Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 147

122 STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA [Cb. III the Gana (Republic or Asserbly) and the army to join the impending Rathamusala war (Rahamusale-sargāme) in defence of the sovereignty of his state which was threatened by this war waged by king Kūņika-Ajātaśatru of Magadha. He had to submit to the mandate of the state and discharge his civic duties as a citizen of the Republic.
"Se Varuṇe Nāganattue annayā kayāi rāyābliogeņain gaņābhiogeņam balābbiogenaṁ rahamusale samgāme āņatte".
SEVENTH SECTION-C Ethics of War
The idea of war cannot be eliminated from the human society so long there is the existence of the military force, sanctioned and organized by different states representing the will of the people with the plea of their protection against the aggression of external enemies.
So when the sovereignty of a state is threatened by war waged by any foreign enemy.power, it must be fought to the last on the principle of self-defence according to some ethics of war.
The Bhs throws a welcome light upon this ethics of war in connection with the two great wars, viz. Mahāśilākantaka Sangrāma' and Rathamusala Sangrāma. It is already known from the study of the political conditions, discussed in the second section of this chapter that the sovereignty of the state of Vaiśālī Republic was threatened by the invasion of king Kūņika-Ajātaśatru. Having apprehened this danger of war from Magadha, king Cetaka of Vaiśāli formed a political alliance with Kāśi, Košala, nine Mallakis and nine Licchavis, and other eighteen republican chiefs (ganarājas) and organized a confederate army consisting of their combined forces to offer a stubborn resistance to the impending war waged by the Magadhan king for a righteous cause of self-defence.
i Bhs, 7, 9, 300. 3 I6, 7, 9, 300, 301.
? 10, 7, 9, 301, 303,