The Comparison of Battle Formations between Kautฺilya’s Arthaśāstra and Kāmandakī’s Nītisāra by Kāmandaka
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Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the deployment formation in battle in Ancient India, mentioned in Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra, composed in 400 BC, and Kāmandakīyanītisāra, composed in the 3rd- 6th century. The study aims 1) to study the military formations in Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra and Kāmandakīyanītisāra, and 2) to compare the military formations between these two texts. The research employs a qualitative method, using three Sanskrit versions of both texts as primary sources. The process begins with translation and content analysis. The study reveals that, during the deployment, the king is suggested to split his army into smaller detachments (Anīka), that serves as a building block for a formation (Vyūha), which consist of four main formations, i.e., staff formation (Daṇḍa Vyūha), snake formation (Bhoga Vyūha), circular formation (Maṇḍala Vyūha), and dispersed formation (Asaṃhata Vyūha). Deployment formations in both Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra and Kāmandakīyanītisāra are relatively similar, leading to the conclusion that Kāmandakīyanītisāra might have been influenced by Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra while maintaining its own originalities.
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References
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