Upayas (diplomacy)

Upayasa is a Sanskrit word that means "approaches" or "ideas", "to come into any state or condition" and "to come near or towards".^[1] It also refers to methods of diplomacy found in Hinduism and Jainism texts.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Kautilya mentioned four Upayas - Sama, Dana or Dama, Danda and Bheda as ways to reach a solution in state politics to avoid conflicts and war situations.^[2] This phrase is also commonly used when you need to find a solution to a problem anyhow.

1. Sama, the first step, means conciliation or alliances. When the situation of conflict arises between states, the firsts step is to talk.^[2]

2. Dana, the second, means gifts or compensation. Sometimes it is referred to as Dama, price, it means to pay the value.^[2]

3. Bheda, refers to usage of Logic or Trickery, influence the mind.^[2]

4. Danda refers to force or armaments. To take up war with the opposite state.^[2]

All of the above four Upayas are generally spoken together in a single colloquial phrase - "Sama Dana Bheda Dandopaya". This is a very common quote that is used all over India as a suggestion to resolve any conflict.

An article on Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses website states that the 20th-century power-politics theoretician Hans J. Morgenthau suggests similar four methods in a struggle for the balance of power: Divide and Rule; Compensation; Armaments; and Alliances.^[2]

These four approaches are found in the Hindu Itihasa (epics) and the Dharmasastras, as well as the Jain text Nitivakyamitra.^[2]

References[edit]

↑ Monier Monier-Williams (1899), Sanskrit English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Reprinted by Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120831056, Article on Upaya
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 ^2.6 ^2.7 Understanding Kautilya’s Four Upayas
↑ The Eastern Journal of International Law: Quarterly Organ of the Eastern Centre of International Studies. Publication Department. 1978-01-01.
↑ Goswami, Namrata (2014-11-27). Indian National Security and Counter-Insurgency: The Use of Force Vs Non-violent Response. Routledge. ISBN 9781134514311.

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[1] Monier Monier-Williams (1899), Sanskrit English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Reprinted by Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120831056, Article on Upaya

[idsatext-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 ^2.6 ^2.7 Understanding Kautilya’s Four Upayas

[3] The Eastern Journal of International Law: Quarterly Organ of the Eastern Centre of International Studies. Publication Department. 1978-01-01.

[4] Goswami, Namrata (2014-11-27). Indian National Security and Counter-Insurgency: The Use of Force Vs Non-violent Response. Routledge. ISBN 9781134514311.

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