Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

SR No.: 022643
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: K R Chandra
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 672
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English & Book_Devnagari
File Size: 18 MB

Page 502

ECONOMIC, POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS
473
Thus Bahubali had fought a sight and a boxing duel with his brother Bharata (4.43-46).
Ethics of War :-The Paumacariyaṁ mentions that fighting was always stopped at the advent of night and it recommenced the following morning (59.10,11). Further it mentions that a person devoted to some religious performances was not captured deceptively, the fearful was not attacked (67.6) and the women were not harassed (67.16). This kind of battle could be termed as Dharmayuddha as mentioned by Kautilya (10.10.27), in which the time and place of fighting were pre-settled. Just the opposite of it was the Kūṭayuddha in which treacherous plans were executed. The Paumacariyam reveals that in the battle between Ativīrya and Bharata the latter during the night secretly (ukkhandaṁdāūņa = avaskandaṁ datva 37.39,41) attacked the former's camp and seized his elephants and horses. Further Rāma, Laksma pa and other soldiers disguised themselves as dancing girls and captured Ativirya (37.45-60) Satrughna secretly seiznd Mathura, the capital of Madhu, in the night hours when its king was out of the city (86.36-38). Rāvana followed Kūṭanīti in subjugating Nalakūbara of Durlanghyapura. Ravana's army could not enter into the fort of Nalakübara because it was heavily equipped with fire and various defensive machines. He accepted the love proposal of Uparambha, the wife of Nalakübara and took the Asaliya lore from her. Then with the help of that lore he entered the fort and defeated Nalakūbara, but he did not violate the chastity of Uparambha (12.48-70). Rāvana had further thought of another underhand policy to get his relatives released from the captivity of Rama, but he did not execute it (66.4).
Treatment meted out to the Defeated Kings:-Defeated kings were captured and taken away to the camp of the victorious king (10.67; 19.32; 12.137). They were not tortured but released and reinstalled as the kings of their respective territories (10.80; 19.33). The policy was not to confiscate the land but to subjugate the rulers and make them accept the suzerainty of the victorious one. They enjoyed autonomy in their kingdoms. They paid tributes and went to the help of the suzerain king on the occasions of war. These kings sometimes married their (33.138,139) daughters to the suzerain and thus made their position stronger and safe by such matrimonial alliances. Even if the defeated kings were punished, the punishment was very formal. The PCV states that when Ravana captured Indra, the latter's father approached Ravana for gatting his son released. Ravana then put before him some conditions for the release of Indra. He proposed that he would release Indra if he was ready to perform some menial services in his capital such as cleaning the city and