Author(s)
Gagan Pratap Singh
- Manuscript ID: 140847
- Volume: 2
- Issue: 7
- Pages: 258–264
Subject Area: Arts and Humanities
Abstract
The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are Indian religious and mythological epics rich in political wisdom‚ ethics of warfare‚ and military strategy as well․ They discuss war‚ peacemaking‚ diplomacy and the importance of dharma (duty)‚ nyaya (justice)‚ leadership‚ courage‚ self-restraint and moral duty to society as well as war's inevitable chaos․ Epic tradition holds that war is not mere violence‚ but associated with and justified by dharma‚ and that it becomes the weapon of dharma only when it is required to restore order‚ protect the society and preserve dharma․ This chapter deals with Indian military thought in the Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana․ It deals with ancient Indian epic thought as developed in the Mahabharata and Ramayana around dharma-yuddha‚ generalship‚ tactics and strategy‚ military organization‚ diplomatic history‚ weapons‚ ethics‚ and cost of war of Indian epics․ According to the authors‚ Indian epic thought has civilized and regulated violence by warning that power without dharma is destructive․