VEDA AND WAR

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War when to be Fought

According to Vedas, war with an enemy is normally to be started when he first

attacks or intends to attack. It is not to be fought out simply to acquire the

territory of any other country. At times of internal disturbances, the army is

also required to suppress revolt etc. Army is intended for the help of the King

under the eventualities.

Now this is very interesting. It says that a King will only attack to defend

himself and not to conquer the territory of another country. Now compare this

with Islam and Christianity. Both these religions have attacked the world as

none other while India has never invaded any other country ever. While there

are many reasons for India not having done so, the Vedas, the oldest schools of

Indian thought pronounce a defensive approach. Since 1947, Bharat has fought 4

wars with Pakistan and not once did we start it. Even during the recently held

Agra Summit it was the Pakis who were attacking the Indians by saying that

Kashmir must be part of Pakistan, it was only after the Pakis attacked us did

we respond. During the Summit, I did not hear India challenge the Pakistani

position on the Accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India or non-adherence by

Pakistan of the 1948 U N Resolution that Pakistan has been harping on for

nearly 50 years.

O brave warriors, rise with your banners and prepare yourself for (battle) to

protect the territorial boundaries of the country. O snake like swift warriors,

O demons like men and other people, chase the enemy who attempts to attack.

(Rig.5.54.14) (Ath.11.10.1)

O warriors, you cannot be conquered by any one, you can not be killed or subdued

by any one; but you do not trouble any one nor plunder any area. You are

assigned to protect the Kingdom. (Rig.5.54.7)

Qualifications of a Commander: In Vedas, / commander-in chief is mostly

addressed as Rudra or Maruta. Both these words indicate his quality. Rudra

means fearless and Maruta means swift in action. He is to be a man of strong

will, sturdy and of impressive physique, should be able to command and protect

the country from internal as well as from external invasions.

O commander-in-chief! You are capable of taking to task the wicked persons. You

possess the capacity and power to annihilate the enemy. You are equipped with

requisite weapons. We pay our respect to you. (Yaju 16.1)

Some of the qualities required for a chief of an army are dealt in detail, in

Rig. Veda 2.33, Ath.11.2. Only a few of them are noted below:

(Kavim). Fully conversant with the art of fighting a war (Rig.1-114-4)

(Shvitichey)-Possessing exemplary character. (Rig.2-33-8) (Vajrabahu)-Whose

arms are like that of a sword. (Rig.2-33-3) (Pururupa)-Capable of handling all

sorts of situations. (Rig :2-33-9) (Sahasrakshaya)-Possessing a very watchful

eye. (Yajur Veda) (Avevirah)-Outstanding warrior. (Ath.:19-12-2)

O commander-in-chief, you possess the capacity to fight out the enemy. You

deploy weapons for destroying the enemy and protect the boundaries from

invasion.

(Yaju 16.3)

O brave warriors! March on fast, attack the enemy according to command of your

officer, chase the enemy as a wolf worries the sheep, let not the enemy go out

of your clutches alive, Stop his breath (kill him). ( Ath.5.8.4.)

Qualifications of a Warrior

Foremost qualification of warrior is that he must be deeply in love with his

motherland. It is only then he can put his whole soul to save his motherland

from all sorts of troubles.

A good warrior has almost the same qualities, which are possessed by the army commander.

(Urga) (Rig.1.19.4)-Swift to take action. (Rig.1.19.4) Indomitable courage.

(Rig.1.19.5) fearless. (Rig.1.37.2) Bright. Who is prepared to die for his

cause?(Rig.1.37.1)

The warrior should be brave, expert in the use of weapons, capable of defeating

the enemy, should be expert (in driving and riding etc.) and in full know of

army rules and affairs.

Valiant women are also to be recruited in the army who are bodily fit like men.

O queen, the slayer of foes, organize the band of the army of women, that may

bewilder the hearts of the forces of the enemy, remain aloof from sin, convey

him to thy Soldiers, burn down the foes, whereby they may abide in utter

darkness with hearts full of grief.

