War in Ancient India c11.t1.36

c11.t1.36

Samśraya:⁶⁶ Samśraya was the fifth policy under the category of ṣāḍgunyam. It literally means ‘support’ and in its broader sense means the seeking of the support of allies. This state of affairs emerges when a king feels that he has not the wherewithal to defend his kingdom against a possible attack of the enemy and also feels his inability to weaken otherwise the resources of his enemy. It is the firmness of the prospect and of deterioration moving on to well conceived strategy through vigorous efforts.⁶⁷ This was provided for by an alliance with a ruler of superior power. There is in the succeeding section an interesting discussion which centres round the nature of alliance. Any alliance with a great power may be tolerated as a stopgap. Permanent arrangements stand condemned; perhaps there was the fear and consequent gravity of strategic setbacks. A weak king should wait for some opportunity by watching the movements of his enemy, and if any such occasion should occur, he must seize it promptly and remove him from his path completely. If he, again, finds himself situated between two strong powers, he must enter into a compact with both of them and slowly set one of them against the other, causing a dissension or division in their ranks. At that time he may put each down separately by secret or covert means. Since no risk can be taken, an alliance must be entered into with him in whom the king has complete confidence and whose friendship is sincere and genuine.