War in Ancient India c11.t1.52

c11.t1.52

The implications of this diplomatic means of sāma are found buried in the texts of the Dharmaśāstra and Arthaśāstra. The conquering king is asked to observe this policy of conciliation by the promise of protection of villages and forests, of sheep and cattle, of roads and traffic, of the restoration of the banished and of the runaway.⁷⁶ Kauṭalya recommends the application of this policy towards the conquered king so that the latter may remain loyal.⁷⁷ The sāma was again a method to bring weaker kings under one's control. If the weak king could not be brought down by a policy of conciliation alone, the other means of dāna or gift might be employed. With the passage of time, five kinds of sāma were distinguished, as is seen in the Śivatattva-ratnākara.⁷⁸ Surely in diplomacy it was not a question of stagnation but of progress of ideas.