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]

See also
  • Agni Purana
  • Upaya- used in Buddhism to indicate the methods of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

References
  1. Monier Monier-Williams (1899), Sanskrit English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Reprinted by Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120831056, Article on Upaya
  2. 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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