Kamadakiya Nitisara

Dr. Shakuntala Gawde Assistant Professor

Department of Sanskrit University of Mumbai

www.shakuntalagawde.com

Historical overview

• No systematic literature on science of polity

before c.500 BCE

• References in Vedic literature

• Ramayana, Mahabharata and Arthashastra

• Many predecessors of Kautilya

• Smriti treatises of Manu, Vishnu and Yajnavalkya

Ancient Indian Polity

• Rajadharma

• Rajyashastra

• Dandaniti

• Nitishastra

• Arthashastra

Dharmashastra

Smritis

Itihasa

Nitishastra

• Nitishastra- ni- to lead

• Science of proper guidance or direction

• Science of wisdom (Bhratrhari’s Nitishatakam)

• Science of governance

To secure all around progress and prosperity of society

Four-fold development of society

(dharma, artha, kama and moksha)

Dandaniti

• Brahma – 100,000 sections

• Shiva- first learner

• Vishalaksha- 10000 sections

• Indra- abridged in 5000 sections (Bahudantin)

• Brhaspati- 3000 sections

• Ushanas- 1000 sections

Works on Niti

• Shukra- Nitisara

• Lakshmidhara (1150 AD) -Nitikalpataru

• Annambhata (1200 AD) - Nitichandrika

• Chandeshvara (1350 AD) - Nitiratnakara

• Nilakantha (1600 AD)- Nitimayukha

• Mitramishra (1625 AD)- Nitiprakash

Kamandakiya Nitisara

• Metrical summary of KA

• Anushutubh metre

• Great importance to king and his kingdom

• Civil, criminal and personal laws are left out

• Science of Polity : Most important branch of Arthashastra

Timeline

• T. Ganapati Shastri- Before 7 CE

(Bhavabuhti -give name Kamandaki as Female ascetic in

Malatimadhavawell conversant in diplomacy)

• Winternitz- not before 700- 750 CE

• Many scholars- 400 CE (during Gupta period)

Author

• Kamandaka has not given much information about himself

• Pupil of Kautilya

• Bhavabhuti portrays Kamandaki as diplomat lady storyline

• T. Ganapati Shastri -Kamandaka or Kamandaki as the was author

• A. Agarwal – Minister Shikharswamin of Cahndragupta

Structure and style

• 19 sargas divided into 36 chapters

• Commentary named Jayamangala written by Shankararya,

Upadhyayanirapeksha

• Very popular text in the island Bali

• Concise rules and flashing proverbs, maxims, concise formulae

• Numerous political similes and metaphors

• Many illustrations and imageries

• Poetic way to explore science of polity

• Kamandaka is freely quoted in Hitopadesha

Synopsis of the work

• King, his training, duties

• Seven constituents of kingdom

• Duties of master and subordinates

• Modes of warfare

• Arrangement of troops

• Embassies and Spies

• Vyasanas and remedies

• Military expedition

Overall content of 19 sargas

1. Indiriyajaya -training of king

2. Vidyavibhaga-knowledge of the king

3. Determination of duties

4. Saptanga

5. Kantakashodhanam- searching thorns of the government

6. Protection of Self and kings

7. Construction and characteristics of a mandala

8. Dissertation on peace 9. Dissertation on counsels 10. War 11. Counsels with his minister for a good government 12. Embassies and spies 13. Vyasanas and remedies 14. Seven kind of vyasanas 15.Military expedition 16. System of encamping 17.Employing various expedients 18.Modes of warfare 19.Arrangement of troops

