Anubandha is a motive or agreement. In Arthashastra, the term anubandha occurs many times in the sense of ‘motive’. It is the most important consideration when a plan is devised. This consideration is most important for communicating, guarding the terms of a treaty, acquisition of allies, instigation, dividing (the enemy’s) friends, conveying secret agents and troops (into the enemy’s territory), etc.
Anubandha was also an important aspect of judicial procedures.
The judge was advised
to take into consideration the ‘motive’ along with various other factors such
as the person, the offence, the place and time of offence, etc., before passing
a judgment.
Another place where ‘motive’ is the prerequisite is at the
time of negotiating a treaty. The examination of ‘motive’ for a new treaty in
relation to conciliation and other means with their consequences is advised.
A ‘motive’ should also be considered along with the place,
time, power, means, agreeableness, disagreeableness and consequences in the future
etc by the king who is about to march. Kautilya seems to favor the meaning of ‘motive’.
This ‘motive’ has a very wide coverage all over Arthashastra. In addition, the
four preambulary factors – Vishaya (matter), prayojana (the chief aim),
sambandha (relations), and (adhikarin) the person for whom the work is specially
designed, constitute what is known as anubandha catustaya – subject. Such
preambular details are usually incorporated in modern books in a preface to
the work in question while in shastra texts they are briefly set forth. It is
to be noted, however, that the components of the anubandhacatustaya are linked
with one another by the main aim ‘motive’.