Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 274

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DUTIES PRESCRIBED FOR KSHATRIYAS
The ritual of the Brahmin purohitas, after describing in
detail the ceremonies to be observed at a Kshatriya mar-
riage, always terminates with a short sermon on the principal
duties imposed on this noble caste.
The real caste of Kshatriyas has ceased to exist,' says
and the so-called Kshatriyas of the
this same author,
present time are a bastard race \ Whoever pretends to
be a true Kshatriya ought to know that he can only be
a soldier, and nothing else, and that his one object in life
During a war he should be careful not to
is to make war.
injure a labourer, an artisan, any one who flees before him,
who asks his assistance or who places himself under his
protection, any one who during the battle or after it lays
down his arms and with supplicating hands asks for quarter.
In a word, he should conduct himself in these circum-
stances according to the rules laid down in the Dharma-
sastra.
The true Kshatriya when engaged in fighting an
enemy should give up all desire to live. Far be it from
On the
him to think of retreating or taking to flight
contrary, let him advance bravely, resolved to conquer or
to die
The happiest death for a Kshatriya, the one he
should wish for most, is to die sword in hand, fighting.
It procures for him the inestimable happiness of being
Boundless ambition is the highest
admitted to Swarga 2
However vast his posses-
virtue a Kshatriya can possess.
sions may be already, he should never say that he has
enough. All his thoughts should tend to enlarging and
extending his territories and to making war on neighbour-
ing princes with a view to appropriating their possessions
by main forc