Kautilya's Arthashastra 13.2: Chapter 2 (Section 172): Drawing the Enemy out by Means of Stratagems

13.2.1

muṇḍo jaṭilo vā parvataguhāvāsī caturvarṣaśatāyur bruvāṇaḥ prabhūtajaṭilāntevāsī nagarābhyāśe tiṣṭhet //

AN ascetic, with shaved head or braided hair and living in the cave of a mountain, may pretend to be four hundred years old, and, followed by a number of disciples with braided hair, halt in the vicinity of the capital city of the enemy. The disciples of the ascetic may make presentations of roots and fruits to the king and his ministers and invite them to pay a visit to the venerable ascetic. On the arrival of the king on the spot, the ascetic may acquaint him with the history of ancient kings and their states, and tell him: "Every time when I complete the course of a hundred years, I enter into the fire and come out of it as a fresh youth (bála). Now, here in your presence, I am going to enter into the fire for the fourth time. It is highly necessary that you may be pleased to honour me with your presence at the time. Please request three boons." When the king agrees to do so, he may be requested to come and remain at the spot with his wives and children for seven nights to witness the sacrificial performance. When he does so, he may be caught hold of.

13.2.2

śiṣyāś cāsya mūlaphalopagamanair amātyān rājānaṃ ca bhagavaddarśanāya yojayeyuḥ //

13.2.3

samāgatāś ca rājñā pūrvarājadeśābhijñānāni kathayet, "śate śate ca varṣāṇāṃ pūrṇe 'ham agniṃ praviśya punar bālo bhavāmi, tad iha bhavat samīpe caturtham agniṃ pravekṣyāmi, avaśyaṃ me bhavān mānayitavyaḥ, trīn varān vṛṇīṣṇa(vṛṣīṣva)" iti //

13.2.4

pratipannaṃ brūyāt "saptarātram iha saputradāreṇa prekṣāprahavaṇapūrvaṃ vastavyam" iti //

13.2.5

vasantam avaskandeta //

13.2.6

muṇḍo vā jaṭilo vā sthānikavyañjanaḥ prabhūtajaṭilāntevāsī vastaśoṇitadigdhāṃ veṇuśalākāṃ suvarṇacūrṇenāvalipya valmīke nidadhyād upajihvikānusaraṇārtham, svarṇanālikāṃ vā //

An ascetic, with shaved head or braided hair, and followed by a number of disciples with shaved heads or braided hair, and pretending to be aware of whatever is contained in the interior of the earth, may put in the interior of an ant-hill either a bamboo stick wound round with a piece of cloth drenched in blood and painted with gold dust, or a hollow golden tube into which a snake can enter and remain. One of the disciples may tell the king: "This ascetic can discover blooming treasure trove." When he asks the ascetic (as to the veracity of the statement), the latter should acknowledge it, and produce a confirmatory evidence (by pulling out the bamboo stick); or having kept some more gold in the interior of the ant-hill, the ascetic may tell the king: "This treasure trove is guarded by a snake and can possibly be taken out by performing necessary sacrifice. When the king agrees to do so, he may be requested to come and remain... (as before).

13.2.7

tataḥ sattrī rājñaḥ kathayet "asau siddhaḥ puṣpitaṃ nidhiṃ jānāti" iti //

13.2.8

sa rājñā pṛṣṭhaḥ "tathā" iti brūyāt, tac cābhijñānaṃ darśayet, bhūyo vā hiraṇyam antarādhāya //

13.2.9

brūyāc cainaṃ "nāgarakṣito 'yaṃ nidhiḥ praṇipātasādhyaḥ" iti //

13.2.10

pratipannaṃ brūyāt "saptarātram" iti samānam //

13.2.11

sthānikavyañjanaṃ vā rātrau tejanāgniyuktam ekānte tiṣṭhantaṃ sattriṇaḥ kramābhīnītaṃ rājñaḥ kathayeyuḥ "asau siddhaḥ sāmedhikaḥ" iti //

When an ascetic, pretending to be able to find out hidden treasure trove, is seated with his body burning with magical fire at night in a lonely place, his disciples may bring the king to see him and inform the king that the ascetic can find out treasure trove. While engaged in performing some work at the request of the king, the latter may be requested to come and remain at the spot for seven nights... (as before).

13.2.12

taṃ rājā yam arthaṃ yāceta tam asya kariṣyamāṇaḥ "saptarātram" iti samānam //

13.2.13

siddhavyañjano vā rājānaṃ jambhakavidyābhiḥ pralobhayet //

An accomplished ascetic may beguile a king by his knowledge of the science of magic known as jambhaka, and request him to come and remain... (as before).

13.2.14

taṃ rājeti samānam //

13.2.15

siddhavyañjano vā deśadevatām abhyarhitām āśritya prahavaṇair abhīkṣṇaṃ prakṛtimukhyān abhisaṃvāsya krameṇa rājānam atisaṃdadhyāt //

An accomplished ascetic, pretending to have secured the favour of the powerful guardian deity of the country, may often beguile the king's chief ministers with his wonderful performance and gradually impose upon the king.