Benedictory stanzas

• Eulogy of king and Preceptor

• Salutation to Mahipati by whose influence people follow the right path

यस्य प्रभावाद् भुवनं शाश्वते पथथ थतष्ठथत ।

देव: स जयथत श्रीमान् दण्डधारो महीपथत : ॥

Salutations to Vishnugupta

• Detached life of Chanakya

• जातवेदा इव अथचिष्मान् - Effulgent like fire

• शक्तिधर – uprooted the entire mountain of Nanda

dynasty, brought earth under the control of

Chandragupta

• नीथतशास्त्रामृतम्- he gave the nectar of Nitishastra

from the ocean of Arthashastra

Purpose of treatise

दशिनात् तस्य सुदृशो थवद्यानां पारदृश्वन: । राजथवद्याथप्रयतया सथिप्तग्रन्थमथिवत् ।

• Kamandaka explores Rajavidya in nutshell • Short and significant lessons to the kings • Considers views of experts in this science

अनुबन्धचतुष्टयम् –

विषय, अवधकारी, प्रयोजन, संबन्ध

Need of King

• राजाऽस्य जगतो हेतुवृिध्देवृिध्दाथभसम्मत: । KN 1.9

King is the cause of growth and prosperity

• No king / no worthy king-

• Subjects will be directionless like a boat tossed in ocean without leader

• King is the support of people like rain

Kingdom

स्वाम्यमात्यश्च राष्ट्र ं च दुगं कोशो बलं सुहृत् ।

एतािदुच्यते राजं्य सत्त्वबुध्ददव्यपाश्रयम् ॥

King, minister, kingdom, castle, treasury, army, allies are known to form the seven constituents of

government

सप्ताङ्गस्यास्य लाभाय यतेत सततोक्तित: ।

Leadership mantras of

Kamandaka

What makes a leader ?

• न्यायप्रवृत्तो नृपथत:

Discharging duties according to the rules of polity

• थिवगेणोपसन्धते

Acquires three purusharthas for self and subjects

Training

• नयथवक्रमसंपन्न:

• Naya- knowledge of the science of polity

• Vikrama- valour

नयस्य थवनयो मूलं थवनय: शास्त्रथनश्चय: ।

• Vinaya- winning over sense

• Vinaya shastrashri

Fourfold duties

न्यायेनाजिनमथिस्य रक्षणं वधिनं तथा।

सत्पािप्रथतपथत्तश्च राजवृतं्त चतुथविधम् ॥१.२०

• Earn

• Protect

• Increase

• Give to worthy

आत्मसंपत् 19 QUALITIES OF A LEADER

Self development is important part of training which leads to prosperity

शासं्त्र प्रज्ञा धृथतर्द्ािकं्ष्य प्रागल्भ्यं धारथयषु्णता ।

उत्साहो वाक्तिता दार्ढ्िमापत्क्लेशसथहषु्णता ॥१.२३

1. Knowledge 2. Intellectual capacity 3. Strength 4. Alertness 5. Maturity 6. Forbearance 7. Vigour 8. Communication skills 9. Firmness 10. tolerance

प्रभाव शुथचता मैिी त्याग: सतं्य कृतज्ञता । कुलं शीलं दमशे्चथत गुणा: सम्पथत्तहेतव: ॥

11. Power of mastering 12. Purity 13. Friendliness 14. Abandonment 15. Truth 16. Gratitude 17. Race 18. Personality 19. control

Vinaya

• आत्मानं प्रथमं राजा थवनयेनोपपादयेत् ।

Training of Self

Ministers

Subordinates

Sons

Subjects

• Self-growth growth of all

Indriyajaya

प्रकीणे थवषयारणे्य धावनं्त थवप्रमाथथनम् ।

ज्ञानाङ्कुशेन कुवीत वश्यथमक्तियदक्तन्तनम् ॥

Sense organs like elephants run in the forest of objects. One should control senses similar to

elephant with the goad of knowledge.

