Shishupala-vadha (Study)
by Shila Chakraborty | 2018 | 112,267 words
This page relates ‘three Shaktis, Udayas and Siddhis� of the study on the Shishupala-vadha (in English) in the light of Manusamhita (law and religious duties) and Arthashastra (science of politics and warfare). The Shishupalavadha is an epic poem (Mahakavya) written by Magha in the 7th century AD. It consists of 1800 Sanskrit verses spread over twenty chapters and narrates the details of the king of the Chedis.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
The three Śaktis, Udayas and Siddhis
հ-śپ
Successful king are aware of ṣādṇy. Therefore he should be aware of three types of power (śپ)
These three powers (trividha śپs) are
ṭiⲹ the writer of the ٳśٰ said śپ means force. He also agree about three types of śپ (power).
1. Power of counsel (mantra śپs): mantraśپ means the power of counsel. Consulting with ministers and with the help of theirhis knowledge and intelligence. The king will think about this which means of stability of the kingdom.
“�.. the power of knowledge is the power of counsel.�[2]
2. Power of mighty. (Prabhuśپ): By which means the king establishes own mastery and power with the help of treasury and forces is called power of mighty:
“�.. the power of the treasury and the army is the power of might �.�[4]
3. Power of energy (ܳٲśپ): By which way the king makes the battle order and reveals the. heroism is named as power of energy.
“vikramavalamܳٲśپḥ� | (6..2.33) 52
“�.. the power of valour is the power of energy.�[5]
Reverend ṭiⲹ said—power of mighty (prabhuśپ) power of counsel (mantra śپ) and power of energy are responsible to ascertain kings policy, when he was described about the policy of other state.
These trividha śپ are the main causes of a ᾱīṣu king’s thrivling power. ṭiⲹ,s openion in this matter is reflected in 岵’s Śśܱ |
‼ñdzٲ屹ٲ� 峾ī yatetādhātumātmani |
tau hi mūlamudeṣyantyā jigīṣorātmasampada� |� 2.76 ||[6]
English version says�
“Therefore a king should try to accomplish for himself counsel and enterprise because these two are the source of the future rising prosperity of a king who is desirous of victory�.[7]
The main source of energy of ᾱīṣu king are counsel and encouragement. To gain the power ᾱīṣu king should be careful for these two objects. The king would be intellectual and encourageous also. He should give same importance to the encouraging power and counsel power. Encouragement is not enough for victory. If the ᾱīṣu king takes appropriate care about counsel then success will come sure. This śǰ첹 stands for the speech of Uddhava |
This statement of Uddhava is the counter statement of 峾, So, Ѳٳ says in his commentary of this verse�
‘utasāha� tathā Գٰī'pi grāhaya� na tu kevalotasāha� iti valabhadrāpavāda� �
From this verse we come to know that the power of courage and counsel both are necessary for a ᾱīṣu king to win his enemy. And this is also a characteristic feature of ᾱīṣu king.
Ѳٳ the commentator of Śśܱ said about trividha śپ in his commentary verse no. twenty sixth of 2nd canto:
iśakkaya� prabhutvamantrotsāhākhyā� tisra �
‘kṣa岹ṇḍǰ� ٱᲹ� 屹� |�
‘kartavyārthyeṣu stheyān ⲹٲԲ� utasāha� �
‘yٳ ܳٲ� tathā mantro'piⲹ� na tu kevalotsāha� �
Here 岵 used the word ñ and ܳٲśپ which are used by Kauṇilya as manraśپ and ܳٲśپ. (6.2.33)
Trividha-siddhi
Siddhi (victory): counsel, mighty and energy are powers. Success is achieved by these powers. Trividha siddhi is possible by these three power.
Commentator Ѳٳ said about siddhi in the twenty sixth verse of 2nd canto of the Śśܱ�
�ⲹ� pūrvokkaśپtrayasādhyā� puruṣārthalābhātmikā� | tāśca پ� prabhusiddhirmantrasiddhirܳٲśceti �
That means which object is to be accomplished to achieve desire and emancipation is mentioned earlier.