13.2.16

jaṭilavyañjanam antarudakavāsinaṃ vā sarvaśvetaṃ taṭasuruṅgābhūmigṛhāpasaraṇaṃ varuṇaṃ nāgarājaṃ vā sattriṇaḥ kramābhinītaṃ rājñaḥ kathayeyuḥ //

Any person, disguised as an ascetic and living under water or in the interior of an idol entered into through a tunnel or an underground chamber, may be said by his disciples to be Varuna, the god of water, or the king of snakes, and shown to the king. While going to accomplish whatever the king may desire, the latter may be requested to come and remain... (as before.)

13.2.17

taṃ rājeti samānam //

13.2.18

janapadāntevāsī siddhavyañjano vā rājānaṃ śatrudarśanāya yojayet //

An accomplished ascetic, halting in the vicinity of the capital city, may invite the king to witness the person (of his enemy) when he comes to witness the invocation of his enemy's life in the image to be destroyed, he may be murdered in an unguarded place.

13.2.19

pratipannaṃ bimbaṃ kṛtvā śatrum āvāhayitvā niruddhe deśe ghātayet //

13.2.20

aśvapaṇyopayātā vaidehakavyañjanāḥ paṇyopāyananimittam āhūya rājānaṃ paṇyaparīkṣāyām āsaktam aśvavyatikīrṇaṃ vā hanyuḥ, aśvaiś ca prahareyuḥ //

Spies, under the, guise of merchants come to sell horses, may invite the king to examine and purchase any of the animals. While attentively examining the horses, he may be murdered in the tumult or trampled down by horses.

13.2.21

nagarābhyāśe vā caityam āruhya rātrau tīkṣṇāḥ kumbheṣu nālīn vā vidulāni dhamantaḥ "svāmino mukhyānāṃ vā māṃsāni bhakṣayiṣyāmaḥ, pūjā no vartatām" ity avyaktaṃ brūyuḥ //

Getting into an altar at night in the vicinity of the capital city of the enemy and blowing through tubes or hollow reeds the fire contained in a few pots, some fiery spies may shout aloud: "We are going to eat the flesh of the king or of his ministers; let the worship of the gods go on." Spies, under the guise of sooth-sayers and horologists may spread the news abroad.

13.2.22

tad eṣāṃ naimittikamauhūrtikavyañjanāḥ khyāpayeyuḥ //

13.2.23

maṅgalye vā hrade taṭākamadhye vā rātrau tejanatailābhyaktā nāgarūpiṇaḥ śaktimusalāny ayomayāni niṣpeṣayantas tathaiva brūyuḥ //

Spies, disguised as Nagas (snake-gods and with their body besmeared with burning oil (tejánataila), may stand in the centre of a sacred pool of water or of a lake at night, and sharpening their iron swords or spikes, may shout aloud as before.

13.2.24

ṛkṣacarmakañcukino vāgnidhūmotsargayuktā rakṣorūpaṃ vahantas trir apasavyaṃ nagaraṃ kurvāṇāḥ śvasṛgālavāśitāntareṣu tathaiva brūyuḥ //

Spies, wearing coats formed of the skins of bears and sending out volumes of smoke from their mouth, may pretend to be demons, and after circumambulating the city thrice from right to left, may shout aloud as before at a place full of the horrid noise of antelopes and jackals; or spies may set fire to an altar or an image of a god covered with a layer of mica besmeared with burning oil at night, and shout aloud as before. Others may spread this news abroad; or they may cause (by some contrivance or other) blood to flow out in floods from revered images of gods. Others may spread this news abroad and challenge any bold or brave man to come out to witness this flow of divine blood. Whoever accepts the challenge may be beaten to death by others with rods, making the people believe that he was killed by demons. Spies and other witnesses may inform the king of this wonder. Then spies, disguised as sooth-sayers and astrologers may prescribe auspicious and expiatory rites to avert the evil consequences which would otherwise overtake the king and his country. When the king agrees to the proposal he may be asked to perform in person special sacrifices and offerings with special mantras every night for seven days. Then (while doing this, he may be slain) as before.

13.2.25

caityadaivatapratimāṃ vā tejanatailenābhrapaṭalacchannenāgninā vā rātrau prajvālya tathaiva brūyuḥ //

13.2.26

tad anye khyāpayeyuḥ //

13.2.27

daivatapratimānām abhyarhitānāṃ vā śoṇitena prasrāvam atimātraṃ kuryuḥ //

13.2.28

tad anye devarudhirasaṃsrāve saṃgrāme parājayaṃ brūyuḥ //

13.2.29

saṃdhirātriṣu śmaśānapramukhe vā caityam ūrdhvabhakṣitair manuṣyaiḥ prarūpayeyuḥ //

13.2.30

tato rakṣorūpī manuṣyakaṃ yāceta //

13.2.31

yaś cātra śūravādiko 'nyatamo vā draṣṭum āgacchet tam anye lohamusalair hanyuḥ, yathā rakṣobhir hata iti jñāyeta //

