This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "Dharma-yuddha" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR(August 2018)
Dharma-yuddha is a Sanskrit word made up of two roots: dharma (धर्म) meaning righteousness, and yuddha (युद्ध) meaning warfare. In the Hindu Scriptures, dharma-yuddha refers to a war that is fought while following several rules that make the war fair.[1][2][3]
For instance, in a righteous war, equals fight equals. Chariot warriors are not supposed to attack cavalry and infantry, those on elephants are not supposed to attack infantry, and so on. The rules also forbid the usage of celestial weapons (divine weapons bestowed by the gods) on ordinary soldiers (as opposed to soldiers of noble birth). The build-up of weapons and armies is done with the full knowledge of the opposing side and no surprise attacks are made.
The rules of engagement also set out how warriors were to deal with noncombatants. No one should attack an enemy who has temporarily lost or dropped their weapon. The lives of women, prisoners of war, and farmers were also sacred. Pillaging the land was forbidden.
Dharma-yuddha also signifies that the war is not fought for gain or selfish reasons. A dharma-yuddha is waged to uphold the principles of righteousness.
In the Mahabharata epic, which describes the Kurukshetra war, the two sides agree on the following rules:
Fighting must begin no earlier than sunrise and, should end by exact sunset. (Broken on the 14th day, after Jayadratha was slain).
Multiple warriors must not attack a single warrior. (Broken several times, most notably in the 13th day, when Abhimanyu was slain).
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). (Broken several times).
No warrior may kill or injure a warrior who has surrendered. (Violated when Satyaki slew an unarmed Burishravas).
No warrior may kill or injure an unarmed warrior. (Broken when Arjuna slew Karna when the latter was unarmed trying to take out his chariot wheel from mud ).
No warrior may kill or injure an unconscious warrior. (Broken when Abhimanyu was slain).
No warrior may kill or injure a person or animal not taking part in the war. (Broken several times when warriors slew horses and charioteers of their enemies).
No warrior may kill or injure a warrior whose back is turned away. (Shakuni and Arjuna broke that rule).
No warrior may strike an animal not considered a direct threat. (Broken when Bhima killed an elephant of Ashwathama).
The rules specific to each weapon must be followed. For example, it is prohibited to strike below the waist in mace warfare (Broken in the final combat of Bhima and Duryodhana on night of final day of war).
Other textsedit
Beyond the Mahabharata, the principles of dharma-yuddha are referred to in many other ancient Indian texts, including the Ramayana and the Dharmashastras or law texts.
^Kaushik Roy. Hinduism and the Ethics of Warfare in South Asia: From Antiquity to the Present. Cambridge University. p. 28.
^Das, Arunjana (2020-03-01). "Defining Dharma Yuddha: a Taxonomical Approach to Decolonizing Studies on Hindu War Ethics". Journal of Dharma Studies. 2 (2): 135–151. doi:10.1007/s42240-019-00058-7. ISSN 2522-0934.
^Dunbar, Scott (2011-09-16). "Classical Hindu views of 'Righteous Warfare' (Dharma Yuddha) in light of Michael Walzer's Just War theory". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
External linksedit
Lessons from India’s wars: Hindus need a new Dharma Yuddha
Strategic Thinking in Ancient India and China
Comparison of the nighttime fighting rule in the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
January 01, 1970
dharma, yuddha, confused, with, dharamyudh, sikhism, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, citations, additional, sources, find, sources, news, news. Not to be confused with Dharamyudh Sikhism This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Dharma yuddha news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2018 Dharma yuddha is a Sanskrit word made up of two roots dharma धर म meaning righteousness and yuddha य द ध meaning warfare In the Hindu Scriptures dharma yuddha refers to a war that is fought while following several rules that make the war fair 1 2 3 For instance in a righteous war equals fight equals Chariot warriors are not supposed to attack cavalry and infantry those on elephants are not supposed to attack infantry and so on The rules also forbid the usage of celestial weapons divine weapons bestowed by the gods on ordinary soldiers as opposed to soldiers of noble birth The build up of weapons and armies is done with the full knowledge of the opposing side and no surprise attacks are made The rules of engagement also set out how warriors were to deal with noncombatants No one should attack an enemy who has temporarily lost or dropped their weapon The lives of women prisoners of war and farmers were also sacred Pillaging the land was forbidden Dharma yuddha also signifies that the war is not fought for gain or selfish reasons A dharma yuddha is waged to uphold the principles of righteousness Contents 1 In the Mahabharata 2 Other texts 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksIn the Mahabharata editIn the Mahabharata epic which describes the Kurukshetra war the two sides agree on the following rules Fighting must begin no earlier than sunrise and should end by exact sunset Broken on the 14th day after Jayadratha was slain Multiple warriors must not attack a single warrior Broken several times most notably in the 13th day when Abhimanyu was slain 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 Broken several times No warrior may kill or injure a warrior who has surrendered Violated when Satyaki slew an unarmed Burishravas 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 Broken when Arjuna slew Karna when the latter was unarmed trying to take out his chariot wheel from mud No warrior may kill or injure an unconscious warrior Broken when Abhimanyu was slain No warrior may kill or injure a person or animal not taking part in the war Broken several times when warriors slew horses and charioteers of their enemies No warrior may kill or injure a warrior whose back is turned away Shakuni and Arjuna broke that rule No warrior may strike an animal not considered a direct threat Broken when Bhima killed an elephant of Ashwathama The rules specific to each weapon must be followed For example it is prohibited to strike below the waist in mace warfare Broken in the final combat of Bhima and Duryodhana on night of final day of war Other texts editBeyond the Mahabharata the principles of dharma yuddha are referred to in many other ancient Indian texts including the Ramayana and the Dharmashastras or law texts See also editKutayuddha Interventionism politics Just War Militarism Roerich Pact Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts Project RULAC Rule of law Rule According to Higher Law JihadReferences edit Kaushik Roy Hinduism and the Ethics of Warfare in South Asia From Antiquity to the Present Cambridge University p 28 Das Arunjana 2020 03 01 Defining Dharma Yuddha a Taxonomical Approach to Decolonizing Studies on Hindu War Ethics Journal of Dharma Studies 2 2 135 151 doi 10 1007 s42240 019 00058 7 ISSN 2522 0934 Dunbar Scott 2011 09 16 Classical Hindu views of Righteous Warfare Dharma Yuddha in light of Michael Walzer s Just War theory a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help External links editLessons from India s wars Hindus need a new Dharma Yuddha Strategic Thinking in Ancient India and China Chennai Online Comparison of the nighttime fighting rule in the Mahabharata and the Ramayana Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dharma yuddha amp oldid 1214818406, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
