Shatrubodh is a word you may have heard a lot since the Pahalgam attack and the successive Operation Sindoor. It has, however, been thrown around rather casually. This is a concept every Hindu must be aware of and equip themselves with while doing their duty of upholding Dharma. Swayambodh and Shatrubodh are essentials not just to ensure Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah but also for the survival of Hindu Samaj itself.
Understanding the concepts of Swayambodh & Shatrubodh
Swayambodh is understanding ourself and where our centre lies. Our centre is that aspect which keeps us grounded, energizes us, and gives us the strength to to deal with difficulties/adversities. It is that aspect that helps us overcome stress and strain. The things that pacify us during our strenuous times are our centres. These centres are necessary for helping individuals to get back up re-energized after their difficult phase.
Shatrubodh refers to understanding our boundaries. Understanding our boundaries is important for knowing if our space, ideology and interests are being encroached because such encroachment could harm us as well. In short, a thorough understanding of both these concepts are essential for our survival both as an individual and a society. Essentially, Shatrubodh in Hindu thought highlights the significance of deeply understanding and analyzing one’s enemies, enabling wise decision-making and the safeguarding of one’s own interests, both strategically and philosophically.
Shatrubodh according to various Hindu Granthas
Vidura Niti and Chanakya Niti are ancient Hindu Granthas on administration and politics. Acharya Chanakya (Kautilya) also authored the Arthashastra which is a detailed work delving into political science and economics. In Chanakya Niti, the Acharya advises us on how to treat and deal with our enemies.
In Arthashastra, various methods for gathering information about enemies, including intelligence gathering, analysis of enemy behavior, and utilizing this knowledge to inform strategic choices are explained. Arthashastra emphasizes Shatrubodh as an important aspect of successful diplomacy, warfare, and statecraft. Chanakya believed only when one knows one’s enemy thoroughly will they be able to make informed choices in dealing with them.
To sum up, Acharya Chanakya emphasized Shatrubodh as a key principle of statecraft and survival. In the Arthashastra, he advises rulers to constantly observe, analyze, and assess the strengths, weaknesses, intentions, and strategies of both external and internal enemies. Chanakya believed that knowing the enemy in detail enables one to strike at the right time, avoid traps, and maintain power. He stressed the use of intelligence networks, strategic alliances, and psychological tactics. For Chanakya, Shatrubodh was not just awareness but a necessary skill for ensuring political stability and protecting the nation.
Another Grantha where we find this concept is the Bhagavad Gita. In the Bhagavad Gita, Shatrubodh refers to the clear recognition and understanding of one’s enemies to act decisively and uphold dharma. Bhagwan Krishna helps Arjuna move from emotional confusion to strategic clarity by identifying those who stand against righteousness as true enemies. Krishna advises Arjuna to set aside personal attachments and assess the enemy based on actions and intent. This awareness is essential for both warfare and duty. The Gita thus presents Shatrubodh as a vital part of leadership and righteous action in times of moral and political conflict.
Applying Shatrubodh to modern Hindu Samaj to uphold & protect Dharma
The modern Hindu Samaj is totally oblivious to the concept of Shatrubodh, particularly post 1947. The forced secularism and the fear of being guilt-tripped and called ‘fascist’ and ‘communal’ have led to the Hindu Samaj having completely given up Shatrubodh. In fact, many Hindus actually feel obliged to pamper their enemies.
Why does the caption say Hindus lack Shatrubodh? Well, this video is of the Kashmiri Hindu Pandits exodus in the 1990s. They were told to either leave, convert or die. Girija Tickoo’s story should anger us and deepen our mistrust of our enemies, in this case the Kashmiri Muslims. Yet, we saw post-Pahalgam several Hindus (HINOs possibly) giving ‘clean chits’ to locals without whose aid such an attack was highly improbable.
It is not just knowing your enemy but also being able to anticipate their actions under different situations. Many Kashmiri Pandits themselves go about tomtoming the line that ‘all are not the same’ and we shouldn’t bracket all of them together. In fact one of the victims of the IC814 hijack has kept the shawl ‘autographed’ by one of the terrorist hijackers as a souvenir. Would a Jew ever take the autograph of Hitler?
Instead of being cautious of our enemies, we tend to either sympathize with them or worse, promote them as our well-wisher. Pseudo-seculars would leave no stone unturned to guilt-trip Hindus unnecessarily. Boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan is not just a impulsive patriotic/nationalistic decision but one that works on the principle – my enemy’s friend is my enemy. Why should Bharatiyas fund nations that stand with terrorist nation Pakistan only because it is an Islamic nation? Bharat had helped Turkey during the Covid crisis and got repaid by the latter standing with terrorist Pakistan.
Shatrubodh is also a means to keep one’s self-respect. It teaches us not to blindly trust anyone and act holier than thou. History teaches us that the over morality of Hindu rulers led to Islamic invaders and latter Christian Evangelicals getting a foothold in Bharat. In today’s times, it is important to develop Shatrubodh if Hindu samaj is to survive the repeated assault on its existence by both external and internal enemies.