13.2.32

tad adbhutaṃ rājñas taddarśinaḥ sattriṇaś ca kathayeyuḥ //

13.2.33

tato naimititkamauhūrtikavyañjanāḥ śāntiṃ prāyaścittaṃ brūyuḥ "anyathā mahad akuśalaṃ rājño deśasya ca" iti //

13.2.34

pratipannaṃ "eteṣu saptarātram ekaikamantrabalihomaṃ svayaṃ rājñā kartavyam" iti brūyuḥ //

13.2.35

tataḥ samānam //

13.2.36

etān vā yogān ātmani darśayitvā pratikurvīta pareṣām upadeśārtham //

In order to delude other kings, the conqueror may himself undertake the performance of expiatory rites to avert such evil consequences as the above and thus set an example to others.

13.2.37

tataḥ prayojayed yogān //

13.2.38

yogadarśanapratīkāreṇa vā kośābhisaṃharaṇaṃ kuryāt //

In view of averting the evil consequences of unnatural occurrences, he (the conqueror) may collect money (from his subjects).

13.2.39

hastikāmaṃ vā nāgavanapālā hastinā lakṣaṇyena pralobhayeyuḥ //

When the enemy is fond of elephants, spies may delude him with the sight of a beautiful elephant reared by the officer in charge of elephant forests. When he desires to capture the elephant, he may be taken to a remote desolate part of the forest, and killed or carried off as a prisoner. This explains the fate of kings addicted to hunting.

13.2.40

pratipannaṃ gahanam ekāyanaṃ vātinīya ghātayeyuḥ, baddhvā vāpahareyuḥ //

13.2.41

tena mṛgayākāmo vyākhyātaḥ //

13.2.42

dravyastrīlolupam āḍhyavidhavābhir vā paramarūpayauvanābhiḥ strībhir dāyanikṣepārtham upanītābhiḥ sattriṇaḥ pralobhayeyuḥ //

When the enemy is fond of wealth or women, he may be beguiled at the sight of rich and beautiful widows brought before him with a plaint for the recovery of a deposit kept by them in the custody of one of their kinsmen; and when he comes to meet with a woman at night as arranged, hidden spies may kill him with weapons or poison.

13.2.43

pratipannaṃ rātrau sattracchannāḥ samāgame śastrarasābhyāṃ ghātayeyuḥ //

13.2.44

siddhapravrajitacaityastūpadaivatapratimānām abhīkṣṇābhigamaneṣu vā bhūmigṛhasuruṅgārūḍhabhittipraviṣṭās tīkṣṇāḥ param abhihanyuḥ //

When the enemy is in the habit of paying frequent visits to ascetics, altars, sacred pillars (stúpa), and images of gods, spies hidden in underground chambers or in subterranean passages, or inside the walls, may strike him down.

13.2.45

yeṣu deśeṣu yāḥ prekṣāḥ prekṣate pārthivaḥ svayam /
KAK13.2.45cd/ yātrāvihāre ramate yatra krīḍati vāmbhasi //

Whatever may be the sights or spectacles which the king goes in person to witness; wherever he may engage himself in sports or in swimming in water;

13.2.46

dhiguktyādiṣu sarveṣu yajñaprahavaṇeṣu vā /
sūtikāpretarogeṣu prītiśokabhayeṣu vā /

Wherever he may be careless in uttering such words of rebuke as "Tut" or on the occasions of sacrificial performance or during the accouchement of women or at the time of death or disease (of some person in the palace), or at the time of love, sorrow, or fear;

13.2.47

pramādaṃ yāti yasmin vā viśvāsāt svajanotsave //
yatrāsyārakṣisaṃcāro durdine saṃkuleṣu vā /

Whatever may be the festivities of his own men, which the king goes to attend, wherever he is unguarded or during a cloudy day, or in the tumultuous concourse of people;

13.2.48

viprasthāne pradīpte vā praviṣṭe nirjane 'pi vā /
vastrābharaṇamālyānāṃ phelābhiḥ śayanāsanaiḥ //

Or in an assembly of Bráhmans, or whenever he may go in person to see the outbreak of fire, or when, he is in a lonely place, or when he is putting on dress or ornaments, or garlands of flower, or when he is lying in his bed or sitting on a seat;

13.2.49

madyabhojanaphelābhis tūryair vābhigatāḥ saha /
prahareyur ariṃ tīkṣṇāḥ pūrvapraṇihitaiḥ saha //E

Or when he is eating or drinking, on these and other occasions, spies, together with other persons previously hidden at those places, may strike him down at the sound of trumpets.

13.2.50

yathaiva praviśeyuś ca dviṣataḥ sattrahetubhiḥ /
tathaiva cāpagaccheyur ity uktaṃ yogavāmanam //

And they may get out as secretly as they came there with the pretence of witnessing the sights; thus it is that kings and other persons are enticed to come out and be captured.