Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates 鈥楽hadgunya (Six-fold policy)鈥� of the study on the Nitiprakasika by Vaisampayana which deals primarily with with Dhanurveda, i.e., the science of war, weapons and military strategies of ancient Indian society. It further contains details on Niti-shastra, i.e., the science of politics and state administration but most verses of the Nitiprakashika deal with the classification and description of different varieties of weapons, based on the four groups of Mukta, Amukta, Muktamukta and Mantramukta.
峁⒛佱笉gu峁噛a (Six-fold policy)
The six aspects of foreign policy (峁Ｄ佱笉驳耻峁噛补) are鈥�
The further sub-divisions of the constituents of this policy are:
(a) Sandhi (Peace):
Sandhi is done by king for achieving some objective; this can be for a particular duration or forever (狈墨迟颈辫谤补办腻艣颈办腻 VIII. 80):
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One who is weaker shall forge an alliance with the strong. These may be temporary or permanent. The latter is a fixed treaty whereas the former has a time-frame. There are a variety of such alliances that are inked often for mutual benefit. Broadly speaking, this treaty system is an open procedure. Instead of fighting out a superior enemy and experiencing great losses, the ruler forms a deal.
(b) Vigraha (War):
War is resorted to when the enemy King acts differently whether it is proper time or not (狈墨迟颈辫谤补办腻艣颈办腻 VIII. 81):
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罢补迟迟惫补惫颈惫峁泃颈 explain that a fight could be had at anytime of the year suitable or not, if it is considered imminent.
One who is mightier shall wage a war with the weaker when he behaves in a different way. The cause of such wars could be broadly greed for annexing more land, for defending women or offending their caretakers or for sake of saving one鈥檚 friends or relatives who are troubled by foreign forces. This diplomatic war is brought to a close when one yields to the enemy with one鈥檚 soldiers, money or allies.
(c) 驰腻苍补 (Marching):
This is of two types鈥揺ither one marches alone or joins with a friend and march together against the enemy who has been weakened either by misfortune or by his deeds (狈墨迟颈辫谤补办腻艣颈办腻 VIII. 82):
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One who is fully equipped for war with men and machines shall advance towards the enemy either alone or march along with an ally.
(d) 膧蝉补苍补 (staying quiet):
For Svamina岣� balasya (for strengthening one鈥檚 army) and for 办腻谤测补 siddhyartham (accomplishing the task), one remains neutral at the suggestion of an ally (狈墨迟颈辫谤补办腻艣颈办腻 VIII. 83):
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This neutral condition is a sort of intermediate relationship between two different forces. 础谤迟丑补艣腻蝉迟谤补 talks about the madhyama and 耻诲腻蝉墨苍补 rulers who fall under the grey zone of neutrality. They occupy the interior areas, quite distant from the diplomatic zones.
(e) 顿惫补颈诲墨产丑腻惫补 (Dual Policy):
础惫补驳补迟补-苍测奴苍补迟惫补 (pushing the enemy to a lower position) and 腻迟尘补苍补岣� 腻诲丑颈办测补 (improving one鈥檚 position) are the dual policy adopted by a king who knows the benefits of such a policy (狈墨迟颈辫谤补办腻艣颈办腻 VIII. 84):
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This policy is explained with two different actions鈥揙ne is to seek help to wage a war with another; the second is the 办腻办腻办峁惫补迟 approach wherein it seems that one adopts one course of action while actually another approach is also activated.
(f) 厂补尘腻艣谤补测补:
Seeking shelter or refuge has two reasons鈥�补谤迟丑补蝉补尘辫墨岣峮腻谤迟丑补鈥搕o cause enemy鈥檚 agony and 蝉腻诲丑耻产丑颈谤惫测补辫补诲别艣腻谤迟丑补 to benefit the good (狈墨迟颈辫谤补办腻艣颈办腻 VIII. 85):
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The weaker side shall take shelter with another. A ruler who cannot face a threat all by his own and who feels that he is not sufficiently equipped to meet his enemy seeks the support of allies. If the king finds himself stuck between two strong powers, he has to form alliance with both of them; wait for opportune moment to secretly bring down both of them.
In short sandhi is that action by which powerful foe becomes friendly; vigraha refers to war where the enemy is oppressed and defeated; 测腻苍补 is to futher one鈥檚 interest and destruct enemy pursuits; 腻蝉补苍补 is to remain neutral when one is not powerful and by 腻艣谤补测补 even a weak king becomes powerful; to meet the enemies 诲惫补颈诲丑墨产丑腻惫补 is to look for opportunities to strengthen oneself and weaken the enemy.