Rattibha

Ganimi Kava - The most comprehensive description📜
From the contemporary historic Sanskrit text Shivakavya of Kavi Sankarshan Sakalkale.
This rare text covers history of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaja from 1655 to early 1660s, as he faces his cunning enemies and counters them.

अकपटकटकोपिशाहसूनुः
सकपटवैरिचमूविनाशनाय ।
स्वयमपि कुटिलां मतिं विदधे
भवति हि मायिनि माधवोऽपि मायी ॥
"Son of Shahaji was straightforward & preferred face-to-face battle, but He too took recourse to Kutayuddha taken by His enemies.
Towards a cunning enemy, Krishna is also cunning."

The text Shivakavya makes it clear what Ganimi Kava is, and why Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj was forced to use it, especially during his first major conquest of the Jayavalli Maratha Chandrarao More kingdom.
He is hailed as Kapata-Yuddhavidhana-Daksham and Yuddha-Vidya-Visharada.

Shivakavya of Sankarshan Sakalkale is a contemporary historical text, and it is unique for explaining Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaja's war doctrine in a projected oral lesson with a pandit.
This mode of warfare was entirely extracted from Hindu scriptures: Puranas, Nitisaras, etc.

We know Maratha Kings Dharamveer Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaja, Senasahebsubah Maharaja Janoji Bhonsale of Nagpur & others too learnt Kamandakiya Nitisara, Chanakya Niti, etc.
Shivakavya reveals that Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaja ALSO developed his doctrine from Nitisaras et al.

Shivaji the Great: Kamandak & Vyasa Niti
कामन्दकमुखग्रन्थसुनीतिश्रवणेच्छया ।
साधुमाकारयामास तदा पौराणिकद्विजम् ॥
व्यासादिव द्विजादस्मात् स्मृतिमात्रादुपस्थितात् ।
इति भक्त्या नीतिशास्त्रमकरोच्छ्रवणातिथि ॥
आसनस्थं नरपतिं निश्चिन्तमिव वासवम् ।
उवाच वाचयन् ग्रन्थं वाचस्पतिरिवापरः ॥

The doctrine of Maratha Ganimi Kava Warfare is laid out thus:
संप्राप्तव्यसनं शत्रु यायादेवाविचारयन् ।
यद्वा द्विगुणसैन्यस्तु शत्रुमव्यसनं व्रजेत् ॥
An enemy in distress is to be instantly attacked.
An enemy without any calamity is to be attacked with doubly strong force.

अहितं रिपुदेशस्य कुर्यात्कर्शनपीडनैः ।
सस्यैरतिसमृद्धस्य गोधनालंकृतस्य च ॥
The enemy's state with ample grains, cattle, wealth should be inflicted with agonizing hardships.

सर्वतो लुंठनं कुर्याद्येन क्षीणो भवेद्रिपुः ।
पश्चा‌द्भागविशुद्धः सन्नरिकर्मविचारवान् ॥
The enemy should be plundered so as to weaken it.
On having reconsideration (out of pity), a part of the loot may be returned provided that one's self interest is not harmed.

अप्रमत्तः स्वदोर्दण्डबलशाली जयेच्छया ।
विशोध्य रिपुदेशस्य मार्गजातं विशेत्ततः ॥
A King who is sane, possessing the strength of arms, victory-thirsty, should burst forth into the enemy's territory having cleared out the various paths there.

बुद्धिशस्त्रेण चैकेन सर्वान्गर्भागतानपि ।
त्यक्तत्वरो रिपून्हन्यात्सदा कपटमाचरन् ॥
Using only the weapon of intelligence, the King should extirpate the enemies by stratagem, without being hasty.

नानाकण्टकवृक्षैश्च शङ्कभिर्लोहनिर्मितैः ।
प्रच्छन्नैरवटव्यूहैररिमार्ग विदूषयेत् ॥
The enemy's routes should be infested with various thorny plants, iron spikes, trap holes, etc.

विषैरालोडितान् एतान्कुर्यात्सर्वान् जलाशयान् ।
विचित्राणि च खाद्यानि धान्यराशीस्तथैव च ॥
The water reservoirs on these routes should be poisoned.
The granaries standing crops and various types of edibles should also be poisoned.

