Kautilya's Arthashastra 12.3: Chapter 3 (Sections 164; 165): Assassination of Army Chiefs (cont.); Stirring up the Circle of Kings

12.3.1

rājño rājavallabhānāṃ cāsannāḥ sattriṇaḥ pattyaśvarathadvipamukhyānāṃ "rājā kruddhaḥ" iti suhṛdviśvāsena mitrasthānīyeṣu kathayeyuḥ //

SPIES in the service of the king (the enemy) or of his courtiers may, under the pretence of friendship, say in the presence of other friends that the king is angry with the chiefs of infantry, cavalry, chariots and elephants. When their men are collected together, fiery spies, having guarded themselves against night watches, may, under the pretence of the king's (the enemy's) order, invite the chiefs to a certain house and slay the chiefs when returning from the house. Other spies in the vicinity may say that it has been the king's (the enemy's) order to slay them. Spies may also tell those who have been banished from the country: "This is just what we foretold; for personal safety, you may go elsewhere."

12.3.2

bahulībhūte tīkṣṇāḥ kṛtarātricārapratīkārā gṛheṣu "svāmivacanenāgamyatām" iti brūyuḥ //

12.3.3

tānnirgacchata evābhihanyuḥ, "svāmisaṃdeśaḥ" iti cāsannān brūyuḥ //

12.3.4

ye cāpravāsitās tān sattriṇo brūyuḥ "etat tad yad asmābhiḥ kathitam, jīvitukāmenāpakrāntavyam" iti //

12.3.5

yebhyaś ca rājā yācito na dadāti tān sattriṇo brūyuḥ - "uktaḥ śūnyapālo rājñā "ayācyam artham asau cāsau ca mā yācate, mayā pratyākhyātāḥ śatrusaṃhitāḥ, teṣām uddharaṇe prayatasva" iti //

Spies may also tell those who have not received what they requested of the king (the enemy) that the officer in charge of waste lands has been told by the king: "Such and such a person has begged of me what he should not demand; I refused to grant his request; he is in conspiracy with my enemy. So make attempts to put him down." Then the spies may proceed in their usual way.

12.3.6

tataḥ pūrvavad ācaret //

12.3.7

yebhyaś ca rājā yācito dadāti tān sattriṇo brūyuḥ - "uktaḥ śūnyapālo rājñā "ayācyam artham asau cāsau ca mā yācate, tebhyo mayā so 'rtho viśvāsārthaṃ dattaḥ, śatrusaṃhitāḥ, teṣām uddharaṇe prayatasva" iti //

Spies may also tell those who have been granted their request by the king (the enemy) that the officer in charge of waste lands has been told by the king: "Such and such persons have demanded their due from me; I have granted them all their requests in order to gain their confidence. But they are conspiring with my enemy. So make attempts to put them down." Then the spies may proceed in their usual way.

12.3.8

tataḥ pūrvavad ācaret //

12.3.9

ye cainaṃ yācyam arthaṃ na yācante tān sattriṇo brūyuḥ - "uktaḥ śūnyapālo rājñā "yācyam artham asau cāsau ca mā na yācate, kim anyat svadoṣaśaṅkitatvāt, teṣām uddharaṇe prayatasva" iti //

Spies may also tell those who do not demand their due from the king that the officer in charge of waste lands has been told: "Such and such persons do not demand their due from me. What else can be the reason than their suspicion about my knowledge of their guilt? So make attempts to put them down." Then the spies may proceed in their usual way.

12.3.10

tataḥ pūrvavad ācaret //

12.3.11

etena sarvaḥ kṛtyapakṣo vyākhyātaḥ //

This explains the treatment of partisans.

12.3.12

pratyāsanno vā rājānaṃ sattrī grāhayet "asau cāsau ca te mahāmātraḥ śatrupuruṣaiḥ sambhāṣate" iti //

A spy employed as the personal servant of the king (the enemy) may inform him that such and such ministers of his are being interviewed by the enemy's servants. When he comes to believe this, some treacherous persons may be represented as the messengers of the enemy, specifying as "this is that."

12.3.13

pratipanne dūṣyān asya śāsanaharān darśayet "etat tat" iti //

12.3.14

senāmukhyaprakṛtipuruṣān vā bhūmyā hiraṇyena vā lobhayitvā sveṣu vikramayed apavāhayed vā //

The chief officers of the army may be induced by offering land and gold to fall against their own men and secede from the enemy (their king). If one of the sons of the commander-in-chief is living near or inside the fort, a spy may tell him: "You are the most worthy son; still you are neglected; why are you indifferent? Seize your position by force; otherwise the heir-apparent will destroy you."

12.3.15

yo 'sya putraḥ samīpe durge vā prativasati taṃ sattriṇopajāpayet "ātmasampannataras tvaṃ putraḥ, tathāpy antarhitaḥ, tatkim upekṣase vikramya gṛhāṇa, purā tvā yuvarājo vināśayati" iti //

12.3.16

tatkulīnam aparuddhaṃ vā hiraṇyena pratilobhya brūyāt "antarbalaṃ pratyantaskandham antaṃ vāsya pramṛdnīhi" iti //

Or some one of the family (of the commander-in-chief or the king), or one who is imprisoned may be bribed in gold and told: "Destroy the internal strength of the enemy, or a portion of his force in the border of his country."

12.3.17

āṭavikān arthamānābhyām upagṛhya rājyam asya ghātayet //

Or having seduced wild tribes with rewards of wealth and honour, they may be incited to devastate the enemy's country. Or the enemy's rear-enemy may be told: "I am, as it were, a bridge to you all; if I am broken like a rafter, this king will drown you all; let us, therefore, combine and thwart the enemy in his march." Accordingly, a message may be sent to individual or combined states to the effect: "After having done with me, this king will do his work of you: beware of it. I am the best man to be relied upon."

12.3.18

pārṣṇigrāhaṃ vāsya brūyāt "eṣa khalu rājā mām ucchidya tvām ucchetsyati, pārṣṇim asya gṛhāṇa, tvayi nivṛttasyāhaṃ pārṣṇiṃ grahīṣyāmi" iti //

12.3.19

mitrāṇi vāsya brūyāt "ahaṃ vaḥ setuḥ, mayi vibhinne sarvān eṣa vo rājā plāvayiṣyati, sambhūya vāsya yātrāṃ vihanāma" iti //

12.3.20

tatsaṃhatānām asaṃhatānāṃ ca preṣayet "eṣa khalu rājā mām utpāṭya bhavatsu karma kariṣyati, budhyadhvam, ahaṃ vaḥ śreyān abhyupapattum" iti //

12.3.21

madhyamasya prahiṇuyād udāsīnasya vā punaḥ /
yathāsannasya mokṣārthaṃ sarvasvena tadarpaṇam //E

In order to escape from the danger from an immediate enemy, a king should frequently send to a madhyama or a neutral king (whatever would please him); or one may put one's whole property at the enemy's disposal.