YUDDHA (WAR) (i) In ancient times in India war was considered a “Rājadharma”. A war declared under this law was known as “Dharmayuddha”
(ii) It is forbidden to use a weapon describing it falsely as another weapon. The use of arrows heated in fire, is also against Dharmayuddha.
(iii) It is also against the rules of Dharmayuddha to kill a person who gets down from the chariot, a eunuch, one with joined palms, one who squats on the ground, one who seeks refuge, one who is asleep, one who is naked, an unarmed person, one who has come to witness the fight, one who is fighting with another, one whose weapon is broken, one who is bereaved by the death of a son or other relative, one who is vanquished, one who flees from battle, and one who refuses to attack in return etc.
(iv) If a warrior fleeing from battlefield is killed by his enemy, he carries with him his master's sins.
(v) All the grace earned by the young man who flees from battle, passes to his master.
(vi) The soldier himself may take all booty in the battle except chariots, horses, elephants, umbrellas, wealth, corn, cows, women, weapons, silver and gold.
(vii) All costly articles, seized in battle, such as gold, silver, jewels etc. are to be handed over to the King, according to the Vedas.
[Manusmṛti, Chapter 7] .