एवं कृत्वा प्रयत्नेन स्कंधावारनिवेशनम् ।
सहसा नैव युद्ध्येत क्षीणेनापि हि वैरिणा ॥
A King should establish Army bases with effort.
His army should then ravage the enemies' territory.
One should not fight in casual manner even against a weak enemy.

दरीषु शैलविपिने नदीभिः सङ्कटस्थले ।
दीर्घाध्वगतिविश्रान्तं घोरवाताग्निपीडितम् ॥
क्षुत्पिपासार्दितं व्यग्रं भोजने निद्रितं तथा ।
हन्यादेव रिपुं राजा व्यसनेष्वेवमादिषु ॥
If the enemy is on descending slopes of mountains in forests, if he is by riverside...

...
Or, exhausted by long march, strong wind or fire, affected by hunger and thirst, dining or at the time of sleeping, the King should kill the Enemy when the Enemy is facing disasters like these.
(This was exactly how the hardy Maratha Chandrarao More army was destroyed)

कूटयुद्धमिदानीं त्वं श्रुणु राजन् समाहितः ।
अरीणामग्रतः स्वीयान्स्वल्पान् दृग्गोचरान्नयेत् ॥
O' King, now hear about Kutayuddha.
The King should initiate the assault with a small army on the enemy's vanguard, secretively and silently.

तैररीन् युध्यमानांश्च पश्चाद्धन्याद्वलावृत्तः ।
एतस्य वैपरीत्येन पुरो वा पार्श्वतोऽपि वा ॥
When the enemy is involved in encounter in the front, a bigger army should attack the enemy from rear.
It may also be an attack from the front or from the sides.

पदातीन्विधृताग्न्यस्त्रान्स्थापयेद्विषमस्थले ।
किञ्चिद्विदूरे मार्गस्य पार्श्वयोर्गुप्तभावतः ॥
The King's troopers carrying fire arms should be stationed or hidden at strategic spots and on both the sides of enemy's routes.
(A crystal clear description of a Kill Zone)

रिपोरग्रेसरान् कृत्वा युद्धार्थं स्वल्पसैनिकान् ।
तदेव विषमं स्थानं नयेत् पृष्ठगं रिपुम् ॥
A few soldiers of the enemy should be driven to the front for picking off.
The enemy should then be directed to dangerous spot (Kill Zone) as he begins retreating.

गुप्तः ससैन्यः कुहचित् पश्चाद्रिपुमपि स्वयम् ।
अग्रतः स्वीयसैन्येन मध्ये शत्रु विनाशयेत् ॥
When a contingent of the army is kept hidden and the enemy is engaged in war with a small contingent, suddenly the hidden force should flare up and kill the enemy.

कृतजागरणा रात्रौ दिवासुप्तान्विनाशयेत् ।
पूर्वाहतेषु परिश्रांतं सायाद्धे नाशयेत् रिपून् ॥
The night sentries resting in daytime should be targeted and killed. Those fighters tired due to day long labour should be killed in the night.

सौप्तिकज्ञानवान् राजा निशिसुप्तं विनाशयेत् ।
सोपानत्कैर्गजैः शूरैः खड्ङ्गाग्न्यस्त्रबलोद्धतैः ॥
The King aware of the resting dens of the enemies should kill the enemies resting by night.
Men armed with swords, fire arms, spiked boots and also elephants should be used for this.

शत्रु जयेत् क्रूरयुद्धैर्न धर्मा‌द्धियते कदा ।
विशेषतो धर्मयुद्धैरक्षय्यं स्वर्गमाप्नुयात् ॥
The Dharmayuddha or the principled war will ensure attainment of heaven.
Yet the cruel war by deceit should be resorted to when Dharmayuddha is impossible.
Immortal words for Aryans.

We see Maratha Ganimi Kava extended beyond Kutayuddha. It was basically Total War.
It included elements: Scorched Earth, Razzias, Camisados, Pincers, Enemy Exhaustion, Kill Zone setups, etc.
It only shook off enemy's advantages. This is how real war is fought across the planet.

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