(Yaju 17.44)

Can we Indians forget the heroics of the Rani of Jhansi or Ahilyabai Holkar.

General National Service

The idea of General National Service, as envisaged in the Indian constitution

(Part IV-A), is not a new one and is derived from Vedas. The security of a

country is the responsibility of every citizen. He must give a few years of his

life for service to the Nation. In Vedic age brahmacharis (Scholars) were given

military training in Ashramas. Hymn 8 of Rig. Veda indicates this fact by the

use of the words which means the general public (Rig.5.53.10 and 5.58.1) New

recruits are to be taken every year to be posted at different places and in

different cantonments of the same age and Maruta Swift like the wind. National

service, which is times of danger, develops into a nation in arms. Nationalism

and National service grow hand in hand.

Tri-Service

Army alike these days, is divided into three categories viz. land, sea and air.

We will deal with them one by one briefly.

Land forces : (The queen of battle field) : Land and the people residing on it,

shiver when the brave warriors march over, with all their equipments, bands,

etc. (Rig.1.38.10)

Brave warriors you gracefully go both on land and in air. The vehicles will

follow your path ___(Rig 1.55.7)

O Commanding Officer! You are the holder of these lethal weapons, which have

three edges, three effects and are effective against the enemy on earth, outer

space etc. People on earth. And in air or in other heavenly regions accept your

power. (Ath.11.10.2)

Warriors of the country, countless in numbers and in a very great strength march

on the earth in lines and are posted at different places. ( Yaju 16.54)

Air force :

Those warriors (air men) who come by aeroplanes are free from the effect of dust (Rig.1.168.4)

O warrior! You come through the shining sky. (Rig.1.6.9.)

Warriors! Your enemy cannot trace you out in the space. (Rig 1.39.4)

We bow to you, O soldier, who flying in the outer space protects those living

beings there. ( Ath 11.2.4.)

Sea force

The ships (sea horse) carry away necessary wealth, ration etc. for those

soldiers who are stationed beyond sea. (Rig.1.167.2)

In this mantra a warrior is described as bird who travels in the sea under

water, which fact indicates that soldiers go under the sea, viz. in submarines.

(Rig.5.52.9)

Special Honor for Brave Warriors

Vedas lay down that special respect; honor should be accorded to army men, as

they are the protectors of the country.

Respect for the warrior, respect to the commander, respect for all the ranks.

Every essential item needed, should be offered to those who are in the vehicles

and also to those who drive these vehicles Full honor should be bestowed on all

those who fight the enemy either on land, in air or in the sea. This mantra

also establishes the fact that the army is divided into three categories land

force, air force and sea force. Not mere honor, but all kinds of facilities are

to be provided to army men. Special type of clothing, proper nursing, food,

living accommodation, clubs, play ground, hospitals, places for the prayers and

educational facilities are to be provided to them. (Yaju 16.26)

A.Clubs

When this mantra is interpreted in relation to a soldier it means as under: -

There should be assemblies of warriors. They should be given chance to address

others. They should be taught to speak a well-considered and cultured language.

They should perform Agnihotra (sacrificial fire). (Rig.1.66.2): They should play

in playgrounds.

(Rig.1.167.3)

B. Hospital, Medical Aid

O you Maruta! the commander will arrange for you all those medicines, which are

pure and useful for the betterment of your health.

(Rig 2.33.13)

There is a simile in this verse. Just as children run hither and so also the

soldiers, during war go on all sides to save themselves from onslaught. All

those soldiers who are tired, wounded, torn of their parts or the tainted ones

should be removed immediately from the field and taken to safe places for

providing them medical treatment For the dead, proper arrangements for their

cremation are to be made. ( Yaju 17.48)

C. Military training

O warrior! you learn viz. training for parade etc. This whole hymn, seventh of

eight mandala of Rigveda deals with the training and equipment of soldiers.

(Rig.8.7.2.)

O warrior! you sometimes disguise yourself as human, sometimes as a horse and at

other times as a pigeon to befoul the enemy. (Rig 5.52.11)

This mantra refers to the training of the soldiers to entrap the enemy in a

winding coil like circle. (Ath. 11.9.5.)