Three types of victory siddhi:
- prabhusiddhi,
- mantrasiddhi and
- ܳٲ.
ṭiⲹ has acknowledged these three types of siddhi. (victory).
“eva� siddhistrividhaiva mantraśپsādhyā Գٰ�, prabhuśپsādhyā prabhusiddhi�, otsāhaśپsādhyā ܳٲ� � (6.2.34).[8]
Means, �
In the same way, success is also three fold that attainable by the power of counsel is success by counsel, that attainable by the power of might is success by might, that attainable by the power of energy is success by energy�.[9]
It means, there are three types of siddhi:
- mantra siddhi,
- prabhu siddhi and
- ܳٲ siddhi.
1. Kings desire is to be accomplished by the power of counsel then that victory is named as mantra siddhi (victory of counsel)
2. If it is possible by the power of mighty then that, siddhi (victory) is called as prabhu siddhi . (victory of mighty)
3. If that siddhi (victory) is to be proved by power of energy then this siddhi (victory) will be called as ܳٲ siddhi.
Trividha udaya
վᾱīṣu king be aware about udaya (awakening) or condition like three types of śپ, siddhi of Ჹīپśٰ. It is said about udaya in the Ѳٳ commentary of the Śśܱ verse no. Twenty sixth of second canto.
The commentary says.
“ܻ岹ḥٰⲹ� ṛdṣaⲹsthanāni �
That means based on advancement, decline and origin. There are three types of udaya. Udaya is based on growth, erosion and origin.
Advancement, decline and origin are mentioned as udaya in ٰԲⲹ. In this respect commentator Ѳٳ said in the Śśܱ of twenty sixth verse of second canto:
�ܻ岹� ṛdṣaⲹsasthanāni | chatrinyāyena idayā ucyantre | tatra ṛdṣaⲹu svaśپsiddhyo� pūrvavasthanādupacayāpacayau ٳԲ� ca | te ca ٰⲹ� �
If most of the people of a crowd have umbrella; then they would be called bearing umbrella. i.e ٰԲⲹ. After applying three types of power is mentioned before, in the respect of earlier condition contrivance is called advancement and waste is called decline. And an equilibrium state is called ٳԲ or stable condition.
Experienced ṭiⲹ did not clarified advancement, decline and origin as udaya (awakening) by technical terminology. But he has discussed about advancement (ṛd), decline (ṣaⲹ) and stable condition (ٳԲ) when he had mentioned about the duties and resposibilities of a ᾱīṣu king.
ṛd:
According to ṭiⲹ ṛd (advancement) is:
“tṣāṃ yasmin vā guṇe ٳٲ� paśyet ihastha� śakṣyāmi durgasetukarmavanikapathaśūnyaniveśa khanidravyahastivana—karmāṇyātmana� pravartayitu� parasya caitāni karmāṇyupahantum iti tamātiṣṭet | sā ṛd� �(7.1.20-21)[10]
English version says�
“Of them, he should follow that policy by resorting to which he may be able to see. By resorting to this, I shall be able to promote my own undertakings concerning forts, water works, trade routes, selting on waste land, mines, material forests and elephant forests and to injure these undertakings of the enemy. That is advancement.�[11]
That means, ᾱīṣu king will take shelter to that ṇa among six ṇas. Then he will think, taking shelter to this ṇa he would be able to establish his own durgakarma (castle work), setuvandha karma (adam’s bridge work) ṇi貹ٳ (way of market), ūԲⲹԾś (solitary path), Khani karma (mine work), dravyabanakarma (material forests), hastibana karma (elephants forest) He will be able to establish himself and will be able to ruine enemys by those actions. Then he will take shelter in that ṇa This ṇa is the cause of performance. So, it is called as ṛd (advancement)
In this respect it is said in the comment of śīū�
“tacca guṇānuṣṭhāna� ṛdnimittatvādupacārāt ṛdśavditamiti �
ṣaⲹ:
“yasmin vā guṇe ٳٲ� svakarmaṇāmupaghāta� pakhyet netarasya tasmin na tiṣṭhed, eṣa ṣaⲹ� � (7.1.24-25).[12]
Means,
“He should not follow that policy by resorting to which he were to see the ruin of his own undertakings, not of (those of) the other (party) This is decline.�[13]
That means, taking shelter doing performance upon which ṇa among six ṇas-king will watch own� works and enemies works. The king will observe on ṛd, ṣaⲹ and ٳԲ of own kingsom. վᾱīṣu king would not possess any harmful quality, which is the cause of ṣaⲹ (decline).
