Shishupala-vadha (Study)
by Shila Chakraborty | 2018 | 112,267 words
This page relates ‘Amatya according to Manu� of the study on the Shishupala-vadha (in English) in the light of Manusamhita (law and religious duties) and Arthashastra (science of politics and warfare). The Shishupalavadha is an epic poem (Mahakavya) written by Magha in the 7th century AD. It consists of 1800 Sanskrit verses spread over twenty chapters and narrates the details of the king of the Chedis.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Amātya according to Manu
ṭiⲹ mentioned that kingship is possible only with the aid of assistants. Among the assistants ministers are very important aid. A single wheel of a chariot can not work. In the same manner king should appoint minister.
Sage Manu also says in this context�
“api yat ܰ첹� karma tadapyekena duṣkaram |
viśeṣato'sahāyena kimu (ki� tu) ⲹ� mahodayam || 7. 55 ||[1]‘Even an undertaking easy (in itself) is (some times) hard to be accomplished by a single man, how much (harder is it for a king) especially (if he has) no assistant (to govern), a prosperous kingdom.[2]
“The term �mahodaya [mahodayam]� means “a kingdom yielding great revenue�. It appears to us, however, that the sense which has been sought to be conveyed here is this; governing a prosperous kingdom is really a difficult task. Good administration of a prosperous kingdom requires really capable and intelligent leadership which must be reinforced by worthy counsels and devoted assistants�.[3]
It is very appropriately said by ṭiⲹ that—rulership can be successfully carried out (only) with the help of associates. One wheel alone does not turn. Therefore, king should appoint ministers and listen to their opinion.
The king should select a number of ministers for the efficient running of administration. Manu discussed the quality of ٲⲹ.
He �
“maulān śāstravida� śūrān lavdhalakṣyān kulodgatān |
sapta cāṣṭau vā prakurvīta parīkṣitān ||�7. 54 ||[4]“Let him appoint seven or eight ministers whose ancestors have been royal servants who are versed in the sciences heroes skilled in the use of weapons and descended from (noble) families and who have been tried.�[5]
Commentator ܱū첹bhaṭṭa says in his commentary of above śǰ첹�
‘maulān pitṛpitāmahakrameṇa sevakān, teṣāmapi drohādinā vyabhicārāda, ṛṣṭādṛṣṭārٳ śāstrajñān vikrāntān lavdhalakṣyān lakṣyādapracyuta śarīraśalyādīn āyudhavida ityartha�, viśuddhakulan devatāsparśādi niyatānٲⲹn saptāṣṭau vā mantrādau kurvīta |�
And commentator ѱپٳ �
‘pitṛpitāmahānvayāgatā vahusutadhanavāndhavā� prakaṭagobhūmidhanāstaddeśavāsino ܱḥmūla� پṣṭ tatra ܱ� | śāstravida� śٰ� śԲ� bhṛtyavidhijñāna� tenānye'pi ṇāḥ gṛhyante | tadyathā�ñ� dṛḍhakārī dhārayiṣṇurdakṣa� 岵ī � pratipattimān utsāhaprabhāvayukka� kleśasaha� śucirdānaśīla� yogyasattvayuktastambhacāpalahīna� priyo vairāṇāmakarteti | śūraśavdena rājakārye śarīrakalatrāpatyadhanādiṣvapi Ծṣa ucyate | tathā maraṇe'ī� yuddhotsāhī ekaeva paribhavabhayādvahabhirvirudhyate | dṛḍhaprahārī valavān | lavdhalakṣāḥ paridṛṣṭakarmatā mananohā� dṛṣṭakhaḍga vyāpārā� kṛtārthādhikārā� ānubhūtamantribhūmaya� | kulodgatān kulāṅkuśanigṛhītā hyakārye na vartante | sahāyān | nityamete rājña� pārśavartino bhaveyu� | sapta—vāṣṭau vā niyamo'ya� yena cālpa ekacittā bhavanti | tataśca rājamantrodghāṭaka� syāt vahunāmapi mantrabheda� | tasmādetāvanta eva 첹ٲ� | suparīkṣitān dharmārthakāmabhayopadhābhi� ⲹ� parīkṣocyate | purīhita� svalpakārye rājñā vyājenādhikṣipta� vahunārthasampadānenāptapuruṣairekaikamٲⲹmupajayet rājavināśaya | etacca � mantrimyo rocate | atha 첹ٳ� bhavata iti, pratyakhyāte arthopadhāśuddha� | parivrājikāntaḥpure lavdhaviśvāsā ekekamٲⲹmūpajeyata sā rājamahiṣ� bhavanta� kāmayate kṛtasamāgamopāyeti | pratyakhyāne kāmopadhāśuddha� | rājaprayuktāeva kecit ܰṣāḥ pramādamāviṣkuryyu� kṛtasamayairٲⲹi hanyata iti | upalavdhapramāda� purohitasyāpta� kaścidamātyeṣu Գٰ� śrāvayet | ima� pravādamupaśrutya bhavatā� nigraho rājñā kriyata iti teṣāmeva cānyatama� pūrvameva kṛtasaṃvitka� pratyeka� rājñāmātyeṣūtsāhayet | tatra ye pratyacakṣate te bhayopadhāśuddhā� | athavā mailāstāvat kuryyādarthapramāda—kartṛsannidhātṝn ye ٳ� grāmebhya� samāharanti samāhṛtañca rakṣanti viniyuñjate ca sarvathārtha vyavahāriṇo ܱ� 첹ٲ ٲܰٲ� bhavati | śāstravido vuddhisacivā mantriṇa� | śūrān valādhyakṣān | śavdalakṣānityadi sarveṣāṃ viśeṣaṇamekaikasya | samuditaparīkṣ� ca yoktā rājaviṣayā mātyeṣūtsāhanamiti sā na yukteti manyante | eṣa eva hi vuddhibhedo bhavedٲⲹnām | tasmādanyā kācit ٰī ī prayojyā anyaśca vināśāviṣaya udāhārya� |�
“ѱپٳ� Points out that the restriction to a small number makes unity possible. In case of a greater number it is difficult to obtain unanimity on a aparticular issue� The appointment of a prime minister has not been mentioned by Manu. It is worthy of notice that pedigree is one important point for consideration at the time of selection of ministers. The expression �ܱñ� and �ܱǻ岵� should be studied in this light�.[6]
Here ܱū첹 interprets the word �ṣān� as skilled in the use of weapons�[7]. ѱپٳ and ҴDZԻ岹Ჹ interpret that as “those who do not fail in their undertakings.�[8]
ʲīṣi or ܱ貹īṣi means according to ѱپٳ “who have been tried i.e., by tempting them in various ways�[9]. According to ҴDZԻ岹Ჹ—“who have been examined by spies�.[10] ܱū첹 ṭṭ and Rāghavānanda say that “who have been bound to fidelity by touching images of gods� etc.[11]
Manu says which subjects will be discussed by the king with the ministers.
