Chapter 426 - 394: Rules Before War...

(A/N):

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Three days passed, and the plains chosen as the battlefield between Trivenivrata’s alliance and Vrishabhapura’s forces gradually transformed into a sea of soldiers, war banners, chariots, and weapons.

The land had been selected through mutual agreement between the two sides, far enough from the borders of any participating kingdom to prevent the conflict from spilling into the territories of neutral rulers, yet spacious enough to accommodate the enormous armies that were gathering from every direction.

What had once been an expanse of open grassland, dotted with scattered trees and crossed by a narrow river, now trembled beneath the steady march of thousands of warriors.

The ground was trampled by horses and elephants, the air carried the metallic scent of polished weapons and armour, and colourful banners fluttered above countless military formations, announcing the arrival of kings and commanders who had answered the call to war.

On one side stood the forces of Trivenivrata and the kingdoms that had chosen to stand alongside Devara.

Their armies had arrived in stages, each under the command of experienced generals who had spent the preceding days coordinating their formations, inspecting their equipment, and establishing supply camps.

Some rulers had personally accompanied their troops, determined to demonstrate that their support for Devara was more than a promise written on palm leaves.

Others had entrusted their forces to commanders whose loyalty and military experience had been proven through years of warfare.

The banners of the allied kingdoms stood together across the plain, each retaining its own colours and insignia, but their proximity sent a message that could not be mistaken.

They had not gathered to exchange one overlord for another.

They had come to ensure that no king could force his will upon independent kingdoms simply because he possessed the ambition and military strength to do so.

Opposite them, the army of Vrishabhapura occupied the other half of the battlefield. Its formations were disciplined, its supply lines carefully arranged, and its soldiers carried themselves with the rigid confidence of men who had spent their lives being taught that obedience to authority was the foundation of a stable kingdom.

The bull banners of Vrishabhapura rose above the ranks, their dark silhouettes visible from considerable distance.

King Vrishasena’s commanders had ensured that their troops were properly positioned, with infantry at the centre, cavalry stationed along the flanks, and chariots arranged where the terrain allowed them sufficient room to manoeuvre.

War elephants stood behind the forward formations, their armour gleaming beneath the sunlight while their mahouts kept them calm amid the growing noise.

Neither army had yet advanced against the other, but the sheer scale of their preparations made it clear that once the first conch sounded, the peaceful grassland would become a place of bloodshed.

Despite the tension between the two sides, there was one matter that had to be settled before the armies could engage.

The commanders had agreed that the conflict would be conducted according to the established principles of warfare described in the Vedas and the traditional codes followed by Kshatriya rulers.

Whatever grievances had brought their kings to this battlefield, the battle itself could not descend into indiscriminate slaughter.

Rules had to be established, acknowledged by both sides, and communicated to every soldier who would take part in the coming conflict.

Consequently, a meeting was arranged on neutral ground between the two armies, at a broad stretch of land where neither side would enjoy a strategic advantage merely by occupying the higher ground.

Temporary canopies had been erected for the gathering, and guards from both camps stood at a respectful distance while the senior commanders assembled beneath them. Devara and Vrishasena were notably absent.

Both kings had agreed that their commanders should settle the practical arrangements before either ruler appeared on the battlefield, leaving the two monarchs free to oversee their respective armies and make the final preparations for war.

Nearly every important military figure involved in the conflict had gathered there.

From Trivenivrata’s side came Dronacharya, Bhishma, Karna, Ashwatthama, and several experienced commanders representing the allied kingdoms.

Drona’s expression remained thoughtful as he listened to the opening remarks, while Bhishma stood with the composed dignity of a man who had witnessed enough wars to understand that victory and honour were not always the same thing.

Karna, dressed in his armour, watched the representatives of Vrishabhapura with an unreadable expression, although the occasional tightening of his jaw betrayed his impatience.

Ashwatthama, meanwhile, appeared far less interested in the formalities than in the men sitting opposite him.