Lead your senses

• Senses- elephant

• Objects- vast forest

• Goad- knowledge

• You become a leader of your senses

• Don’t allow your senses to lead you

एकस्याथप न य: शिो मनस: सथन्नबहिणे ।

मही ंसागरपयिन्तां कथं नु स थवजेष्यते ॥

Uncontrolled sensesevil

• करीव नृपथतग्रिहम् ।

• King falls into danger • सज्जमानो ह्यकायेषु थवषयान्धीकृतेक्षण: ।

King becomes blind to see his own goals आवहतु्यग्रभयदां स्वयमेवापदं नृप: ।

• King invites terrible calamities

Small / short term attractions can

harm / destroy the long term goal

Illustrations

• Shabda, Sparsha, Rupa, Rasa, Gandha each of them can bring evil

• Deer (गीतलोभेन मृगो मृगयते िधम्) • Elephant (कररणीसदृशसंलोभाद्) • Insects (दीपवशखाविलोवभतलोचन: ) • Fish (लोहमास्वादयवत मृत्यिे) • Honey bee (गन्धलुब्धो मधुकरो)

Mighty people get trapped due to single weakness

Six enemies

काम क्रोधोस्तथा लोभो हषो मानो मदस्तथा ।

षड्वगिमुतृ्सजेदेनं तक्तमंस्त्यिे सुखी नृप: ॥

• काम- desire-root of all calamities • क्रोध- anger leads to all evils • लोभ- greedy to acquire • हषष- elevated state of happiness • मान- ego

• मद- arrogance

Knowledge

• आन्रीथक्षकी ंियी ंवाताां दण्डनीथतं च पाथथिव: ।

Anvikshiki- science of logic, philosophy

Three Vedas

Science of Polity

शास्त्राय गुरूसंयोग: शासं्त्र विनयिृददये ।

विद्याविनीतो नृपवतनष कृच्छ्र ेष्विसीदवत ।

Shastras- experienced preceptor Training - vinay

no downfall in calamities

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

आचारव्यवस्थापनम्

Promoter of discipline

दण्डाभावे पररधं्वसी मात्स्यो न्याय प्रवतिते । २.४०

• दणं्ड दण्डीव भूतेषु धारयन् धरणीसमवृथत्त: ।

• Like Yama- equal to enemy as well as friend

• Like earth- impartial, without love and hatred • युिदण्ड: प्रशस्यते । • Severe punishments- frighten people • Lenient actions- nobody fears

Fivefold vow

वाक् सुनृता दया दानं दीनोपगतरक्षणम् ।

इथत सङ्ग: सतां साधु थहत सतु्परुषव्रतम् ॥

• Truthful speech • Compassion • Charity • Protection of poor • Company of good people • सुधाथलप्त इव श्रीमान् प्रसादश्चिरक्तिथभ: |

Company of wicked – Desert burning with heat (ग्रीष्मसूयांशुसन्तप्तमरुस्थलम्)

– िरमाशीविषै: सङ्गम् –

Better to get bitten by venomous serpent

Serpents bite once, wicked at each point

– विवजहं्व िदनं धते्त दुजषनपन्नग: ।

Wicked poison through speech, like serpent omits poison

through two tongue

– सुजनाय यथाञ्जवल: तत: साधुतर: कायष: ।

Humble and sweet behaviour with wicked

Sweet tongue

• भावयेत् परमां मैिी ंथवसृजेल्लौथककी ंथगरम् । Talking very sweet to attract the hearts of people and having friendly attitude

• थनतं्य मनोपहाररण्या वाचा प्रह्लादयेज्जनम्।

Sweet words to please people • उदे्वजनीयो भवथत कू्ररवागथिदोऽथप सन् । People get hurt with cruel words though they are paid

• पीथडतोऽथप थह मेधावी न तां वाचमुदीरयेत् ।

One should not employ cruel words even if troubled

Avoid cruel words

• शस्त्राणीि िचांवस- evil words cut the people very quick

वप्रयमेिावभधातवं्य सतु्स वनतं्य विषतु्स च।

वशखीि केकामधुर: वप्रयिाक् कस्य न वप्रय: ॥

• Sweet behaviour with good as well as wicked people

Performance of duties

अथनन्दा परकृते्यषु स्वधमिपररपालनम्

कृपणेषु दयालुतं्व सविि मधुरा थगर: ॥

• Not criticizing others’ deeds

• Performing own duties

• Compassion on distressed

• Speaking sweet

Four types of friends

थमिं जे्ञयं चतुथविधम् । (IV.75.76)