“tai� sārdha� cintayenԾٲⲹ� 峾Բⲹ� sandhivigraham |
ٳԲ� ܻ岹ⲹ� ܱپ� lavdhapraśamanāni ca ||�7.56 ||[12]“Let him daily consider with them the ordinary (business referring to) peace and war, ٳԲ (the four subjects, viz., the army, the treasury, the town and the kingdom), the sources of revenue (like fields mines etc.), the manner of protecting (himself and his kingdom) and the sanctification of his gains (by pious gifts)�.[13]
Here according to commentator ܱū첹, Govindorāja, Rāghavānanda and sarvajñanārāyana �ٳԲ� means “the army, the treasury, the town and the kingdom.� According to Nandana ٳԲ means ‘halting� (Բ).[14]
Commentator ܱū첹bhaṭṭa says about the commentary of this verse�
“tai� sacivai saha 峾Բⲹ� mantreṣvagopanīya� sandhivigrahādi tannirūpayet | tathā tiṣṭatyaneneti sԲ� daṇḍapoṣaṇakoṣapurarāṣṭrātmaka� ٳܰ� cintayet | daṇḍyate'neneti daṇḍo hastyakharathapadātaya�, teṣāṃ ṣaṇa� rakṣaṇādi taccintayet | koṣo'narthanicaya� tasyāyavyāyādi | purasya rakṣaṇādi | ṣṭ� ś� | tadbāsimanuṣyapakhādidhāraṇakṣamatvādi cintayet | tathā samudayantutpadyante asmādarthā iti samudayo dhānyahiraṇyādutpattiٳԲ� tannirūpayet | tathā ܱپ� rakṣāmātmagatā� rāṣṭragatāñca suparīkṣitamannādyamadyāt, “parīkṣitā� striyaścaivami� tyadinātmarakṣaṇa� “rāṣṭrasya saṃgrahe nityami”tyadinā rāṣṭrarakṣāñca vakṣyati | lavdhasya ca dhanasya praśamanāni satpātre pratipādanādīni cintayettathā ca vakṣyati� “jitvā sampujayeddevāni� tyadi |�
Commentator ѱپٳ says in his commentary of this śǰ첹�
“tairvuddhisacivaimurkhyairścārthadhikāribhi� saha 峾Բⲹ� yannātirahasya taccintayet sandhivigraham, ki� Ի� samprati yuktoatha � | ubhayatra guṇadoṣān vicārayet | ida� 첹ٲvadhāraṇantu svavuddhyā kuryāt yathāsya paraprayojyatā na bhavati | idañcāpara� cintayet ٳԲ� tacٳܰ� daṇḍakoṣapurarāṣṭrāṇi | tatra daṇḍo hastyakharathapadātaya� teṣāṃ pratikarma ṣaṇaṣaṇād Գٲⲹ� pratikarma | na hyasamādhāna� pradhānañca yathā kośasya hemarupyavāhulya� pracurarupyatā āyavyayalakṣaṇañca kośasya | tathā nyāyasthanāni na vyāyitavyāni na vilamvanīyāni bhṛtyanām | tathā rāṣṭrasya deśaparyāyasya svājīva ānmasandhāraṇa� parasandhāraṇena nadībṛkṣāḥ paśava� śatrudveṣākrāntaprāya� guptigocara� paśumān adevamātṛka� āpadi ca daṇḍakaragraha ityevamādi | purasya vakṣyati tasmādāyadhasampannamiti | āthavā ٳԲ� svadeśaccāpracyavanam eva� samudayo'pi Գٲⲹ� | tatra kṛṣirvrajagulmasthanāni vāṇijyamuktadaṇḍa ityevamādi� | ܱپ� svarāṣṭragatā� vakṣyati | labdhapraśamanañca devatāsama� vidyāvatā� dhārmikāṇāñca mānadānatyagāyoga� ābidyānāñcābhyanujñāna� sarvavandhanamokṣa� | anugraho dīnavyadhitānām utsavānāñcāpūrvāṇāṃ ٲԲ� pravṛttānāmanuvṛtti� | yacca kośadaṇḍopādhikamadhārmikacaritra� tadapanīya dharmavyavahārān sthapayet | adharmacārikramakṛtamanyasya ṛt� vānyai� pravartayet na vā dharmakṛtañcānyairnibartayediti | eva� sthanādīni cintyāni | “teṣāṃ sva� svamabhiprāyamupalabhya ṛt ṛt | samastānāñca kāryeṣu vidadhyād hitamātmana� ||� 7.57 ||[15]
“Having (first) ascertained the opinion of each (minister) separately and (then the views) of all together let him do what is (most) beneficial for him in his affairs.�[16]
King should know the opinion of each minister separately and of all together because some persons who can not express their expression among many people. Again some persons are able to express their sharp intellect among all.
