It was wrong to slay one who had been disarmed or whose attention was
directed elsewhere or who was retreating or who had lost his armour. And no shafts were to
be directed against non-combatant attendants or those engaged in blowing conchs or beating
drums.
These were the rules which the Kauravas and the Pandavas solemnly
declared they would follow.
The passage of time has witnessed many changes in men's ideas of right
and wrong. Nothing is exempt from attack in modern warfare.
Not only are munitions made the target of attack but dumb animals such
as horses, camels, mules and medical stores, nay, non-combatants of all ages, are
destroyed without compunction.
Sometimes the established conventions went overboard even in the
Mahabharata war.