• Natural by birth

• Relationship (marriage etc)

• Hereditary

• One who has saved from danger

Protection of subjects

आयुिकेयश्चोरेय: परेयो राजवल्लभात् ।

पृथथवीपथतलोभाच्च प्रजानां पञ्चधा भयम् ॥

• Five fold source of apprehension king should remove (V.82,83)

• The thieves

• Enemies of the land

• King’s favourites

• Greediness of the monarch

Protection of subjects

• Give and take (V.84,85)

• Cows are tended and nourished as well as milked

• यथा गौ: पाल्यते काले दुह्यते च तथा प्रजा ।

• वसच्यते चीयते चैि लता पुष्पप्रदा यथा ॥ (५.८३)

• Florist tends and sprinkles water on plants and takes flowers

Action against injustice

अस्रावयेदुपथचतान् साधु दुष्टव्रणाथनव

• Monarch should bleed freely his subordinates swelling with unlawful wealth like a surgeon bleeding a swelling abscess. (V.85)

Creating trust

थवश्वसयेदथवश्वसं्त थवश्वसं्त नाथतथवश्वसेत् ।

• A king should create confidence in those who have no trust in him

`

• Should no place unusual confidence on those who are already in his confidence (V.90)

प्रकृथतसम्पत्

Saptanga-

seven constituents of government

स्वाम्यत्यश्च राष्टर ं च दुगां कोशो बलं सुहृत् ।

परस्परोपकारीदं सप्ताङं्ग राज्यमुच्यते ॥

Seven limbs

Government

King

Minister

Kingdom

Castle Treasury

Army

Allies

Seven limbs

• परस्परोपकारीदं सप्ताङं्ग राज्यम् ।

• Even if one limb gets harmed, entire functioning is harmed

• First train yourself and then focus on other limbs

• Treasury and army are most important according to Kamandaka

• They should be taken forward by able ministers

Subordinates

• Retinue equipped with different good qualities

• A king with wicked counsel is seldom approached

• Even if king is not good, people approach due to good counsel

• न दुष्ट्पररिारसु्त व्यालाक्रान्त इि दु्रम: ।

• Wicked counsellors prohibit the access of good to the king and exhaust king’s treasury

• तस्मातु्ससवचिो भिेत् ।

Minister

• Noble lineage and character

• Great physical strength

• Eloquent in speech

• Far-sighted

• Energetic

• Ready witted

• Steady

• Faithful

• Patience • cheerfulness • Good health • Accuracy of memory • Exclusive devotion to

the empire • Unerring judgment • Firmness • Observance of secrecy

Appointments (V.75)

• People who have theoretical and practical knowledge

• Honesty is tested

• energetic

Ministers – friends and Guru

• नृपस्य ते वह सुहृदस्त एि गुरिो मता: ।

• True friends and guides

• King should be advised in right manner

• Give repeated warnings by minister when he errs.

• Giving proper direction when king is blind due to anger, proud and arrogance

• King may fall into the trap of enemy if not rightly advised

Kingdom

भूगुणैविध्दते राष्टर ं तद्वृक्तध्दनृिपवृध्दये ।

• Fertility of the soil

• Flourishing condition of the kingdom

• Country where living is cheap, fertile soil, situated at the foot of the mountain,

equipped with artisans, traders etc

Fort

जलवद् धान्यधनवद् दुगां कालसहं महत् ।

• King should settle in fort which has an extensive area, strengthened with highest and massive walls, sheltered by mighty mountains, forests and deserts