In this context commentator ܱū첹bhaṭṭa �
“teṣāṃ ā� rahasi niṣpratipakṣatayā hṛdayagatabhāvajñānasamt pratyekamabhiprāya� samastānāmapi yugapadabhiprāya� ܻ kāryeṣu yadātmano ٲ� tat kuryāt� |
According to ѱپٳ�
“teṣāṃ ṛt pṛthagekaikasya rahasyabhiprāya� hṛdayaniٲ� bhāvamupalabhya samastānā� saṃhatānā� yat ṇa� 첹ś ܰṣa� pariṣadi apratibhānavān bhavati rahasi � 첹ś pariṣadyāsāditaprajña� tataśca tān samastān pṛcchet | ٲٲ� svaya� yadyukkatara� hitamātmane sadvyavasyedvidadhyāt | tat 峾ṇy� teṣāmevānyatamenopadiṣṭa� vā yadapratyanīka� nirdoṣañca |�
‘It is worthy of notice that the king must have at least one ṇa minister and that this minister should be in charge of external affairs. It is implied, therefore, that this minister occupies a status more important than all other ministers�.[17]
Manu �
“sarveṣāntu viśiṣṭena brāhmaṇena vipaścitā | mantrayet 貹� Գٰ� ṣāḍguṇyasaṃyutam ||� 7.58 ||[18]
“But with the most distinguished among them all, a learned ṇa, let the king deliberate on the most important affairs which relate to the six measures of royal policy�.[19]
The six measures of royal policy are:
1) treaty, (sandhi),
2) war (vigraha),
3) marching (Բ),
4) halting (Բ),
5) double dealing (屹ī),
6) seeking protection (ṃſⲹ).�Ծٲⲹ� tasmin samāśvasta� sarvakāryāṇi niḥkṣipet |
tena sārddha� viniścitya ٲٲ� karma samārabhet ||�7.59 ||[20]Let him, full of confidence, always entrust to that (official) all business, having taken his final resolution with him, let him (afterwards) beging to act.�[21]
Beside this king should appoint some minister according to his necessity.
“anԲpi prakurvīta śucīn prājñānavasthitān |
samyagartha samāhartṝnٲⲹn suparīkṣitān ||� 7.60 ||[22]“He must also appoint other ministers, (men) of integrity, (who are) wise, firm, well able to collect money, and are well-tried�.[23]
It has been said before that the number of ministers should be seven or eight; but the number may be increased.
So, Manu �
“nirvartetāsya yāvadmiriti kartavyatā nṛbhi�
tāvato'tandritān dakṣān prakurvīta vicakṣaṇān ||� 7. 61 ||[24]“As Many persons as the due performance of his business requires, so many skillful and clever (men), free from sloth, let him appoint.�[25]
ṭiⲹ points out that these additional ministers are executive ministers, they are to be appointed for the purpose of doing additional work.
Manu in śǰ첹 no sixty two (62) mentions some of the works to be done by these additional ministers.
“teṣāmarthe nijuñjīta śūrān dakṣān kulodgatān |
śucīnākarakarmānte bhīrūnantarniveśane ||� 7.62 ||[26]“Among them let him employ the brave, the skilful, the high born, and the honest in (offices for the collection of) revenue, e.g., in mines, manufactures and store house, but the timid in the interior of his palace.�[27]
To save the kingdom king does not play tricks his ministers. In this content Manu �
“amāyayaiva varteta na kathañcana māyayā |� 7.104 ||[28]
Let him ever act without guil and on no account treacherously. In this context the commentary of ܱū첹 is�
“mayayā chadmatayā āmātyadiṣu na varteta | tathā sati sarveṣāmaviśvasanīya� syāt | dharmarakṣārtha� yathātattenaiva vyavaharet | yatnakṛtītmapakṣarakṣaśca śatrukṛtā� prakṛtibhedarūpā� � cāradvāreṇa jānīyāt�
