Mahabharata’s Anushasana Parva chapter and the Artha-Shastra by Chanakya are two prominent works on warfare and administration, discussing military, trade, and governance techniques that balance people’s worldly well-being and spiritual pursuits.
The concept of “Ahimsa” or loosely translated to non-violence in Hindu dharma is complex, violence to enforce law in welfare of citizens is often prescribed as an important attribute of king in “raja dharma”
Hindu empires did fight with each other for land and wealth, However, the citizens were usually kept out of wars, with very strict codes for warfare, such as no attacks after dark or providing asylum and refuge to prisoners of war or people who wished not to take part in war.
