Political Concepts in Ancient India /76

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Political Concepts in Ancient India
 
weaker King. This is discussed in detail by

Kautṭilya in AS' XII.
 
A
 
ĀSANA --(1) Maintaining a post against an enemy

standing firm so as to repel a charge, (opp. Yana).
 
āna).
(2) It is one of the six modes of foreign-policy,
together called Sadgun
together called Ṣāḍguṇya (c.v.)
 

(3) It is also sometimes called Upekşana (AS
ṣaṇa (AS'
VII. 1, Kulluka on Manu Samṁ VII. 160),

Upekṣā (Mitākṣarā on Yaājnñavalkya, I. 347),
Stha
Sthāna (Manu Sam VII. 190) and Avasthāna

(Kulluka on Manu Samṁ VII. 190).
 
Cf. upekṣanam āsanam (AS' VII. 1).
(4) Kautṭilya observes that Sthaāna, Asana and
Āsana and
Upekşana are synonymousṣaṇa are synonymous. Cf. sthānam āsanam upekṣaṇam cetyāsanaparyāyah (AS'
VII. 4). But yet there are
slight differences, when the Aggressor being

equal in strength with the Enemy waits for a
further increase in his strength it is called Asana.

further increase in his strength it is called Āsana.
When the strength of the former is less than that

of the latter, it is called Sthaāna, and when there
is indifference in respect of the application of the

is indifference in respect of the application of the
expedients (Upaāyas), it is called Upeksana.¹
A Cf. vis'eṣastu-guṇaikadeṣe sthānam, svavṛddhi-prāptyartham
ā sanamupāyānām aprayoga upekṣaṇam iti (AS' VII. 4).
 
ĀSĀRA-- (1) Asara is an ally who belongs to the

rear of the Aggressor (Vijīgişṣu), while the ally

belonging to a territory which stands ahead of the

Aggressor is called Mitra. (AS'. VII. 4 etc.).³
 
8. Cf. upekşanam āsanam (ASmitram ākrandas'ca me s'uravṛddhānu-raktaprakṛtih
(AS' VII. 1).
 
9. Cf. sthānam āsanam upekṣaṇam cetyāsanaparyāyah (AS
VII. 4).
 
1. Cf. vis'eşastu-gunaikadese sthānam, svavyddhi-prāptyartham
ā sanamupāyānām aprayoga upekṣaṇam iti (AS' VII. 4).
 
2. Cf. mitram akrandas'ca me s'uravrddhānu-raktaprakṛtih
(AS' VII. 4).
 
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