The commentary of ѱپٳ is�
� chadma tena na varteta na ca paraprakṛtīrajñātarūpā upajayet | ariṇāprayuktāñca � yathāvadvudhyeta vuddhyā kṛtvopajāpa� kuryāt | tatra kṛtyapakṣaścaturvidha� kruddhaluvdhabhītāvamānitai� | tatra yena ṛt� śⲹ� kiñcidupakāro vā 岹śٲ� sa vipralabhyate prasādena niyojyate avamanyate vā tadarthe'pi tatsamāna� śalyopakārī krudhyati nāsyāsmadīya� śalyamupakāro vopayujyate, tādṛś� ܱ貹貹sahā bhavanti | tathā vāllabhyenopagṛhīta� paścānmānādhikārābhyā� ṣṭ� pravāsitavandhustadvallabha� prasabhamabhipūjya īṛt� sakulyairantarhita� sarvasvamāhāritastat samānakarmavid yo'nya pūjyate so'vadhīryyate ityevamādi� ܻ� | kenacit ṛt� 貹śܲԲⲹ� tatsamānadoṣebhyo daṇḍina� tat sarvādhikārastha� sahayopapāditārtha ityadi luvdhavarga� 貹ṣīṇ� kadaryo vyasanavahula ityadibhītavarga� | ٳ屹ٲ� śatrupūjārcanarata� tīkṣṇasāhasiko homenāsantuṣṭa ityevamādiravamānitavarga� | etat parasyopajapet ātmanaśca rakṣet |�
The King is also careful about his ministers etc. ṅg Manu �
�ⲹ � paro vidyāt vidyāc� parasya tu |
ū ū ivāṅgāni rakṣedvivaramātmana� ||� 7.105 ||[29]“His enemy must not know his weaknesses, but he must know the weaknesses of his enemy; as the tortoise (hides its limbs), even so let him secure the members (of his government against treachery), let him protect his own weak points.�[30]
“Manu says that ‘there may be occasions when the enemy king succeeds in creating dissension among his subjects. But the king should be careful enough to see through the ܱ貹貹 of the enemy king and he must counteract the influence of his opponent by successful personal efforts. Inspite of his best endeavour to conceal dissatisfaction among some of his subjects the enemy might come to know of it through the instrumentality of his spies. But in case there is leakage of information it is his duty to see that he can undo the activities of the enemy in that direction�.[31]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Manabendu Bandyopadhay, (Ed. & trans.): ѲԳܲṃh, p. 656.
[3]:
ibid., p. 70.
[4]:
Manabendu Bandyopadhaya: Op. cit., p. 655.
[5]:
Ashokanath Shastri: Op. cit., p. 67.
[6]:
ibid., p. 68.
[7]:
ibid., p. 69.
[8]:
loc. cit.
[9]:
loc. cit.
[10]:
loc. cit.
[11]:
loc. cit.
[12]:
Manabendu Bandyopadhaya: Op. cit., p. 657.
[13]:
Ashokanath Shastri: Op. cit., pp. 70-71.
[14]:
ibid., p.71.
[15]:
Manabendu Bandyopadhaya: Op. cit., p. 658.
[16]:
Ashokanath Shastri: Op. cit., p. 72.
[17]:
ibid., p. 73.
[18]:
Manabendu Bandyopadhaya: Op. cit., p. 658.
[19]:
Ashokanath Shastri: Op. cit., p. 72.
[20]:
Manabendu Bandyopadhaya: Op. cit., p. 658.
[21]:
Ashokanath Shastri: Op. cit., p. 73.
[22]:
Manabendu Bandyopadhaya: Op. cit., p. 659.
[23]:
Ashokanath Shastri: Op. cit., p. 74.
[24]:
Manabendu Bandyopadhaya: Op. cit., p. 659.
[25]:
Ashokanath Shastri: Op. cit., p. 75.
[26]:
Manabendu Bandyopadhaya: Op. cit., p. 659.
[27]:
Ashokanath Shastri,: Op. cit., p. 76.
[28]:
Manabendu Bandyopadhay: Op. cit., p. 679.
[29]:
loc.cit.
[30]:
Ashokanath Shastri: Op. cit., p. 122.
[31]:
loc.cit.; 31a Ashokanath shastri: Op. cit., pp. 69-70