Eternal Dharma, Evolving War: Rediscovering Ancient Indian Wisdom for Modern Battlefront

War—its chaos, its destruction, and its moral paradoxes—has shadowed humanity since time immemorial. Yet, beneath the violence lies a profound and nuanced conversation about duty, righteousness, and the moral boundaries of conflict. Today, as new technologies—drones, autonomous systems, cyberweapons—reshape our battlefield, this ancient dialogue must be revisited, reinterpreted, and expanded to meet the demands of the modern age.

This series, Eternal Dharma, Evolving War, embarks on that journey. It aims to unearth the treasure trove of Indian scriptures—epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, philosophical texts such as the Upanishads, and legal-literary classics like Manusmriti and Arthashastra—and demonstrate how their insights remain startlingly relevant, even urgent, in today’s complex conflict environment.

The Timelessness of War and Its Ethical Foundations

War has always been more than military strategy; it is a moral, psychological, and spiritual phenomenon. The ancient Indian worldview offers a uniquely holistic perspective. Its texts seek to frame the warrior’s role not merely as a conqueror, but as a moral agent navigating the chaos of conflict while remaining rooted in duty (dharma), truth (satya), and cosmic harmony.

Two warriors. Two ages. One struggle: mastering the mind before conquering the world

In the Bhagavad Gita, perhaps the most iconic philosophical discourse on war, Lord Krishna reveals that the battlefield is also a mirror—reflecting the inner conflict of doubt, despair, duty, and spiritual restraint. It is a space where the warrior’s mind, intentions, and moral compass are tested to their limits. Far from endorsing violence for its own sake, the Gita advocates for action rooted in righteousness, with mindfulness of one’s true duties and the consequences of one’s actions.

Similarly, the Mahabharata—with its complex portrayal of political intrigue, moral dilemmas, and strategic warfare—expands that ethical inquiry into the social and political dimensions of war. It asks: when is war justified? What is the moral cost of victory? Can anything justify the destruction of life and society? These questions, while ancient, echo today’s debates over drone strikes, cyberattacks, and asymmetric warfare.

Why Now? The Need for Ancient Wisdom in a New Age of Conflict

In recent years, warfare has transcended the battlefield. Cyberweapons can cripple entire economies; drones can conduct targeted killings from thousands of miles away; artificial intelligence can make split-second decisions without human oversight. These innovations challenge existing legal frameworks—like the Geneva Conventions—and pressure society to grapple with fundamental ethical questions: How do we define responsibility when humans lose direct control? What are the moral limits of autonomous weapons?

At the same time, conflicts in regions like India-Pakistan, Israel-Gaza, Ukraine, and beyond expose the inadequacies of current legal systems. They reveal a glaring gap—a need for a moral compass grounded in time-tested values capable of guiding decision-makers in the fog of modern warfare.

Here lies the core motivation of this series: to revisit and reapply the ancient Indian wisdom on war, morality, and duty, in the context of today’s unprecedented challenges. These texts do not merely offer philosophical musings—they contain practical prescriptions, ethical guidelines, and spiritual insights that can inform policy, inspire new legal frameworks, and guide ethical combatant behaviour.

The Journey Through Eleven Parts

To explore this confluence of the ancient and modern, the series is structured into eleven interconnected parts:

Every pillar tells a story—discover the lost lessons that could redefine war and peace for our times

Part 1 delves into the spiritual and ethical foundations of war in Indian scriptures, emphasizing the inner battles fought within the warrior’s mind and soul.

Part 2 broadens the definition of warfare, from conventional to cyber, psychological, ecological, and space conflicts—mapping ancient practices onto emerging modern forms.

Part 3 explores divine feminine warfare—goddesses like Durga and Kali—as symbols of power, ethics, and morality, revealing nuanced perspectives on gendered war ethics.

Part 4 confronts the paradox of non-violence (ahimsa) amidst justified war, connecting spiritual resistance with contemporary hybrid and psychological warfare.

Part 5 examines divine weapons (astras) and their symbolism, drawing parallels to autonomous weapon systems, and highlighting control, accountability, and moral limits.

Part 6 explores the concept of karma—the law of cause and effect—as a metaphysical framework for justice and responsibility in the chaos of war.

Part 7 investigates ancient ecological injunctions, emphasizing sustainable conduct during conflict and their relevance in modern environmental warfare.

Part 8 assesses the dharma-yuddha (righteous war) concept and how it can inform ethical responses to asymmetric and hybrid conflicts.

Part 9 uncovers ancient techniques of psychological warfare—disinformation, propaganda, and mental discipline—and compares them to today’s information and cyber battles.

Part 10 critiques the rise of drone technology, AI, and cyber weapons through the lens of ancient ethics, questioning responsible innovation.

Part 11 reimagines global conflict resolution through India’s spiritual and legal paradigms, proposing new frameworks informed by dharma for the future of warfare and peace.

Why This Series Matters?

This series is not just an academic exercise. It’s a moral imperative. It challenges the simplistic narratives of “just war” that dominate today’s discourse and offers a nuanced, spiritual, and philosophical alternative rooted in an ancient wisdom that remains profoundly relevant.

Where ancient magic meets modern code—how will we shape the next chapter of human conflict?

It is a call for policymakers, scholars, soldiers, and citizens to reconsider the very foundations of warfare—what it means to fight, to limit, and ultimately, to pursue peace. As the world hurtles into a future dense with technological marvels and moral uncertainties, the questions we ask today will shape the wars of tomorrow.

A Journey of Reflection and Re-invention

As we turn to the ancient scriptures, we find that they contain more than just stories of heroism. They are repositories of wisdom, ethical codes, and spiritual insights that can guide humanity through its most turbulent conflicts. If we listen carefully, their lessons may well help us forge a future where war is not merely fought but consciously understood, ethically managed, and ultimately transcended.

Welcome to this journey—one that bridges millennia, revisits old truths, and seeks to forge new pathways for understanding and practicing war in a world that desperately needs it.