Chapter 242 - Statesmanship fair a king (rājanīti)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Rāma said:

1-6. After having worshipped gods and arranging six divisions of the army (the king) should march against the enemy. (The six divisions of the army are) the central force, the front, the rear, the auxiliary, hostile and the pioneer. Each (division) of the (above) forces are more important (than the succeeding ones). (The same holds good in the case of) reverses also. The commander-in-chief should go to such places as the rivers, mountains, forests and forts wherever there may be danger, with the a^y in array consisting of six divisions, machines, treasury, foot-soldiers, cavalry, chariots and elephants. The leader (of the forces) should march at its head being surrounded by best warriors. The queen, king, treasury and the excellent warriors of the army should be placed in the middle. The cavalrymen (should be) on the two sides, the chariots by the side of the cavalry and the elephants by the side of the chariots. The pioneer forces (should be by the side) of the elephants. Then the commander-in-chief should go slowly behind all with a fully equipped army encouraging the dejected.

7-13. A marching army should be set in (the array of) a crocodile and in (the array of) a hawk with raised wings or a sūcī or Vīravaktra^[1] in case of danger in the front. In case of fear behind, (an array in the form of) the cart (should be made). (In case of fear) on the sides, (an array) known as vajra (should be made). If there is danger on all sides one should set up (the array known as) sarvatobhadra. (A commander) should guard his army (while passing through) a cave, mountain forest, river and dense forest. (He should also guard) when the army has to go a long way, when it is tired, when it suffers hunger, thirst or adversity, when it is affected by ill-health, famine and epidemics, when attacked by robbers. (He should also protect the army) from marshy land, dust storm and watery place. He should see that they are neither scattered nor gathered together on the way. (He should also guard them) while sleeping, eating their food, while staying at an unfit place, when they are not well-placed, when they have been scared by robbers, fire and fear and when they have been struck by rains and wind. When the army of the enemy (is in a similar position) it should be struck. One should have an open encounter (with an enemy) only when the grounds and time are favourable and one is strong. On the contrary (one should do) treacherous warfare. When they (enemies) are attacking, the bewildered should be killed.

14-17. (An enemy) on another’s soil (could be won) from staying in one’s own soil. (An enemy) in one’s own soil (could be won) by means of sowing seeds of dissension. (An enemy) subject to the wrath of his people should be made captive by employing the foresters and others and killed. They can also be conquered by employing extremely brave warriors. (One may also employ) dissension, bribe or (may) draw away. By appearing in front of (the enemy) the king would become a sure object of their aim. Then (the enemy) should be killed by extremely brave warriors by striking swiftly with a strong force. Brave warriors could be set in an array in front or at the back (and the enemy) could be killed. It has been explained by these two (methods) as to how to attack the two enemies on the adjacent sides in a treacherous warfare. If the front part (of the hostile army) is in an unfavourable land, the rear portion should be attacked swiftly.

18-22. If the front and rear are both unfavourable (one should strike) on the sides in the same way. After having fought with the vanguards, allies (of the enemy) and the pioneers, one should attack the fatigued, slow and the one whose aid has been cut off without causing fatigue for his force. In the alternative, one should defeat by employing the pioneer force or the allies. Or, one should feign defeat and attack (the enemy) that is complacent that he has won by resorting to good counsel. One should destroy the enemy force when it is resting in the camps, barracks, villages, fields and among subjects without protection. Otherwise the cattle of the enemy should be seized and then the army on their way to reach the goal. Or the hostile army fatigued on account of overnight vigil fearing an attack and sleeping during the day overcome by sleep should be attacked (to gain victory).

23-27. In the alternative (a hostile army) sleeping during the night without any fear (should be attacked) by (employing) elephants or with men armed with swords. The functions of (men on) elephants are proceeding in front of the marching army, entry into forest fortification, division of the united (hostile) army, collecting together a divided army, causing right, breaking the doors (of the fort) and the protection of the treasury. Division of an undivided army and effecting the union of friendly forces are the task of (the men on) chariots. The functions of cavalry are to reconnoitre the forests, different directions and the highway, guard the transport of provisions, follow the retreating army, attend to tasks requiring quick action, follow the weak and attack the last columns and rear (of the hostile army). (The functions) of infantry are to bear always the weapons, inspecting the camps and the highways and to remove (obstructions).

28-33. The ground (suitable) for infantry should not be very uneven or abound with thick rows of trees, ant hills, bushes and thorns and should have (provision for) escape. The ground (suitable) for cavalry should have scanty trees, should be quickly traversible, firm, without sand and not be marshy and have (provision for) escape. The ground (suitable) for the chariot should not have trees, fields, mire, trees causing obstruction, creepers and mire. The ground for the elephant are hills difficult to cross having streams. (A king should march) setting the army in an array consisting of different (segments) such as chest etc. It is known as the rear of the army. It is capable of serving the needs of the king. An array not having this (the division) would appear as if it has been segmented. A wise king desiring to conquer should not fight without having (the array with) the divisions. The treasury would remain with the king. A kingship would be suzerainty over the treasure.

