Indian Knowledge System(IKS)- Humanities and Social Sciences
Prof. B. Mahadevan
Week 10_Clip_08
Mitra
So, we will see the last element of this sapta prakritis, which is Alley. Alley is friends
you know Mitra that is why it is called Mitra and its all about saying who are our friendly
neighbors who are not, how do you have friendly neighbors all those issues we are discussing
even today. So, it invariably takes us to certain kinds of issues related to foreign policy and so
on.
So, that is what this particular this is described in great detail. So, this is discussed in great
details. So, again we are not getting into that many details we will quickly see get a sense of
what it is. Kautilya has provided interesting details regarding foreign policy, by
conceptualizing the dynamics of relations between the neighboring countries, relative strengths
and weaknesses of the kings in a circle of territories around. All these he has talked about Book
7, 11 and 12 describe various aspects of foreign policy.
However, the guiding principles for all these are laid out in Chapter 2 of book six that is where
the basic ideas are laid out. The basic premise for the foreign policy as we see from Arthashastra
stems from the status of the other six elements of a state, that we have so, far discussed.
And which are purely internal to the state and now you think about it, the power which a state
can bring to bear on promoting its own interests vis-a-vis other neighboring territories depends
on the status of the these internal elements you should have a strong King you should have a
good Council of ministers, a well settled territory which is well protected.
You have kosha is good, your danda and all Lord Army and all those are good all these are
very important, otherwise it is not going to work. And only with that only when the king
ensures, that the six internal elements are in a healthy condition a meaningful foreign policy
will be possible.
I mean today also you see if you are weak in all these nobody is going to take cognitions of
you unless we strengthen these, we do not get an equal platform to sit and talk in the global
Committee of Nations that is what Kautilya is also saying at that time.
© All Rights Reserved. This document has been authored by Prof. B. Mahadevan and is permitted for use only within the course "Indian
Knowledge System (IKS)- Humanities and ocial Science" delivered in the online course format by IIM Bangalore. No part of this document,
including any logo, data, illustrations, pictures, scripts, may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without the prior permission of the author.
Indian Knowledge System(IKS)- Humanities and Social Sciences
Prof. B. Mahadevan
Week 10_Clip_08
So, he Kautilya talked about 6 methods of foreign policy. So, let us very quickly see what they
are, these are called Sandhi, Vigraha, Asana, Yana, Samsraya and Dvaidhibhava these are the
6. So, let us see Sandhi is making a treaty containing conditions or terms this is like a policy of
peace. Vigraha is actually hostility you know go on the offensive.
Asana means not planning to march on an expedition, this is of policy of remaining quiet you
know lying low we say you know for some time, that kind of a thing. Yana is marching on an
expedition. Samsraya is seeking shelter with another king or in a fort right. And then
Dvaidhibhava is Sandhi with one king and Vigraha with another at the same time, which means
you go make a treaty with one king and at the same time go aggressive on the other king. So,
this is called the double policy.
Also, in these chapters he talks about four means of overcoming opposition and although it is
told in the context of foreign policy, I think this can be used anywhere that is why this is this
word samadhana bheda danda is so, frequently used in our cultural context in many place
because they are very generic.
So, what are those? First thing is saman which is conciliation you know try to you know find
a common point and then sort it out that is one way or placating with gifts which is called dana.
If I have to put it in a very crude way buying out people or to our side that kind of a thing
actually, or sowing dissension which is called bheda you show no this is not good your leader
is not good this is not good that is not good the things will not work there.
It will also you know get destroyed in no time like that it is constantly show differences and
then buy people that is called bheda. And the last is called the use of force danda. So, all the
four has been proposed by Kautilya, the first two could be deployed to subjugate weak Kings
and the last two for overcoming strong Kings.
So, all these four methods are given in book 7 chapter 16. So, it says samadanabhyam durbalan
upana upanamayet and then he says bhedadandabhyam balavatah. So, you know first two could
be deployed for week and the second two can be deployed for the stronger. So, these kinds of
ideas are also to be found.
© All Rights Reserved. This document has been authored by Prof. B. Mahadevan and is permitted for use only within the course "Indian
Knowledge System (IKS)- Humanities and ocial Science" delivered in the online course format by IIM Bangalore. No part of this document,
including any logo, data, illustrations, pictures, scripts, may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without the prior permission of the author.
Indian Knowledge System(IKS)- Humanities and Social Sciences
Prof. B. Mahadevan
Week 10_Clip_08
The foreign policy measures proposed in Arthashastra broadly confines to a situation in which
there are see this is a conceptualization there are several small kingdoms perhaps vying to vying
with one another to establish a state of supremacy by conquest annexing territories, growing
into your bigger kingdom. This was the basis on which Arthashastra Kautilya thought about
this entire foreign policy.
I mean today you know given the sophistication of you know warfare and the kind of complex
alliances that we have I do not know whether we can very easily annex territories you know
there are some countries which are trying and there is huge cost for it and that is a process
going on.
But nevertheless even though that has become a little difficult for us, nevertheless many of
these ideas merit closer attention and actually provide greater relevance to craft foreign policy
formulations in the contemporary world, that is what is the sense one may get if you read these
prescriptions in great detail.
So, much so about the foreign policy. So, we have covered all the 7 elements, now we will also
see a couple of interesting things about Arthashastra, which we have not covered about
Kautilyan state and public administration, which have we have not seen so far in these 7
elements which we will see in one or two videos.
© All Rights Reserved. This document has been authored by Prof. B. Mahadevan and is permitted for use only within the course "Indian
Knowledge System (IKS)- Humanities and ocial Science" delivered in the online course format by IIM Bangalore. No part of this document,
including any logo, data, illustrations, pictures, scripts, may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without the prior permission of the author.