War in Ancient India c5.s5.6

c5.s5.6

Though scholars bestowed no independent thought on the term dharmavijaya in Aśoka’s inscriptions, and followed the translation ‘conquest by morality’, Mr. F. J. Monahan doubted whether the interpretation was correct and remarked that dūtas did not go to different countries to preach Buddhism but to carry the message of Dharma. What this meant he could not explain, though the explanation lies buried in the *Arthaśāstra*.¹³⁴ According to Kauṭalya, Dharmavijaya meant that a conquering king was satisfied with the acknowledgement of his overlordship by the inferior and defeated powers as also by others. The motive was to avoid war as far as possible, and to promote peaceful and diplomatic relations with neighbours and foreigners.¹³⁵ This was the mission on which Aśoka sent, not missionaries, but political envoys. In the Lobhavijaya the aim of the conqueror was to covet the territory and the treasure of the enemy. In the Asuravijaya, the enemy is captured and deprived of his kingdom, treasure, sons, and wives. Or he was slain and his country was reduced to ashes.¹³⁶ Dharmavijaya means a righteous method of warfare where diplomacy and conciliation were pressed into service to avoid actual fighting as far as possible. It was an attempt to maintain pacific relations. The dominating personality of the conqueror evoked regard from alien states amounting to an acknowledgment of his superiority or equality. It is a war of defence, though defence presupposes aggression.