Military Science in Vedas

MILITARY SCIENCE IN VEDAS

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.

This article is dedicated to our late Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri. After the debacle of 1962, he led India to a great victory over Pakistan in 1965. When the Pakis invaded Jammu and Kashmir in 1965, he took the battle to the enemy’s camp by capturing Lahore. Unfortunately like many Indians before and after him, the gains made by our jawans were bartered away on the negotiating table, invariably for nothing in return. Our magnanimity of making unilateral concessions is probably unparalleled in world history even though we get harmed, killed in the process. We have become so resilient that deaths of thousands of jawans and innocent Bhartiyas in India does not seem to make us angry or may I ask, have we become so selfish?

While I have gone from the book have chipped in with my comments in between.

“When a nation is well protected through arms only then can all forms of knowledge and science flourish”. Very well said. During the period when the Muslims ruled, dominated India, knowledge and education ceased to flourish in the North. Nalanda, like many others was one of the most renowned places of education destroyed by the Muslim invaders. The effects are felt to this day. The South is ahead of the North in terms of dance, music, culture, educational institutions and is in the forefront of India’s knowledge based industries, Information Technology and Biotechnology.

For the defence of a country there are abundant references in Vedas, to maintain a regular-armed force. It is also enjoined therein that the immediate control of this defence force should be under the command of a chief, who has been described by various names, like Rudra (Ath. 4.30.5) Arbudi and Nyarbudi etc. (See Sukta 9 of Atharvaveda). In respect of policy matter, relating to defence, committee of experts, known as (Samiti) (Sabha) (Sura) (Ath.15.8.9) (Ath.4.30.2 and Rig.10.125.3) is constituted. These committees are appointed by king (Hymn No.125 of tenth Mandala of Rigveda). This whole hymn deals with advisory bodies. The king has essentially to keep three advisory bodies for properly governing the country.

One of the three councils is to advise the king on matters of defence.

(Rig.3.38.6)

Defence Planning

A Greek Scholar, Cireco very very aptly counseled and wrote that “armies can signify but little, unless there is a council or a wise management at home”. The efficiency of an army is thus very much dependent on the efficiency of the ministry of defence. There should be defence planners. No war is to be declared without the consent and clear directive of the Ministry of Defence.

In ancient India, defence was clearly divided into fighters and planners very much like operations and strategy. Today things are different however. The Armed Forces consists of fighters and planners supplemented recently with the National Security Advisory Board. The Ministry of Defence as I understand plays mainly a supervisory role, one of controlling the armed forces, the purse or must I say trying to play supercop. Bureaucrat’s run the ministry not military planners as was the case in ancient India. However, for reasons best known, as a nation we are so paranoid about increasing financial, executive powers to the Armed Forces that we have not delegated enough to our men in uniform. Perhaps the Military Coups in Pakistan and Bangladesh have increased our apprehension. 53 years after independence, it is perhaps time we trusted our Armed Forces with financial authority and more responsibility in strategic matters.

O members of the council, I know the nature of the powers, since you are called Narista (whose orders are bound to be obeyed). People shall obey your order. All the members of this council have to work collectively.

(Ath.7.12.2)

Here Rudraya means the commander-in-chief and Samiti issues instructions to him to fight out the enemy who is out to disturb peace in the country.

( Ath.4.30.5)

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