ٳԲ:
“sasmina vā guṇe syita� svakarmaṛd� ṣaⲹ vā nābhipaśyet etat sthanam � (7.1.28).[14]
“The policy, following which he were to see neither the advancement nor the decline of his own undertakings constitutes stable condition.�[15]
That means between the six ṇas when taking shelter upon which ṇa a king does not noticing nighther own ṛd (advancement) nor own ṣaⲹ (decline) there after this state is entitled by the word of stable condition.
According to ṭiⲹ that is stayble condition ٳԲ when advancement or decay is not noticed by the acquirement of a quality among the six qualities.
According to ṭiⲹ in different circumstances the վᾱīṣu king will depend upon ṛd (advancement) ṣaⲹ (decline) and ٳԲ (stayble condition).
But these matters were not discussed by the previous scholars ;
“naitad vibhāṣitm� ||
This is not contradicted or disputed.
Like ṭiⲹ Manu did not explain the word udaya separately. In the context of ṣāḍṇy Manu explained ṛd (advancement), ṣaⲹ (decline) and ٳԲ (stable condition). But he did not explain these three types of śپ and siddhi.
岵 in his Śśܱ referred to these term only but he did not explain them. It is not expected from him as the Śśܱ is a poetical work and not a science of polity. But the references made by 岵 indicates his acquaintance with the ancient science of polity.
Poets 岵 was well awar about six-fold policy, trividha śپ, siddhi and udaya.
“ṣaḍguṇāḥ śakkayasپ� siddhayaścodayāsٰⲹ� |
granthānadhītya vyākarttumiti durmedhaso'ṇyalam |� 2.26 ||[16]“Even dullards having read books are able to explain that expedients are six. Powers and successes are three and consequences are also three.�[17]
վᾱīṣu king should serve six fold policy (ṣāḍṇy), three types of power (tribidha śپ) and three types of achievement (tribidha siddhi).
Poet 岵 used the same words ṣāḍṣa, śپ, siddhi and udaya in the same meaning like ṭiⲹ.
This is found in politics as the characteristics of ᾱīṣu (conqueror) king.
In this context the another verse is�
�貹 susthiranmanyo bhavati svalpayāpi ya� |
kṛtakṛtyo vidhirmanye na varddhayati tasya tām |� 2.32 ||[18]
Means,
�Providence, who has done his duty, does not add to the prosperity of him who becomes contented even with a very little there-of (prosperity)�.[19]
Successfulness may stop the improvement of a person. So the ᾱīṣu king should not be pleased by anything.
Every person, however poor and puny his parts and powers must try to the almost of his capacity, to bring about a august augmentation of his present smiling circumstances. Satiety is a feeble fiasco to which no importance should be attached by any man wishing to reach the highest rung of the ladder of fortune. One lazy and languishing and satisfied with the present potency of his condition, is sure to be frowned upon by fickle fortune. His fatal freaks are bound to tell upon his progress in prospect. In this vers lac of ܳٲśپ is displayed.
