Warfare.
09 Oct '11 15:57The battle of Kurukshetra was fought 5000yrs ago in India and 3.95 million people were killed in 18 days.
Rivers of blood were seen flowing with arms and legs and heads bobbing around.
How glorious was that battle that even the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna was there driving the chariot for Arjuna.
The Bhagavad Gita was spoken on that battle field - before the fighting began.
After the fighting subsided and when night fell - the opponents of one side went to the other side and talked of the days fighting - swapping stories of heroic deeds.
At day break the fighting continued.
Fighting wars is an eternal activity of living beings - and righteous wars are always glorious when fought for the right reasons.
No women and children were there - and there were only kshatriyas (warriors) at the battle.
In Vedic culture violence of any type is condemned for the sake of the peace of the citizens - but righteous warring is glorified when true religious principles are at stake.
Rules of engagement
The two supreme commanders met and framed "rules of ethical conduct", dharmayuddha, for the war. The rules included:
Fighting must begin no earlier than sunrise and end exactly at sunset.
Multiple warriors may not attack a single warrior.
Two warriors may "duel", or engage in prolonged personal combat, only if they carry the same weapons and they are on the same mount (no mount, a horse, an elephant, or a chariot).
No warrior may kill or injure a warrior who has surrendered.
One who surrenders becomes a prisoner of war and will then be subject to the protections of a prisoner of war.
No warrior may kill or injure an unarmed warrior.
No warrior may kill or injure an unconscious warrior.
No warrior may kill or injure a person or animal not taking part in the war.
No warrior may kill or injure a warrior whose back is turned away.
No warrior may attack a woman.
No warrior may strike an animal not considered a direct threat.
The rules specific to each weapon must be followed. For example, it is prohibited to strike below the waist in mace warfare.
Warriors may not engage in any "unfair" warfare.
Rivers of blood were seen flowing with arms and legs and heads bobbing around.
How glorious was that battle that even the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna was there driving the chariot for Arjuna.
The Bhagavad Gita was spoken on that battle field - before the fighting began.
After the fighting subsided and when night fell - the opponents of one side went to the other side and talked of the days fighting - swapping stories of heroic deeds.
At day break the fighting continued.
Fighting wars is an eternal activity of living beings - and righteous wars are always glorious when fought for the right reasons.
No women and children were there - and there were only kshatriyas (warriors) at the battle.
In Vedic culture violence of any type is condemned for the sake of the peace of the citizens - but righteous warring is glorified when true religious principles are at stake.
Rules of engagement
The two supreme commanders met and framed "rules of ethical conduct", dharmayuddha, for the war. The rules included:
Fighting must begin no earlier than sunrise and end exactly at sunset.
Multiple warriors may not attack a single warrior.
Two warriors may "duel", or engage in prolonged personal combat, only if they carry the same weapons and they are on the same mount (no mount, a horse, an elephant, or a chariot).
No warrior may kill or injure a warrior who has surrendered.
One who surrenders becomes a prisoner of war and will then be subject to the protections of a prisoner of war.
No warrior may kill or injure an unarmed warrior.
No warrior may kill or injure an unconscious warrior.
No warrior may kill or injure a person or animal not taking part in the war.
No warrior may kill or injure a warrior whose back is turned away.
No warrior may attack a woman.
No warrior may strike an animal not considered a direct threat.
The rules specific to each weapon must be followed. For example, it is prohibited to strike below the waist in mace warfare.
Warriors may not engage in any "unfair" warfare.
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