Strategies of Chanakya From Vengeance to Victory

Jul 21 2024 6 Min read #history

A true strategist, a shrewd fighter

Throughout Chanakya's life, his strategies and constant struggles were evident, he got Chandragupta after vowing to eradicate his lineage to hide Dhanananda's swank. Chandragupta was also Daayadi who was cheated by Dhanananda's rule. So join him and end Dhanananda's reign.

At first very systematically to the boy Chandragupta He educated. All kinds of martial arts,He also taught the art of administration. Above all in Chandragupta Full of confidence. At the same time, India was different What was wrong with the petty kings who were ruling other states Foreign invaders are making these mistakes See how they are using it to their advantage studied. Not only that, they were also given to Chandragupta Informed. Both to end Nanda's rule A detailed blueprint was prepared.

But, the problem was that they had no army. It was not possible to conquer the kingdom of Magadha without fighting. Thus, both of them started building their own army of youth. He made the people resentful of Nanda's rule. Also, not only were there many scattered armies from the Greek army, but all the soldiers there were drawn to their side. After the attack by the Greek army, there were thousands of soldiers who separated from their army and wandered the country. Chanakya and Chandragupta strengthened their army by giving shelter to all of them and promising to establish their own kingdom one day.

Pataliputra is the capital of Magadha state. Chandragupta's army attacked Pataliputra several times while staying inside the Magadha Empire. But, every time it was defeated. Because Nanda's army was large and it was very organized. However, Chandragupta's army fought on the basis of Chanakya's doctrines but not as skilled to be in martial arts.So both of them sat down and reviewed where they were going wrong.

Before this, Chandragupta himself had fought for the Greeks with his military units to defeat some kings. Later, when the Greek army went back, they fought against the troops who had adopted the tactics of the Greek army to defeat the satraps who were ruling here on their behalf. Even if he knew both these tactics, they would not have worked against the Magadha Empire. Because Chandragupta was following the expensive strategy of attacking the capital directly. It was difficult for any strong army. Because Pataliputra was a city surrounded by a strong fort. The fort had 64 gates. Around the fort was a huge moat half a kilometer wide and fifty feet deep. It was difficult for Chandragupta to attack by crossing it. Whenever Chandragupta attacked, Dhanananda's army would counter-attack by closing all the doors of the fort from outside and building temporary bridges over the moat. Thus the only way for Chandragupta's army to save itself was to flee back. Thus Chanakya changed his strategy. Before attacking the fort, it was decided to attack inwards from the border side. Thus Chandragupta's army moved towards Vindhyachal. He proceeded to Mayapuri via Kaushambi. Then traveled through the mountain range of Shivalik and reached another state on the extreme border of the Magadha state. In that place, the soldiers who were defeated by Alexander's army were living as refugees. He waited for the time to take revenge against the Greeks. Chanakya knew that people who were always seething with anger could make good soldiers. So Chanakya and Chandragupta gained the trust of those soldiers. Already they fought a lot of battles, experienced soldiers.He knew how to devise new war tactics and execute them. Thus Chanakya and Chandragupta united them and started raids against Satrapa.

On his way back from here, Alexander had appointed various commanders of his army as satraps and allotted lands to them. He had instructed that all these satraps should be governed loyally to him.This is how Satrapa their army there were a large number of warriors of Greek origin.His idea was that if they were ever to be loyal to him, a mixed race of Greeks and Indians should be born and mingled with the kingdoms of India. Thus, Alexander ordered that he should marry young Indian women. Thus the satraps had kidnapped thousands of young Indian women to marry the Greek soldiers. However, along with the marriage of these young women by the Greek soldiers, the satraps who fell in love with them were also transformed into maidens. He used to rape young Indian women, drink alcohol, gamble and mesmerize in music and dances. Villagers were angry with such satraps and soldiers. Because the Greeks used to kidnap the girls of their house. Such young women and village slaves were auctioned in the market. Chanakya and Chandragupta defeated many satraps using these young women and slaves. Later that satrap army would join Chandragupta's army. Thus Chandragupta's army was growing huge. In addition, the territories bordering the Magadha kingdom were under Chandragupta's rule were joining.

Chandragupta later attacked some of the local kings, especially the defunct Greek rulers, along with Porus. Many Indian kings recovered their kingdoms from Greek invaders thanks to Chandragupta.All of them later he became loyal to Chandragupta.They promised to help Chandragupta if he attacked Pataliputra in future.

Around this time, an orphan girl named Karbhika joined Chandragupta's army. Her entire family was destroyed in the attack of the Greeks. She was the only survivor. She wanted revenge against the Greeks who destroyed her family. She is a brave young woman. She was also a beautiful woman. She took an active part in the war. Her bravery and looks attracted Chandragupta. Karbhika was also infatuated with Chandragupta. A relationship developed between them. Chanakya also knew this. However, he did not object. Instead, he adopted her as his daughter. Later Chandragupta got married to her.

Chandragupta's army defeated many satraps like Philip, Udithomas, who were ruling outside the boundaries of the Magadha Empire. Chandragupta's army was spread out along the banks of the Indus River, in Kashmir on the Indian scalp. Chandragupta and Chanakya strengthened their armies while simultaneously driving the Greeks further north and re-establishing the kingdoms of Indian kings in the south. Finally the time had come to fight the Magadha army.

By that time there was a split in Nanda's family. After the death of Mahapadma who was ruling Pataliputra his eldest son Dhanananda took over after his father's death.However, some brothers were jealous of him getting the title of king. They were thinking of somehow killing Dhanananda himself and becoming the king. Due to this, Dhanananda was happy, fell in love with women and became mesmerized. As a result, a brother named Sumalyananda killed Dhanananda using a beautiful young woman. Then he became king himself.However, Sumalyananda was also not a good ruler. He was also happy. Chanakya, who was waiting for such a time, spread bad opinions about Sumalyananda among the citizens of Magadha kingdom and raised the citizens against their king. Later he instructed Chandragupta's army to attack the Magadha kingdom. The citizens did not protest much then. Sumalyananda's army did not get support from the subjects in his own state. Besides, Chandragupta's army, which was planning to attack, was also strong. Finally Sumalyananda lost. Chandragupta conquered the kingdom of Magadha. Chanakya became his prime minister.

Due to Chanakya's tactics, India was simultaneously freed from the Greek invaders and Chandragupta regained the kingdom he had lost as a child. In addition, Chanakya's oath against Nanda was also fulfilled. Finally he tied the shikha that he had untied while swearing!