He also says�
“samūlaghātamaghnanta� parānnodyanti ԾԲ� | praghvaṃsitāndhatamasastatrodāharaṇa� � |� 2.33 ||[20]
Means,
“The proud never rise without exterminating their enemies root and branch. There the Sun by whom darkness has been killed or dispelled, is an instance.�[21]
վᾱīṣu Kings stop their activities after destroying their enemies. This is their feature.
The rise of the sun is always concomitant with the destruction of darkness. Whenever the sun rises, no trace of gloom remains anywhere. This great orb, possessing potent powers, never tolerates the presence of its inveterate enemy. Just in the same manner, proud and powerful persons never fare anywhere without smiting down their enemies hip and thigh.
In this verse 岵 displayed ܳٲśپ in the first line using the word in ԾԲ�.
“v貹ṣaīṛtⲹ پṣṭ khalu ܰ |
anītvā paṅkatā� dhulimudaka� nāvatiṣṭhate |� 2.34 ||[22]
English version says�
“Stability is hardly attainable, indeed, without entirely vanquishing the enemy. Water doesn’t remain as such or doesn’t stay at all without reducing dusts to the condition of clay.�[23]
The improvement of a prosperous person will stop if his single enemy is alive too. Even his existence would be in danger. So the ᾱīṣu king shouldn’t leave a single enemy. This is the characteristic feature of a ᾱīṣu king.
Permanent success or standing stability can’t be achieved without a thrashing and through vanquishment of one’s inveterate antagonists. To confirm one’s own position means to worst and overpower his enemies in an exemplary manner. Certainly it is injudicious to enter into a quarrel. But if one is in it, one should act in a manner that his enemy may beware of him.
Here 岵 displayed ܳٲśپ using the word 貹ṣaīṛtⲹ.
“svaśaktupacaye kecit parasya vyasate'pare |
yānamāhusٲsīna� tvāmutthāpayati dvayam |�2.57 ||[24]“Some maintain march to be at the increase of one’s own power, while other hold it to be at the calamity of the enemy. Both these things raise you up sitting or inactive as you are�.[25]
When the ᾱīṣu king realises that it is the time to march against his enemy or not, it is very much important thing in the field of war policy.
Ѳٳ says in his commentary of this verse:
“prāyena santo vyasane ripūṇāṃ yātavyamityeva samādiśanti tannaiṣa� pakṣo ⲹԲ� hyaniṣṭa� kṣamantu sannabhyūdit� pratīyāt� iti � (峾Ի岹첹)
According to 峾Ի岹첹 many scholars proficient in politics. Ѳٳ quotes here from the 峾Ի岹ī īپ. He says that when the enemy in inconvenience and adversity then ᾱīṣu king should march forwar towards the enemy. Some scholars say that such behavior is not justified, rather when ᾱīṣu king realises that he is fit for war to achieve joy then he will march towards enemy. But 峾Ի岹첹 didn’t given his own opinion. Ѳٳ says when the ᾱīṣu king will realise that his force is enough to win the enemy he will march towards enemy. Supporting his own opinion Ѳٳ quoted 峾Ի岹첹. He also quoted Manu’s opinion.
According to Manu’s opinion when the enemy is in danger then he should march towards him.
�ٲ yāyādvigṛhyaiva vyasane cotthite ripoḥ� |
ṭiⲹ says king should march when by marching he would be able to weaken or exterminate theṇ�
“śaktupacaye yātavyam� (9.1.42-44).
Here 峾 said ṛṣṇa that ṛṣṇa is fit to war to win his enemy Śśܱ from both sides. Now Śśܱ is in danger and weak. ṛṣṇa and his supporters are able to win Śśܱ with their force power. Śśܱ is unable from both sides now. So, it is the high time to march towards Śśܱ. So, according to 峾 it should be proclaimed war at once.
岵 prefers that king should march when his enemy is in calamity and he would be able to weaken the enemy. The words vyasana and śپ used by him prove this. This opinion of Manu and Kauṇilya is reflected here.
This verse stands for the principle of war policy and the characteristic feature of ᾱīṣu king also.