His gaze travelled from one commander to another, assessing their bearing, their weapons, and the confidence with which they spoke.

The Vrishabhapura delegation was led by its senior military commanders, accompanied by royal advisers and experienced warriors who had served the kingdom through several campaigns.

They were equally determined to ensure that the rules favoured neither side, and the discussions began with the question of when the fighting would be permitted to start and when it must end.

"According to the traditional rules of warfare, an army must not begin its assault before the appointed time, nor should a warrior continue fighting once the permitted hours have passed,"

one of the senior commanders declared, his voice carrying clearly beneath the canopy.

"The battle shall begin after sunrise, once the armies have taken their positions and the appointed signal has been sounded. Fighting shall cease at sunset, regardless of whether either side has achieved its immediate objective."

"No commander may use the cover of darkness to launch an attack upon an enemy who has withdrawn from the day’s fighting."

A representative of one of the allied kingdoms nodded in agreement before adding,

"And when the sun sets, the soldiers must be permitted to return to their respective camps without fear of being pursued merely because they have turned away from the battlefield. Those who have fought throughout the day must be allowed to tend to their wounded, bury their dead, and prepare for the following morning."

"If the armies agree to observe these rules, then neither side may claim ignorance when the time comes to lay down their weapons."

One of the Vrishabhapura commanders leaned forward, resting his forearms upon the table between them.

"That arrangement is acceptable, provided both sides understand that the end of fighting does not automatically grant an enemy permission to approach our encampments."

"The camps will remain under military protection, and any individual who attempts to enter an opposing camp without authorisation will be treated according to the circumstances of the incident. We will not allow a supposed truce to become an excuse for espionage or sabotage."

"That is reasonable,"

Bhishma replied, speaking for the first time. His calm voice immediately drew the attention of those assembled.

"The purpose of these rules is to prevent a battle between warriors from becoming a war without boundaries. We are here because our kings have failed to resolve their differences through words."

"That does not mean we must abandon every principle that separates a lawful battle from slaughter without restraint. If we cannot honour the rules we establish before the first weapon is raised, then we have little right to speak of honour when the battle is over."

The commanders listened carefully, and several nodded in agreement.

Even those who had little affection for the opposing side understood the wisdom of establishing clear boundaries.

A war might be fought for sovereignty, pride, or political necessity, but an army that abandoned all discipline could become a threat to its own people as much as to its enemies.

The discussion then turned to the conduct of individual warriors.

Dronacharya, drawing upon his extensive knowledge of military traditions, explained that a warrior engaged in combat with an opponent of comparable standing should not suddenly turn upon someone who was already fighting another enemy.

A chariot warrior should face another chariot warrior, a mounted soldier should ordinarily engage an opponent of comparable capability, and a warrior on foot should not be deliberately crushed by a coordinated assault from several mounted fighters when he had no reasonable opportunity to defend himself.

Such principles did not mean that every engagement would unfold neatly according to rank, particularly once large formations collided, but they established the conduct expected of those who claimed to fight with honour.

"An opponent who has lost his weapon must not be attacked while he is attempting to surrender or retrieve another means of defence," Drona continued.

"A warrior who has clearly surrendered, been incapacitated, or withdrawn from combat must not be struck down simply because doing so would be convenient. Likewise, those who have been sent to carry messages between the armies must be allowed to perform their duties without being attacked, provided they do not use their position to engage in hostile acts."

"Messengers are not soldiers merely because they cross a battlefield."

A Vrishabhapura commander considered this before responding.

"And what of a warrior who deliberately pretends to surrender in order to approach an enemy and strike him? We cannot demand that our soldiers offer their throats to anyone who claims to have abandoned the fight."

"No one is asking you to abandon caution,"

Drona answered evenly.

"A genuine surrender must be respected, but deception intended to exploit that protection is a violation of the very principle being discussed. If there is evidence that a man has used surrender as a weapon, the matter can be investigated. We must not allow the possibility of dishonesty to become an excuse for refusing every surrender."

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(Author note:)

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