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Peace is sixteen-fold: Where does Lanka stand?
By Dr. S.T.W. Kirinde
There are in Sri Lanka today many institutions, organizations 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 B.T. 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 saastras 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 (Sarwanga 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 a 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) "Adrashtanara: 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: savings 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 outweigh 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".

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