Kautilya's Arthashastra 13.3.8
Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra 13.3.8
- Language
- Sanskrit
13.3.8
śatruṇā maitrīṃ kṛtvāmātyān avakṣipet //
After making peace with the enemy, the conqueror may dismiss his own confidential ministers. They may request the enemy to reconcile them to their master. When the enemy sends a messenger for this purpose, the conqueror may rebuke him and say: "Thy master attempts to sow the seeds of dissension between myself and my ministers; so thou should not come here again." Then one of the dismissed ministers may go over to the enemy, taking with him a band of spies, disaffected people, traitors, brave thieves, and wild tribes who make no distinction between a friend and a foe. Having secured the good graces of the enemy, the minister may propose to him the destruction of his officers, such as the boundary-guard, wild chief, and commander of his army, telling him: "These and other persons are in concert with your enemy." Then these persons may be put to death under the unequivocal orders of the enemy.
Translations (1)
- Kautilya's Arthaśāstra — R. Shamasastry 1915, English
Commentaries (4)
- Pratipadapañcikā — Bhaṭṭasvāmin, Sanskrit
- Cāṇakyaṭīkā — Bhikṣu Prabhamati, Sanskrit
- Nayacandrikā — Mādhavayajvan, Sanskrit
- Śrīmūla — T. Gaṇapati Śāstrī, Sanskrit