{{Short description|Hindu concept of righteous war}} {{Not to be confused with|Dharamyudh (Sikhism)}}{{one source|date=August 2018}} {{Hindu scriptures}} '''Dharma-yuddha''' is a [[Sanskrit]] word made up of two roots: ''[[dharma]]'' (धर्म) meaning righteousness, and ''yuddha'' (युद्ध) meaning warfare. In the [[Hindu texts|Hindu Scriptures]], dharma-yuddha refers to a holy war or battle that is fought while following several rules that make the war fair.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hinduism and the Ethics of Warfare in South Asia: From Antiquity to the Present|page=28|publisher=Cambridge University|author=Kaushik Roy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Das |first=Arunjana |date=2020-03-01 |title=Defining Dharma Yuddha: a Taxonomical Approach to Decolonizing Studies on Hindu War Ethics |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s42240-019-00058-7 |journal=Journal of Dharma Studies |language=en |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=135–151 |doi=10.1007/s42240-019-00058-7 |issn=2522-0934|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dunbar |first=Scott |date=2011-09-16 |title=Classical Hindu views of 'Righteous Warfare' (Dharma Yuddha) in light of Michael Walzer's Just War theory |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2011-07-28}}</ref>
For instance, in a righteous war, equals fight equals. [[Ratha|Chariot]] warriors are not supposed to attack [[cavalry]] and [[infantry]], those on [[war elephant|elephants]] are not supposed to attack [[infantry]], and so on. The rules also forbid the usage of [[Astra (weapon)|celestial weapons]] (divine weapons bestowed by the [[Hindu god|gods]]) on ordinary soldiers (as opposed to warriors of noble birth). The build-up of weapons and armies is done with the full knowledge of the opposing side and no [[Surprise attack|surprise attacks]] are made.
The rules of engagement also set out how warriors were to deal with [[Non-combatant|non-combatants]]. No one should attack an enemy who has temporarily lost or dropped their weapon. The lives of women, [[Sannyasa|ascetics]], [[prisoners of war|prisoners of wars]], 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'' == In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' epic, which describes the [[Kurukshetra war|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 [[Bhurishravas]]). * 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 == Beyond the ''Mahabharata'', the principles of dharma-yuddha are referred to in many other ancient Indian texts, including the ''[[Ramayana]]'' and the [[Dharmashastra|''Dharmashastras'']] or law texts.
==See also== *[[Crusade]] *[[Jihad]] *[[Just War]] *[[Interventionism (politics)]] *[[Kutayuddha]] *[[Militarism]] *[[Roerich Pact]] *[[Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts Project (RULAC)]] *[[Rule of law]] *[[Rule According to Higher Law]]
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://indiafacts.org/lessons-from-indias-wars-hindus-need-a-new-dharma-yuddha/ Lessons from India’s wars: Hindus need a new Dharma Yuddha] * [http://ignca.nic.in/ks_41041.htm Strategic Thinking in Ancient India and China] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070308044142/http://www.chennaionline.com/festivalsnreligion/religion/2005/religion879.asp Chennai Online] Comparison of the nighttime fighting rule in the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
{{HinduMythology}}
[[Category:Mahabharata]] [[Category:Law of war]]