Marching time in the Śiśupālavadha

Poet Māgha is well versed about many subjects of the political scripture. The principle of war is one of them. Appropriate time of march is a part of the principles of war. Māgha has vast knowledge about the appropriate time of march. King should march against his enemy when he is in calamity and weak.

We come to know through Balarāma’s opinion. Following verses prove this.

“svaśattuyapacaye kecita parasya vyasate'pare |
yānamahustadāsīnaṃ tvāmutthāpayati dvayam ||” 2.57 ||^[1]

“Some maintain march to be at the increase of one’s own power, while other hold it to be at the calamity of the enemy. Both these things raise you up sitting or inactive as you are.”^[2]

When the vijigīṣu king realises that it is the time to march against his enemy or not, it is very much important thing in the field of war policy.

It is seen in the commentary of Mallinātha.

“prāyena santo vyasane ripūṇāṃ yātavyamityeva samādiśanti | tatathāṣaḥ vipakṣe vyasanānapekṣī kṣamo dviṣantaṃ muditaḥ pratīyāt” iti |”

According to Kāmandaka many scholars proficient in Mallinātha quotes hare from the Kāmandakī nītisāra. He says that when the enemy in inconvenience and adversity then vijigīṣu king should march for war towards the enemy. Some scholars say that such behavior is not justified, rather when vijigīṣu king realises that he is fit for war to achieve joy then he will march towards enemy. But Kāmandaka didn’t give his own opinion Mallinātha says when the vijigīṣu king will realise that his force is enough to win the enemy he will march towards enemy. Supporting his own opinion Mallinātha quoted Kāmandaka. Mallinātha also quoted Manu’s opinion.

According to Manu’s opinion when the enemy is in danger then the kings should march towards him.

“[...]” (7.183).

But Kauṭilya says king should march, when by marching he would be able to weaken or exterminate the enemy:

“[...]” (9.1.42.-44).

Here Balarāma said Kṛṣṇa that Kṛṣṇa is fit to war to win his enemy Śiśupāla from both sides. Now Śiśupāla is in danger and weak. He is completely unable to win. So, it is the high time to march towards Śiśupāla. So, according to Balarāma war should be proclaimed at once. Māgha prefers that king should march when this enemy is in calamity and he would be able to weaken the enemy. The words vyasana and śakti used by him prove this. This opinion of Manu and Kauṭilya is reflected here.

This verse stands for the principle of warpolicy and the characteristic features of vijigīṣu king also.

Again Māgha said—

“uccairgatāmaskhalitāṃ garīyasīṃ tadātidūrādapi tasya gacchataḥ |
ekesamūhurvalareṇusaṃhatiṃ śirobhirājñāmapare mahībhṛtaḥ ||” 12.45 ||^[3]

Even at that time Śrīkṛṣṇa was going from a distant. The cloud of thick dust was risen on high by the stroke of the wheel of a chariot. But wind was unable to move this cloud of thick dust, like the unimpeded command of the king reached up to heaven and was obeyed by all. On the other hand that cloud of dust was carried by Bhūbhṛtas (mountains) (with their heads) and his order is also humbly obeyed by the Bhūbhṛtas (kings).

In the forty-fifth verse of the twelfth canto the poet mentioned the word “the cloud of thick dust”. From this we come to know that Śrīkṛṣṇa marched against Śiśupāla just after the rainy season i.e. autumn (in the month of Bhādra and Āśvina). or the dewy season (in the month of kārtika and agrahāyana). Because the cloud of dust is thicken absorbing the water of rainy season. It was the dewy season probably.

It is approved by the śāstras like the Manusaṃhitā:

“[...]” (7/182)

And the Arthaśāstra:

“[...]” (9.10.10).

Perhaps hereṇmeans the month of agrahāyaṇa.

Here Śrīkṛṣṇa did not march towards Śiśupāla following the prescribed time of scriptures. kṛṣṇa marched against Śiśupāla for a special purpose, except the purpose of the vijigīṣu king.

He, also says—

“pratikṣaṇaṃ vidhuvati śāraṇe śiraḥ śikhidyutaḥ kanakakirīṭaraśmayaḥ |
āśaṅkitaṃ yudhamadhunā viśantvamī kṣamāpatīniti nirarājayantiva ||”17.16 |45

The king named Śaraṇa moved his head repeatedly. The bright beam like fire came out from his golden crown. It seemed that, ‘now these kings may march in the battle field’. Informing this the bright beam as if waved of light to that kings.

In the sixteenth verse of the seventeenth canto the word ‘adhunā’ (now) proves that Māgha was well versed about the appropriate time of marching. Using this word perhaps poet Māgha wants to say that if the vijigīṣu king is invited by the enemy then he should march against his enemy and from the prescribed season the war may take place in any time of the year. Here Śrīkṛṣṇa was invited by Śiśupāla for march. In this case according to the principle of warfare the fight may be at any time of the year. Then it is not possible to maintain the prescribed fighting time according to the political scriptutes. Being invited by the enemy the force of Śrīkṛṣṇa were ready to fight. They ware determined that there success will come sure. Perhaps

poet Māgha indicated this by the ward ‘adhunā’ (now). It may be explained in this way.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Haridas Siddhantavagisha, (Ed. & Beng. trans.): Śiśupālvadha, p. 73.

[2]:

Sitanath kavyaratna & Madhab Dass Sankhyatirtha, (Ed.): Op.cit., p.163.

[3]:

Haridas Siddhantavagisha: Op.cit., p. 492.