Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.s2.14

c8.s2.14

Strategy and diplomacy played an important part in this type of warfare. Men of shrewd commonsense and profound wisdom brought into play their endless manoeuvres and novel tactics to cause the other party to surrender. We are told as to how Abhayakumāra, by a clever subterfuge which consisted of burying the counterfeit coins in the enemy's camp, created suspicion in the mind of Pajjota about the fidelity of his soldiers and thus foiled his attack on Rāyagaha.⁵⁷ A regular system of espionage was another feature of siege-warfare. Spies were regularly employed to watch the activities of the enemy. They joined the enemy's people and found out their secrets. We have seen how Kūnika employed hermit Kūlavālaya to cause the citizens of Vesāli to destroy the mound and secured victory over Cedaga.⁵⁸