‼ñdzٲ屹ٲ� 峾ī yatetādhātumātmani |
tau hi mūlamudeṣyantyā jigīṣorātmasampada� |� 2.76 ||[26]“Therefore a king should try to accomplish for himself counsel and enterprise because these two are the source of the future rising prosperity of a king who is desirous of victory.�[27]
The main source of energy of ᾱīṣu king are counsel and encouragement. To gain the power ᾱīṣu king should be careful for these two objects. The king would be intellectual and encourageous also. He should give same importance to the encouraging power and counsel power. Encouragement is not enough for victory. If the ᾱīṣu king takes appropriate care about counsel then success will come sure. This śǰ첹 stands for the speech of Uddhava.
This statement of Uddhava is the counter statement of 峾. So, Ѳٳ says
“ܳٲḥ tathā mantro'pi ⲹ� na tu kevalotasāha� [kevalotsāha�?]�
From this śǰ첹 we come to know that the power of courage and counsel both are necessary for a ᾱīṣu king to win his enemy. And this is also a characteristic feature of ᾱīṣu king.
Here poet used the word ñ instead of the word mantraśپ which is ued by Kauṇilya. The word ܳٲ of the epic bears the same meaning like Kauṇilya. The meaning.
“upāyamāsthitasyāpi naśyantyarthā� pramādyata� |
hanti nopaśayastho'pi śayālurmṛgayurmṛgān |� 2.80 ||[28]
It means,
“The object of an unwary man, though he has adopted means, perish or fail A sleeping hunter, though lying in on ambush does not (can not) slay deer.�[29]
If an intelligent person is guided by only secret counsel he can not be successful. He should accept courage power. Staying in the ܱ貹śⲹ if the hunter sleeps then hunting is impossible to him. A courageous hunter planfully went for hunting but due to lack of awareness he is falure. Beside council and courage awareness is very much necessary for a ᾱīṣu king.
Here we come to know that awarenessless is a hindrance for success. So վᾱīṣu king should be careful about his plan. Then success will come sure.
This is also a characteristic feature of a ᾱīṣu king.
“udetumatyajannīhā� rājasu dvādaśasvapi |
jigīṣureko dinakṛdātityeṣviva kalpate |� 2.81 ||[30]“He alone, who wishes to conquer even among the twelve kings, like the day maker Sun among the Ā徱ٲⲹ’s without giving up efforts suffices to rise up�.[31]
A person who wishes to win can progress in life, wish is not enough to win continuous activities are necessary to reach the goal. As for example the Ā徱ٲⲹ’s are indeed twelve. Being the son of Aditi and occupying the same status they are all equal. Among them the day maker sun only by his exuberant effulgence is main over the rest. Among the twelve kings also, the ᾱīṣu alone, by his constant attention without any short of defection, occupies the most prominent position casting the remaining brethren into the shade.
In the above mentioned verse poet 岵 used the word udetum instead of the word ܳٲ śپ which is used by Kauṇilya bearing the same meaning.
“nālamvate daiṣṭikatā� na niṣīdati pauruṣe |
śavdārthau satkaviriva 屹ⲹ� vidvānapekṣate |� 2.86 ||[32]“A learned man does not adopt fatalism nor depends upon (sits in manliness or energy), but relies on both like a good poet relying on words and their meanings.�[33]
A ᾱīṣu king should adopt both of fortune and manly effort.
Praise supporter 峾 said before, it is not necessary of manly effort for success, but who depend on pardon fortunately he may successful. But the great politician anxious Uddhava said that a prudent does not think that fortune may not gives to a man his desired thing. He gives importance to both fortune and manly effort. A learned person gives continuous effort for success although he has faith and confidence upon fortune.
Like an excellent poet depends on first meaning and its significance also for his excellent poetry. The poet is always attentive on pleasant expression style. Word and its meaning is the soul of a poetry. So, the poet is very much careful for his poetry.
