Dear Colleagues:
Does anyone know if we have a detailed account of an actual battle in terms of military organization and outcome in ancient India (c. 1500 BCE - 500 CE)?
I am working on a paper on warfare in ancient India and the editors want details, if possible, on one particular war or operation.

Let me be clear. I have examined all the relevant Sanskrit sources including Vedas, Sutras, Epics, and Manu, and drawn on general Buddhist and Jain views on warfare/violence (e.g., Ashoka's regret re. Kalingas, etc, though there may be more in these sources than I am aware). None of these sources document actual battles in any detail and much has to be inferred about military organizations, warfare, etc. Of course, the Arthasastra is our most detailed source on such issues, but it too has little on actual campaigns/encounters. I am interested in firsthand documentation of an actual battle/campaign, rather than anecdotal evidence/mention of wars (perhaps in the same vein as the Anabasis Alexandri by the Greek historian Arrian).

I have a general sense that we just don't have such accounts, but want to make sure, if this is the position I commit to in the paper: here's hoping...

Cheers
Jarrod

Jarrod Whitaker, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Asian Religions
Graduate Program Director

Wake Forest University
Department of Religion
P.O. Box 7212
Winston-Salem, NC  27109
whitakjl@wfu.edu
p 336.758.4162




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