• Well stuffed with provisions of money and abundant supply of water

• King without castle is unsteady like patches of cloud before a strong wind

• दुगषहीनो नरपवतिाषताभ्रियिै: सम: ।

Four types of Durgas

औदकं पावितं वाक्षिमररणं तथा ।

• जलदुगष, पिषतदुगष, िनदुगष, मरुदुगष

• Fort should be equipped with water, weapons, implements of war and soldiers, numerous defences

• Country having communications both by land and by water and furnished with castles is worthy to live for a king

Treasury

बहवादानोऽल्पथन:स्राव:

• Great source of income and less outgoing

• Full of desirable things, precious jewels

• Earned though lawful means

• Capable of bearing big calamities

• Usage is for the sake of dharma and nourishing servants

• धमषहेतोस्तथाथाषय भृत्यानां भरणाय च ।

• आपदथं च संरक्ष्य: कोश: कोशिता सदा ॥

Army

नानाप्रहरणपेतो नानायुध्दथवशारद: ।

• Obedient from the time of ancestors

• United

• Well paid, strong with power and skills

• Don’t get tired by travel etc

Allies

आदौ तन्व्व्यो बृहन्मध्या सतां मैत्र्य: सररत्समा: । (shallow in the beginning, deep in the middle and

widening at each step) • त्याग – not greedy

• थवज्ञान - knowledgeable

• सत्त्व- steady in prosperity and adversity

• महापक्षम्-great following

• थप्रयंवद: - sweet spoken

• आयथतक्षम: - unchanging in coming times • अदे्वष्यम् – cannot be hated

Three ways --- three fruits

विविधो वमिसंग्रह: ।

• Cordial welcome even from a distance

• Using agreeable words

• Warm hospitality

Who is enemy ?

• Pursuance of one and the same object is common (VIII.14)

• Sahaja – born in same family

• Krtrima- one who is antagonistic or incites antagonists

• Prakrta- immediate neighbour

Vijigishu- aspires to win

सम्पन्नसु्त प्रकृथतथभमिहोत्साह: कृतश्रम: ।

जेतुमीषणशीलश्च थवथजगीषुररथत मृत: ॥

Monarch aspires to expand his territory, equipped with seven constituents, endowed with great energy and longs to obtain victory over others (VIII.6)

Vyasanans

व्यस्यत्यधो वा व्रजथत तमात् तत् पररवजियेत् ।

• Defects in the Prakrti which are responsible for downfall

• Five types of vyasanas caused by destiny

• Fire, floods, famine, diseases and sudden occurences

• Rest are manmade

Vyasanas

• King

िाग्दण्डयोश्च पारुष्यमथषदूषणमेि च

पानं स्त्री मृगया द्यूतं व्यसनावन महीपते :॥

• Excessive harshness in the words spoken

• Punishments given

• Defect in the administration of finance

• Excessive love for hunting, gambling etc

Vyasanas- Ministers

• आलसं्य स्तब्धता दपष: प्रमादो िैरकाररता ।

• All vyasanas of king are included

• Sluggishness

• Inactivity

• Arrogance

• Erring habits

• Attitude of taking enmities

Vyasanas -kingdom

अथतवृथष्टरनावृथष्टमूिषका: शलभादय: ।

असत्करश्च दण्डश्च परचक्राथण तस्करा: ॥

• Excessive rain, drought

• Rats, mice and parrots

• Unjust taxation

• thieves and robbers

• Abandonment of king by his forces

Vyasanas- fort

थवशीणियन्त्रप्राकारपररखात्वशस्त्रता ।

• Disorder and decay of the implements of war

• Failure in stock of good and fuels

• Want of weapons

Vyasanas-treasury

व्ययीकृतो पररथक्षप्तो भथक्षतोऽसथञ्चतस्तथा ।

• Extravagance, outlay in different projects

• Misappropriation by the officials and servants

• Want of accumulation

• Fraud, robbery