Where Have All the Battle Rules Gone?

The Case of Bhūriśravas

Abstract

The article examines the contentious death of Bhūriśravas in the Mahabharata (MBh) to explore the complexities of battle rules and the underlying concept of dharma. Focusing on the narrative in the Dronaparvan (7.117-119) and its later allusions, the article analyzes the accusations of adharmic fighting leveled against Arjuna for his intervention in Bhūriśravas' duel with Sātyaki. Bailey highlights the conflicting interpretations of dharma, where Bhūriśravas and many witnesses perceive a violation of kshatriya ethics, while Arjuna, influenced by Kṛṣṇa, justifies his actions based on other obligations and interpretations of righteousness. The article further explores Sātyaki's subsequent beheading of the incapacitated Bhūriśravas and the justifications offered, including fate and past grievances. Ultimately, Bailey argues that the episode reveals a profound tension within the MBh between a theoretical, long-term societal dharma and immediate, emotionally driven responses to perceived injustices, suggesting that while dharma is invoked by all parties, it often fails to provide a clear and universally accepted framework for navigating the brutal realities of war and personal rivalries.