War in Ancient India c11.t1.1

c11.t1.1

This is a frank and open procedure in diplomacy. To seek war would be ruinous to both the contending parties. To undertake an operation against a superior is like a foot-soldier opposing an elephant, and to make war against an equal is but the collision of unbaked mud vessels against each other causing mutual destruction.⁴² But the inferior must be attacked and made to submit if the differences cannot be amicably settled. There are also cases where an inferior king may sue for alliance with a superior by offering himself to help the latter with army, wealth, or land. This is called the Hīna-sandhi.⁴³