The soldiers walk in line (parade) just as the birds do. (Rig. 5.59.7.)

Like men, women are also to be given military training.

O wife of the commander-in-chief! expert in the art of archery, trained by

learned person, on persuasion, go afar, encounter the force of the enemy, and

achieve victory by slaying them. Let not even one of those distant foes escape.

(Yaju 17.45)

D. Arrangement of Food

Soldiers are served with curd. (Rig 1.64.2)

(Rig.1.87.1) Soldiers are provided with Elixir.

(Rig. 1.85.3) During journey, soldiers are to be provided with food, butter etc.

___ Varieties of food to be given to them.

E. Clothing (Uniform):

Warriors’ bodies should be well protected and provided with uniforms to look

graceful. (Rig.5.57.6.)

Soldiers should look graceful there with their well-built bodies and good

dresses. They should be provided with bulletproof jackets. (Rig

1.166.9)

F. Accommodation:

For accommodating large force of Army ruler is required to build cantonments.

(Rig.1.64.10), (Rig 1.165.1) and (Rig 5.87.4).

The first two above indicate that the soldiers are to live in the same type of

house. The third mantra means that the soldiers go out of the same type of an

accommodation viz. barracks.

Oath Taking:

Devoid of all misdeeds we vow to serve the motherland. (Yaju 12.12)

Military Band

Hymns twelfth and twenty-first of fifth Kanda of the Atharva Veda deal mostly with war drums bands.

Let the war drums, which are meant for quick victory and known to all, roar

loudly like oxen marked by strength among the cattle. Let these drums pierce

the hearts of the adversaries with sorrow and let our routed enemies desert

their villages.

The war-drums are also useful in the battlefields as they play great part in

frightening the enemy and his forces. (Ath.5.20.3)

Let the roar of the war-drums be loud spreading their noise all-around between

earth and sky; let their sharp notes spread out in all directions, let them

reign at the enemy to frighten him and his forces. They also encourage our army

and our allies. (Ath.5.20.7)

Let these war drums be victorious in battles, loudly roaring and becoming the

means of seizing whatever may be seized and be witnessed by all. Let these war

drums sound wonderful note and let the army commander capture all the

possessions of the enemies. (Ath.5.20.4.)

FLAG

May these one-minded wondrous armies holding the flag marked with sun, subjugate

our enemies. (Whatever uttered herein is correct.) (Ath.5.21.12)

Let the red flag wave high in the sky when the army equipped with Trisandhi

(three types of army, viz. land force, airforce and sea force) come out

victorious. (Ath.11.10.7)

Flags should fly on each vehicle carrying young commander or other warriors to

distinguish as to whether it is our or that of the enemy’s vehicle.

(Ath.15.19.13.11)

Attack the enemy having flying flags. (Ath. 11.10)

Equipment for the army

Unless the army is fully equipped with in all respects it is not possible to win

the war. Soldiers are, therefore, to be provided with all the necessary weapons,

quick transport, medical facilities, requisite number of tanks and other

carriers, aeroplanes, ships, etc. and above all, proper and adequate ration for

the front. Weapons and carriers are to be manufactured in ordnance factories and

supplied from other supply depots. What happened in 1962, you may ask? So much

was this nation of ours taken by the Gandhian concept of non-violence that

Nehru and his comrades like Acharya Kriplani neglected the defence needs of our

country. Here, Gandhi did not follow the Vedas or the holy Geeta.

O you the producers of arms and ammunitions : (ordnance factories) and you the

supplier of the same, vouchsafe that the arms you are supplying are in good

condition and shall never fail while in use by the warriors who are wholly and

perfectly devoted to defend their mother land. (Yaju 16.10)

A brief list of army weapons, referred to in Vedas, is given below:

(1). (Yaju 33.46) equivalent to modern bomb. (2) (Yaju 10.21). (3) (Yaju 10.22).

