Jaina Political Thought

Author(s): G C Pandey
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 86

with the Turks. Somadeva rightly comments that in such a motley collection of troops (bhuyasi mundamandalı). the collapse of the weakest leads to chaos for the stronger sections also. He also a the sovereign should personally secure the rear. The royal insignia should be placed in the front but the ruler himself should be situated to the rear with the strongest troops. This would appear be a novel view which was generally neglected by Indian armies to their detriment. One is reminded of the third Battle of Panipat where Ahmad Shah Abdali stationed himself with the reserve of camelry armed with light guns (shutur nal), a position which enabled him to retrieve the initial damage inflicted on his front rank.
Somadeva's ideas on war, though brief, are pertinent and highly significant. He shows his awareness of the characteristic weaknesses of the armies of his times. They tended to be unwieldly, fighting without proper intelligence preparations and without adequate care of the reserves. Heroism was their keynote:Somadeva's advice is clear that if the odds are heavy, one must not hesitate to retreat and avoid engagements. The system of dharmavijaya indicating war for the sake of establishing
right of suzeraintu was an old one and Somadeva prefers it to outright conquest called asura-vijaya. He does not dislike the loose federal system of polity which it produces
The ambassador or duta was a very important figure in the discussions of niti which laid the greatest stress on diplomacy. Three types of dutas are described plenipotentiary, emissary with a limited mandate, messenger. Although the duta was to enter or leave the foreign country only after due announcement, his real functions were of a secret nature since he was expected to organize espionage and insurgency in the country where he was stationed. The duta was recognised to be immune from being killed.
Along with the duta. another important figure in nitisastra is that of the secret agent or spy. Agents were used for information within and outside the country. They functioned in numerous guises and stations and included assassins and double agents.
An interesting and original section of Somadeva's work is entitled 'On Deliberation'. Here an attempt is made to interpret the methodology of knowledge in the context of governance. These are the well known methods of knowledge experience, inference and verbal testimony. The first may be interpreted pragmatically as personal knowledge without which a reasonable person will be loth to embark on a new enterprize or desist from one. One should not be led by other people's opinions. In fact, even after personal experience one must critically analyze it before deciding upon any action. One should not act in haste at all.
Inference may be understood as the inference of intentions and character
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