'Peace is sixteenfold'
BY DR. S.T.W. KIRINDE
THERE are in Sri Lanka today many institutions, organisations and
individuals (both official and unofficial) purporting to assist the
Government in negotiating peace with the terrorist adversary. It should
interest these peace wallahs to know that the sages of ancient India had
more or less clinically examined peace and identified sixteen types of
it.
These are mentioned in the Hitopadesha, the ancient Brahminical Book
of Good Advice (English translation by BT Dravid 1922), the study of
which according to its compiler 'gives ready knowledge of Sanskrit
sayings, variety in all sorts of expressions and training in practical
politics.
The good advice is presented in the form of a cleverly interwoven
fabric of beautiful fables, aphorisms, and dialogues between mythical
beings (drawn from the Upanishads, Jatakas, Dhammapada, Panchatantra
etc. and cribbed in later times by Aesop and similar others).
These formed the lessons in 'science of politics' that the pundit
Vishnusharma (who knew the real essence of all political sciences)
imparted to the sons of King Sudarsana of Pataliputra.
These lads according to their father were always taking to a wrong
path through having not learnt the saatras by the teaching of the
political sciences.
Therefore to rectify this situation and make the princes versed in
the science of politics within six months, Vishnusharma tutored them on
Acquisition of Friends, Separation of Friends, Hostility and Peace.
The lesson concerning peace describes how it was made in a moment by
means of words by two arbiters, Vulture (Durdarshi or The Far Sighted)
and Parrot (Sarwagna or the All Knowing).
In this manner a protracted war between King Chitravarna of the
Peacocks, and King Rajahansa of the Geese was brought to an end.
It is noteworthy that these arbiters, in the best traditions of
public service, significantly were strictly neutral in their dealings
though being ministers respectively of Chitravarna and Rajahansa.
(Incidentally, the story behind this war carries all the ingredients of
a modern thriller - conspiracy, a spy, an agent provocateur, treachery,
and acts of bravery in battle).
When Rajahansa asked: "How many kinds of peace are possibly there?",
Vulture answered. "Persons skilled in making peace call peace
sixteenfold as there are sixteen modes of peace". These are listed below
with their principal features briefly given as in the Hitopadesha itself
wherever possible.
1) Kapala: "where only parties of equal strength unite";
2) Upahara: made by gift (in the manner of that to the Portuguese by
the hapless Dharmapala);
3) Santana: "brought by the gift of a girl for concert";
4) Sangata: "contracted by the good in friendly terms, which having
the same object and purpose, is not broken as long as life exists by
circumstantial causes, either in prosperity or in adversity";
5) Upanyasa: "made having in view the success of one's own object";
6) Pratikara: made with the motive of reciprocal obligation";
7) Sanyoga: effected "having common object in view and formed on
Well-united principles";
8) Purushantara: "accomplished with the assistance of the principal
warriors of us both";
9) Adrashatanara: agreement dictated by the enemy";
10) Adishta: the enemy appeased "by the grant of a piece of the
kingdom";
11) Atmadishta: imposed through "one's own forces" (e.g. the US in
Iraq);
12) Upagraha: made for the preservation of one's life by the gift of
everything (e.g the peace enjoyed under terrorists);
13) Parikraya: saving the chief councillor by the gift of a part of
the treasure, or by half or whole (e.g paying kappan in the form of
political favours and other bribes);
14) Uchchanna: the peace which is made by the grant of excellent
fertile land;
15) Parabhushana: peace which is made by the entire grant of the
produce of the land;
16) Skandopaneyya: that peace in which the defined produce of the
land is sent on the shoulders of a carrier.
(These last three modes may apply to the peace that prevailed in Sri
Lanka under colonial rulers).
It is evident from their definitions that of all the modes of peace,
the ideal is Sangata. Thus the Hitopadesha says of it: "this is the
peace which is like gold by its superior quality" and therefore "is also
mentioned as Kanchana (gold) by persons well versed in making peace".
Peace in this mode is based on loving kindness and friendship (Maitri),
and is characterized by mutual obligation (Purasparakara), good
relationships (Sambhandaka), and gifts (Upahara).
Here it should be mentioned that gifts in this particular context are
not those of which Virgil said "timeo Danaos et dona ferrentes" (I fear
the Greeks even when they bring gifts).
Vulture described modes of peace other than the Sangata as wanting in
amicability, meaning thereby that they carry hidden agendas and inimical
conditions. Such peace naturally will be unsustainable. Hence addressing
King Rajahansa he said.
"Therefore by my consent let that (Kanchana) alone be secured. For if
a thousand horse sacrifices and Truth were held in balance, Truth
certainly will outweighs the thousand horse sacrifices.
Hence let the peace known as Kanchana be made between the two kings
after taking an oath of Truth Speaking". (In today's context, one could
read soldiers for horse sacrifices).
Accepting this wise counselling the kings immediately ceased all
hostilities and declared an armistice. Then in manifestation of the
noble qualities of Kanchana, Peacock rewarded Parrot while Rajahansa did
the same for Vulture.
The two ministers then said: "Accomplished is our desired object. Now
let us withdraw from the Vindhya mountain and return to our places".
The least desirable modes of peace doubtless are Santana and Adishta.
The former, achieved by the gift of a girl for a concert could be
interpreted as meaning the offer of Mother Lanka for destructive
exploitation by inimical agencies under various names and guises.
The latter, achieved by giving the enemy a piece of the kingdom,
becomes the prelude to eventual disintegration of a hitherto undivided
country.
This seems to be the mode of peace being offered to Sri Lanka today,
with perhaps a bit of Santana in its most literal form being thrown in
by the brokers as icing on the cake when the death warrant for Sri Lanka
is signed.
At the conclusion of their lesson on Peace, the princes declared: "We
have known the requisites of regal administration by your favour, and
have become happy by that".
In response Vishnusharma said: "Let peace always be the delight of
all the victorious rulers of the earth. Let the good be free from
calamity. Let the fame of the blessed ever increase.
Let politics, like a concubine, settle always on the breast and kiss
the face of ministers. And let there be daily great festivity". |