(4) It emits rays to destroy the enemy. (5) (Yaju 16.11). It is not thrown like

a bomb but used in fighting (6) (Yaju 15.16). It is a very strong weapon. (7)

(Ath.11.10.2). It consists of three joints almost like a rocket. (8)

(Ath.11.10.3). In this weapon small pieces of iron are attached (9)

(Ath.11.10.3). It has a pin like nail at the mouth. (10) (Ath.11.10.1). This

weapon spreads smoke. (11) (Ath.11.10.7). This weapon makes the enemy

senseless. (12) (Ath.11.9.7). It emits tear gas. (13) (Ath.11.9.19). It emits

fire.

Besides the above-referred ones, there are various kinds of (traps) mentioned in

Vedas, which are to be used to capture the enemy. To name a few of them

(Jaiyapasha) (Ath.11.10.25), (Kavach Pasha) (Ath.11.10.25) (Naga Pasha) (Chakra

Pasha), (Padma Pasha).

O the effluent commander, you with your hundred kinds of weapons and Pashas can

push the enemy back. (Yaju.16.53)

O commander-in-chief, the thousands of weapons and traps that you possess can

tear off the enemy. ( Yaju 16.52)

Army Tactics

May your arms, namely your cannons, rifles, bow and arrows, swords, spears and

all other war weapons be strong and firmly wielded by you to repel the wicked

foe, bent upon injuring you as well as for opposing and setting at naught the

force of his machinations against you. May your army, the strength of nation,

be worthy of praise. (Rig 1.39.2)

O Commanding-chief! if the enemy makes strong hold of the physical forces

(against us) and through science produces effective means of shelter (trenches,

forts etc.) taking all steps for the shelter of their persons, conquer him and

take necessary steps to defeat him. (Ath. 11.10.17)

Cut off supplies, including food of the enemy’s army. Kanda sixth and Mandal

65th and 66th of Athrvaveda deal with the subject of defeating the enemy’s army

by taking away or destroying his arms and ammunitions. (Ath.4.22.6)

O commander! You make the enemy sick by use of gas or poison. (Ath.4.31.3)

By creating weakness, misfortune, pain, fatigue, languor, drowsiness___ I defeat

the enemy. (Ath.8.8.9.)

Let the wings with tongues of fire and crest of smokes go conquering foe. (Ath.11.9.19)

O enemy, there are spread the trap of death or the fatal missiles, of which you

can never escape, and this complicated device would smite and slay thousands of

your soldiers. (Ath.8.8.16)

O Foe! get your share of the flame of death, hunger, exhaustion, slaughter and

fear. Let the electricity and fire destroy you with snares and nets prepared

specifically for the job. (Ath.8.8.18)

Let the army of the foe of the ground be troubled in the eyes with smoke and

gases and let them cry. (Ath.11.10.7.)

O brave and winner commander! you rise with your army, breaking the nests of the

enemy and surround him as snake surrounds the prey with its winding coils.

(Ath 11.9.5)

In case of need use of chemicals for destroying the enemy is allowed.

Deadly poison may be mixed in the food or in the milk, or in the fruits etc.

(Ath.5.31.1)

To kill the enemy there is instructions that the powder glass be administered

orally in a bomb etc. (Ath.1.16.2)

Please join me praying to Ishwar that Indian leaders learn to take tough

decisions, hurt - kill our opponents who do Adharmic acts, allow the Indian

Army to hit back hard and follow the concept of Ahimsa as enunciated by the

Holy Geeta. (To read about it please go to the section Why and read an article

Why has Asceticism lead to the Weakening of India - last chapter).

SOURCE.

In his book, Defending India, Jaswant Singh wrote about the lack of strategic

culture in India. DRDO wizard Dr Abdul Kalam had, during one of his talks

wondered why Bharat had never invaded any other country in its 7,000 years plus

history. While I am yet to find detailed answers to the questions posed by these

men, I was always curious to know what did the Holy Vedas say on such matters. I

was fortunate to find a book Chips from a Vedic Workshop by Inder Dev Khosla

where he has briefly shared Military Science in the Vedas.