The Mauryan Polity c9.s1.1

c9.s1.1

With the commencement of the Mauryan epoch the military system of the ancient Hindus becomes more perfect and more practical. The theories of diplomacy which have been in vogue from the earliest times of the Vedic period are formulated into a diplomatic code for princes to copy and follow. The well-known diplomatic means were four:—*sāma* (conciliation), *dāna* (gifts), *bheda* (creating division among his ranks or subjects), and *daṇḍa* (open war). The first three means were pursued one after another, and the institution of war was only the last resort though the Hindu political philosophy recognised it as the chief political weapon to bring to subjection recalcitrant chiefs and troublesome neighbours. The Kauṭalīyan code of diplomacy is a great improvement upon the original standard. During the epoch of the *Ṛgveda Saṃhitā* there is evidence to show that deceit was practised upon the enemies to turn them back.¹ Though Kauṭalya seems to accept the basic traditional principles, still the methods recommended for employing the means of diplomacy are not unmoral. Kauṭalya no doubt mentions different kinds of warfare including treacherous wars or *kūṭayuddha*.¹ This does not mean that Kauṭalya is recommending such a course of action for all time. As a writer on the different aspects of the subject, Kauṭalya could not avoid mentioning them and explaining what he meant by them. This aspect has been misunderstood and there has been a tendency on the part of some scholars to equate the principles formulated by Kauṭalya with the immoral teachings of Kaṇika, the Brahman Minister of Dhṛtarāṣṭra in the *Mahābhārata*.²