34-48. The soldiers should be paid (rewards) on gaining victory. It is not proper to give only a little. A lakh (should be given) on the death of (the enemy) king and half that when the son of that king is killed. Similarly (the soldiers) should be paid when the (enemy) commander-in-chief is killed or at the killing of the elephant etc. Otherwise (the soldiers) should fight in such a way that the infantry, cavalry, (men on) chariots and elephants do not get affected when the battle has been completed. (The soldiers) should fight without confusion. Confusion causes melee. One should employ an elephant in battles causing great confusion. Three infantry soldiers would be equal to fight a cavalryman. Three such cavalrymen should be employed (to combat) a single elephant (man). Fifteen infantry men would guard (each) foot (of the elephant). It is laid down that an arrangement known as an anika (a unit) of the elephants should be made for (guarding) the chariot. There should be nine elephant men. The vulnerable point of such an army is said to be of five kinds. An array should be set by this division of the army. The chest, sides and wings are said to be (three) divisions. An array is said to have seven parts such as the chest, sides, wings, centre, back (hip), rear and the edge by those well acquainted with (the arrangement of) arrays. The array (called) guru consists of chest, sides and wings together with the rear. That of śukra is devoid of two sides. The commanders should remain being surrounded by excellent warriors. They should fight without any faction defending one another. Excellent warriors of the army (should be) at the centre. A commander (of an army) is the life of a battle. It would be destroyed if it is without a commander. The powerful elephants should be placed at the chest (of an array), the chariots on the sides and horses on the wings. This array is said to be breaking the central force. An army of horses at the centre, an army of chariots on the sides and an army of elephants on the wings is known to be an array of breaking the inner (force). Station the cavalry in the place of chariots, the infantry in the place of cavalry (in the above order) or place elephants everywhere in the array in the absence of chariots. (There is another view). If there is more than the required army it is said to be ābādha.

49-59. (An array called) bhoga consists of arranging (the army) in concentric circles. (An array called) daṇḍa is of many kinds. (I shall describe them) to you. Listen. (An array) spread horizontally would be (called) daṇḍa. (The array called) bhoga is in the form of a wave. (The array called) maṇḍala (would be) in perfect circle. The asaṃhata (class) (would be) in concentric circles. (The other arrays such as) the pradara, dṛḍhaka, asahya, cāpa, kukṣi, pratiṣṭha, supratiṣṭha, śyena, vijaya, sañjaya, viśāla, vijaya, sūcī, sthūṇākarṇa, camūmukha, sarpāsya and valaya are all invincible and modifications of (the array called) daṇḍa. They have the following characteristics—extending on both sides, extending on one side, extending in one wing, extending on both wings, three others of the contrary nature. (The array) pratiṣṭha extends on the wing and chest (and) the other supratiṣṭha is the contrary. (The arrays called) sthūṇāpakṣa and dhanuḥ pakṣa, dvisthūṇa and daṇḍa after that (are of) doubled units at the end or an additional wing or of the reverse of another. They should be known to have the characteristics of two or four columns of soldiers in order. (The arrays known as) gomūtrikā, ahisañcārī, śakaṭa and makara are said to be variations of the (array) bhoga. So also (the array called) pāriplavaṅgaka. (The array called) yugorasya (consists of) two wings in (the array) daṇḍa. (The array of the form of) cart is contrary to that. (The array of the name) crocodile is of mixed nature. (The array) śeṣa (is marked) by the rows of elephants. (The arrays) sarvatobhadra and duryaya are the modifications of the array (called) maṇḍala. That which has openings on all sides is the first one and that having the eight army units is the second one. (The arrays known as) ardhacandraka (of the shape of half the moon) and ūrdhvāṅga (elevated parts) (are formed) by the combinations of (different) divisions of (the class known as) the vajra. In the same way (the arrays known as) karkaśṛṅgī (the pincers of a crab), kākapāda (the feet of a crow) and godhikā (lizard) are known from their difference in shape (consisting) of three, four and five units of army.

60-67. Seventeen kinds of arrays could be formed from the (array called) daṇḍa. Two from the maṇḍala (class), six from the asaṅghāta and five from the bhoga (are combined) in a battle. (The structures of the abovesaid battle arrays) may be modified by omitting a wing or two wings. Otherwise (a squadron) may be taken from the chest (of the army) and placed around the edges. After having attacked the boundary army in the front with the army forming the wings, one should strike the army at the hip with (the army at) the boundaries and attack with that comprising the chest. The routed soldiers of a hostile army as well as the reserves should be completely destroyed and one’s own should be expanded. The main part (of the hostile army) should be attacked with double that of the main and the reserve force (of the hostile army) with the main. A compact (hostile) army should be scattered with a strong contingent of elephants. If (the hostile army) is (in the array) daṇḍaka with the flanks, wings and chest (drawn up) then (a general) should employ the (array) daṇḍa and quickly show the position. (The array called) pradāraka would be by the addition of two wings to the daṇḍa. If it is added with wings and flanks it is known as dṛḍha. The array that is increased by (adding) two flanks is known to be asahya. The (array) khātaka (consists of) keeping the flanks and wings down and attacking with the troops at the chest.

68-72. The array valaya is said to be (the union of) two daṇḍas capable of breaking the enemy. The (array) durjaya (consists of) four valayas that is capable of routing the enemy forces. By changing the arrangement of elements (troops) on the flanks, wings and chest of (the array) bhoga (we get the arrays) sarpacārī and gomūtrikā. The array śakaṭa is of the shape of a cart. The reverse is said to be the array amara capable of destroying the enemies. The arrangement (of troops) -on the sides, wings and chest would be in the same way as the (array) maṇḍala. The divisions (called) cakra, padma and others are variations of the maṇḍala. In the same way the arrays sarvatobhadra, the excellent vajrākṣa, the crow-shaped one, the half moon, śṛṅgāṭaka (resembling the junction of four roads) and .acala of the forms corresponding to their names should be formed according to one’s convenience that would prevent the enemy forces.

Fire-god said:

73. O Brahmin! Rāma^[2] reached Ayodhyā after killing (the demon) Rāvaṇa. Lakṣmaṇa (brother of Rāma) killed Indrajit (son of Rāvaṇa) in days of yore by means of statesmanship narrated by Rāma.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Types of arrangement of the army.

[2]:

One of the manifestations of lord Viṣṇu.