Like that manly effort which is applied in proper time is very much necessary for success. Here it is the difference between fortune and manly effort. Actually fortune and manly effort are important for a ᾱīṣu king. Because these two (fortune and manly effort) are reciprocal dependant. One is depending on another.
One is fulfilling on another commentator. Ѳٳ said in the commentary of this verse�
“ata� 貹ܰṣamapyavaśyaka� kintu kartavyam iti śṣa� pauruṣādṛṣṭayo� parasparasāpekṣatvāditi 屹� �
In this context Ѳṣi ñⲹ says that ; yathā hyekena cakreṇa na
So, fortune and manly effort both are necessary for a ᾱīṣu king.
Here poet 岵 used the word 貹ܰṣa instead of the word ܳٲśپ like Kauṇilya bearing th same meaning.
“k峾ܳٳٳṅg� prabhuśپ� prathīyasīm |
ñvalavṛhanmūla� phalatyܳٲpādapa� |� 2.89 ||[34]
The tall tree of energy, with the strength of counsel for a stout root, bears the mighty fruit of forces and funds or treasury that can be reached with the collecting taxes.
It has been discussed before that ardour is the main pillar of the Government power. Here it is repeated again. Ardour power is like a tree. The root of that tree is counsel power. Ardour power is augmented by counsel. This power enriched with the collecting taxes. That tree is very high. Government power comes from the ardour power like tree. A tree is bent down easily for the heaviness of its fruits. So, a person can take the fruits from this tree easily without climbing on it. So, at first counsel, after that preparation for action should take place. Otherwise it is in futile.
Here poet used the words prabhuśپ like Kauṇilya and ܳٲ instead of the word ܳٲśپ bearing the same meaning. From these above mentioned verses we come to know the wnowledge of 岵 about three śپs, udayas and siddhis.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
R.P. Kangle: Op.cit., part-I, p.166.
[2]:
ibid., part -II, p. 319.
[3]:
ibid., part -I, p. 166.
[4]:
ibid., part -II, p. 319.
[5]:
ibid., part-II, p. 319.
[6]:
Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 82.
[7]:
Sitanath Kavyaratna & Madhab Dass Sankhyatirtha: Op.cit., p.218.
[8]:
R.P. Kangle: Op.cit., part-I, p. 166.
[9]:
ibid., part -II, p. 319.
[10]:
ibid., part-I, p. 168.
[11]:
ibid., part-II, p. 322.
[12]:
ibid., part-I, p. 168.
[13]:
ibid., part-II, p. 322.
[14]:
ibid., part-I, p. 168.
[15]:
ibid., part-II, p. 322.
[16]:
Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 58.
[17]:
Sitanath Kavyaratna & Madhab Dass Sankhyatirtha: Op.cit., p. 76.
[18]:
Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 61.
[19]:
Sitanath Kavyaratna & Madhab Dass Sankhyatirtha: Op.cit., p. 96
[20]:
Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 62.
[21]:
Sitanath Kavyaratna & Madhab Dass Sankhyatirtha: Op.cit., p. 97.
[22]:
Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 62.
[23]:
Sitanath Kavyaratna & Madhab Dass Sankhyatirtha: Op.cit., p. 100.
[24]:
Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 73.
[25]:
Sitanath Kavyaratna & Madhab Dass Sankhyatirtha: Op.cit., p. 163.
[26]:
Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 82.
[27]:
Sitanath Kavyaratna & Madhab Dass Sankhyatirtha: Op.cit., p. 218.
[28]:
Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 84.
[29]:
Sitanath Kavyaratna & Madhab Dass Sankhyatirtha: Op.cit., p. 227.
[30]:
Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 84.
[31]:
Sitanath Kavyaratna & Madhab Dass Sankhyatirtha: Op.cit., p. 230.
[32]:
Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 87.
[33]:
Sitanath Kavyaratna & Madhab Dass Sankhyatirtha: Op.cit., p. 250.
[34]:
Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 89.