Indian Antiquary Vol 39

SR No.: 032531
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 418
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 64

58
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEBRUARY, 1910.
Chapter XVII. Making peace and breaking it ( Sandhikarma sandhimokshabcha). The words éuma (quiet), sandhi (agreement of peace), and samddhi, (reconcilement), are synonymous. That which is conducive to mutual faith among kings is termed sama, sandhi or samddhi.'
My teacher says that peace, depended upon honesty or oath, is mutable, while peace with a security or an hostage is immutable.
No, says Kautilya :- Peace, dependent opon honesty or oath, is immutable both in this and tha next world. It is for this world only that a security or an hostage is required for strengthening the agreement. Honest kings of old made their agreenent of peace with this declaration : "We have joined in peace.” In case of any apprehension of breach of honesty, they made their agreement by swearing by fire, water, plongh, the brick of a fort-wall, the shoulder of an elephant, the hips of a horse, the front of a chariot, & weapon, seeds, scents, juice ( rasa), wrought gold ( suvarna), or bullion gold (hiranya ), and by declaring that these things will destroy and desert him who violates the oath.
In order to avoid the contingency of violation of oath, peace made with the security of such persons as ascetics engaged in penance, or nobles is peace with a security. In such a peace, whoever takes as security & person capable of controlling the enemy gains more advantages, while he who acts to the contrary is deceived.
In peace made with children as hostages, and in the case of giving a princess or a prince as an hostage, whoever gives a princess gains advantages; for a princess, when taken as an hostage, causes troubles to the receiver, while a prince is of reverse nature.
With regard to two sons, whoever hands over a high-born, brave, and wise son, trained in military art, or an only son, is deceived, while he who acts otherwise gains advantages. It is better to give a base-born son as an hostage than a high-born one, inasmuch as the former has neither heirship nor the right to beget heirs ; it is better to give & stapid son than a wise one, inasmuch as the former is destitute of the power of deliberation ; better to give a timid son than a brave one, inasmuch as the former is destitute of martial spirit; better a son who is not trained in military art than one who is trained, inasmuch as the former is devoid of the capacity for striking an enemy; and better one of many sons than an only son, since many sons are not wanted.
With regard to a high-born and a wise son, people will continue to be loyal to a high-born son, though he is not wise ; a wise son, though base-born, is characterised with capacity to consider state matters, but so far as capacity to consider state matters is concerned, a high-born prince associating himself with the aged, has more advantages than a wise but base-born, prince.
With regard to a wise and brave prince, a wise prince, though timid, is characterised with capacity for intellectual works; and a brave prince, though not wise, possesses warlike spirit. So far as warlike spirit is concerned, a wise prince overreaches a brave one just as a hunter does an elephant.
With regard to a brave and trained prince, a brave prince, though untrained, is characterised with capacity for war; and a trained prince, though timid, is capable of hitting objects aright. Notwithstanding the capacity for hitting objects aright, a brave prince excels a trained prince in determination and firm adherence to his policy.
With regard to a king having many sons and another an only son, the former, giving one of his sons as an hostage and being contented with the rest, is able to break the peace, but not the latter.