; 127. 15 ff). Sometimes the priest comes after duty, as ib. 127. 20. This is a perverted quotation.