War in Ancient India c11.t1.13

c11.t1.13

Vigraha: Though seemingly utilitarian in his attitude, Kauṭalya attaches more value to a diplomatic struggle than to an armed contest which goes by the name of saṅgrāmika.⁴⁸ Vigraha is a diplomatic contest, and is but a means to the end, viz., to avoid regular warfare.⁴⁹ There can be no clearer indication of the fact that laws of war and peace had already reached a sufficiently high level in our land in those times. This second line of action or the method of hostilities is, according to the Śivatattvaratnākara, of eight kinds.⁵⁰ This indicates the progress of military science in the diplomatic sphere. Kāma Vigraha (a war where love of woman is the cause), Lopaja (a strife born of greed), Bhū-vigraha (a struggle about some piece of territory), Mānasambhava (one due to the wounded sense of honour), Abhaya (fighting for friends and relatives), Icchāja (born of ambition), Madotthita (due to sheer haughtiness and folly), and Ekadravyabhilāṣa (aiming at a particular object). Though various causes contributed to the outbreak of hostilities and though thirst for military renown fired the zeal of the parties, yet proof is not lacking to demonstrate that wars of aggression were few and far between. It is further laid down that a king must avoid sixteen different kinds of war⁵¹ such as those where the result is uncertain, where it is a violation of the existing treaty rights, where it affects the law of international relations, where the strength of the enemy cannot be calculated, where it would result in a tedious and protracted war, and where adverse consequences are certain.