During the battle that followed Drona's death in the Mahabharata, the text frames the violent clash in unexpectedly tender terms. Despite the harsh realities of conflict, soldiers' enthusiasm and respect for war is evident, as long as each side adheres to the parameters of their respective combat dharma. This same dharma is expressed through the initial resolution of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas to avoid unnecessary human suffering caused by underhanded methods. For example, as men rise from a night spent knowing they need not fear a surprise attack, the calm evoked by images of “sunlight” flooding every man who renders “bow to the lord of light” draws a striking parallel with the field strewn with “flesh for scavengers” (543). However, once these ethical standards begin to crumble, figurative language loses its positive side, dissolving into chaos as a reminder of the honor of war hinged on the honor of those involved. Initially, both sides' commitment to a war that avoids unnecessary suffering provokes a desire for struggle: a theme that is advanced by the presence of encouraging diction and atmosphere between the scenes of violence. While the loss of moral standards on both sides leads to trials beyond those expected in a fair battle, the degeneration of this spirited style into a style of pure terror marks the downfall of a war's desired glory. This analysis will track this change in language and figurative style as a way to evaluate the effect of a battle's moral motifs on the text's fascination with war. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Both sides' initial adherence to their dharmic standards establishes order within the battle as a function of the fair nature of the combat, highlighted by the use of diction to promote an unusually peaceful and optimistic atmosphere amidst to otherwise morbid images. When the Pandavas and Kauravas recall their soldiers for the night, each side is "kind to" the other by agreeing not to attack "while they slept" (542). The soldiers do not fear that their lives will be taken by such subtle methods: rather, they sleep “as if dead,” or “as if they were lying on their lover's breast” (541). Likening the battlefield to a lover's embrace where one can collapse with all the tranquility of a dead man, this simile suggests that infantry have a strange affection for battle despite its grueling reality. The imagery employed further propagates this parallel: as dawn breaks, “sunlight” floods the “pitiful bodies in death,” drawing a vivid contrast between the men preparing for the day among the corpses of their comrades, “ the blood stirring in anticipation of heroic deeds” (543). The optimistic atmosphere that is created is a reminder that, despite the physical trials of war, a glorification of the act still takes place among those involved because of the relative order brought about by the correct dharma of the battlefield. As the day progresses, the elegant descriptors of the manner of fighting itself – reminiscent of light-hearted pleasantries rather than bloody battle – extend to an emphasis on the soldiers' zeal that hinges on an honorable and equal war. During the initial fighting of the day, honor continues to be maintained by a “fair fight” for each man, where “no improper means were used on either side” (544). With no deception to fear, men are free to devote themselves wholeheartedly to a competition in which their mettle can be truly tested..