Upayas (diplomacy)

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Upayas is a Sanskrit word that means "approaches", "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 to 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, the third, refers to usage of
Logic or Trickery, influence the mind. [2] 4.Danda refers to the last step, that is force or armaments. To take up
war with the opposite state.[2] 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
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

References
1. Monier Monier-Williams (1899), Sanskrit English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Reprinted by
Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120831056, Article on Upaya
2. Understanding Kautilyas Four Upayas (http://idsa.in/idsacomments/UnderstandingKautilyasFourUpayas
_pkgautam_200613)
3. The Eastern Journal of International Law: Quarterly Organ of the Eastern Centre of International
Studies (https://books.google.co.in/books?id=9gAvAQAAIAAJ&q=Upayas&dq=Upayas&hl=en&sa=X
&ved=0ahUKEwj9qvW0jYXRAhWKpo8KHfwDAVw4FBDoAQg4MAY). 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 (https://books.google.co.in/books?id=RiecBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA204&dq=Upay
as&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9qvW0jYXRAhWKpo8KHfwDAVw4FBDoAQhGMAk#v=onepage
&q=Upayas&f=false). Routledge. ISBN 9781134514311.

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This page was last edited on 2 August 2017, at 16:13.

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