Kautilya's Arthashastra 5.1: Chapter 1 (Section 89): Infliction of Secret Punishment

5.1.1

durgarāṣṭrayoḥ kaṇṭakaśodhanam uktam //

MEASURES necessary to remove the thorns of public peace both in fortified cities and country parts have been dealt with. We shall now proceed to treat of measures to suppress treason against the king and his kingdom.

5.1.2

rājarājyayor vakṣyāmaḥ //

5.1.3

rājānam avagṛhyopajīvinaḥ śatrusādhāraṇā vā ye mukhyās teṣu gūḍhapuruṣapraṇidhiḥ kṛtyapakṣopagraho vā siddhiḥ yathoktaṃ purastād, upajāpo 'pasarpo vā yathā pāragrāmike vakṣyāmaḥ //

With regard to those chiefs who, though living by service under the king, are inimically disposed towards him, or have taken the side of his enemy, a spy with secret mission or one in the guise of an ascetic and devoted to the king's cause shall set to work as described before; or a spy trained in the art of sowing the seeds of dissension may set to work, as will be described in connection with the ‘Invasion of an enemy's villages.’

5.1.4

rājyopaghātinas tu vallabhāḥ saṃhatā vā ye mukhyāḥ prakāśam aśakyāḥ pratiṣeddhuṃ dūṣyāḥ teṣu dharmarucir upāṃśudaṇḍaṃ prayuñjīta //

The king in the interests of righteousness may inflict punishment in secret on those courtiers or confederacy of chiefs who are dangerous to the safety of the kingdom and who cannot be put down in open daylight.

5.1.5

dūṣyamahāmātrabhrātaram asatkṛtaṃ sattrī protsāhya rājānaṃ darśayet //

A spy may instigate the brother of a seditious minister and with necessary inducements, take him to the king for an interview. The king, having conferred upon him the title to possess and enjoy the property of his seditious brother, may cause him to attack his brother; and when he murders his brother with a weapon or with poison, he shall be put to death in the same spot under the plea that he is a parricide.

5.1.6

taṃ rājā dūṣyadravyopabhogātisargeṇa dūṣye vikramayet //

5.1.7

śastreṇa rasena vā vikrāntaṃ tatraiva ghātayed "bhrātṛghātako 'yam" iti //

5.1.8

tena pāraśavaḥ paricārikāputraś ca vyākhyātau //

The same measure will explain the proceedings to be taken against a seditious Pârasava (one who is begotten by a Bráhman on Sûdra wife), and a seditious son of a woman-servant.

5.1.9

dūṣyaṃmahāmātraṃ vā sattriprotsāhito bhrātā dāyaṃ yāceta //

Or instigated by a spy, the brother of a seditious minister may put forward his claim for inheritance. While the claimant is lying at night at the door of the house of the seditious minister or elsewhere, a fiery spy (tîshna) may murder him and declare "Alas! the claimant for inheritance is thus murdered (by his brother)." Then taking the side of the injured party, the king may punish the other (the seditious minister).

5.1.10

taṃ dūṣyagṛhapratidvāri rātrāv upaśayānam anyatra vā vasantaṃ tīkṣṇo hantā brūyād "hato 'yaṃ dāyakāmukaḥ" iti //

5.1.11

tato hatapakṣam upagṛhyetaraṃ nigṛhṇīyāt //

5.1.12

dūṣyasamīpasthā vā sattriṇo bhrātaraṃ dāyaṃ yācamānaṃ ghātena paribhartsayeyuḥ //

Spies in the presence of a seditious minister may threaten to beat his brother claiming inheritance. Then "while the claimant is lying at the door of, etc.".............. as before.

5.1.13

taṃ rātrau iti samānam //

5.1.14

dūṣyamahāmātrayor vā yaḥ putraḥ pituḥ pitā vā putrasya dārān adhicarati, bhrātā vā bhrātuḥ, tayoḥ kāpaṭikamukhaḥ kalahaḥ pūrveṇa vyākhyātaḥ //

The same proceedings will explain the quarrel fraudulently caused to crop up between any two seditious ministers, in whose family a son or a father has had sexual intercourse with a daughter-in-law, or a brother with the wife of another brother.

5.1.15

dūṣyamahāmātraputram ātmasaṃbhāvitaṃ vā sattrī "rājaputras tvam, śatrubhayād iha nyasto 'si" ity upajapet //

A spy may flatter to the vanity of a seditious minister's son, of gentle manners and dignified conduct by telling him "Though thou art the king's son, thou art kept here in fear of enemies." The king may secretly honour this deluded person and tell him that "apprehending danger from the minister, I have put off thy installation, though thou hast attained the age of heir apparent." Then the spy may instigate him to murder the minister. The task being accomplished, he, too, may be put to death in the same spot under the plea that he is a parricide.

5.1.16

pratipannaṃ rājā rahasi pūjayet "prāptayauvarājyakālaṃ tvāṃ mahāmātrabhayān nābhiṣiñcāmi" iti //

5.1.17

taṃ sattrī mahāmātravadhe yojayet //

5.1.18

vikrāntaṃ tatraiva ghātayet "pitṛghātako 'yam" iti //

5.1.19

bhikṣukī vā dūṣyabhāryāṃ sāṃvadanikībhir auṣadhībhiḥ saṃvāsya rasenātisaṃdadhyāt //

A mendicant woman, having captivated the wife of a seditious minister by administering such medicines as excite the feelings of love, may through that wife contrive to poison the minister.

5.1.20

ity āpyaprayogaḥ //

Failing these measures, the king may send a seditious minister with an army of inefficient soldiers and fiery spies to put down a rebellious wild tribe or a village, or to set up a new superintendent of countries or of boundaries in a locality bordering upon a wilderness, or to bring under control a highly-rebellious city, or to fetch a caravan bringing in the tribute due to the king from a neighbouring country. In an affray (that ensues in consequence of the above mission) either by day or at night, the fiery spies, or spies under the guise of robbers (pratirodhaka) may murder the minister and declare that he was killed in the battle.

5.1.21

dūṣyamahāmātram aṭavīṃ paragrāmaṃ vā hantuṃ kāntāravyavahite vā deśe rāṣṭrapālam antapālaṃ vā sthāpayituṃ nāgarasthānaṃ vā kupitam avagrāhituṃ sārthātivāhyaṃ pratyante vā sa-pratyādeyam ādātuṃ phalgubalaṃ tīkṣṇayuktaṃ preṣayet //

5.1.22

rātrau divā vā yuddhe pravṛtte tīkṣṇāḥ pratirodhakavyañjanā vā hanyuḥ "abhiyoge hataḥ" iti //

5.1.23

yātrāvihāragato vā dūṣyamahāmātrān darśanāyāhvayet //

While marching against an enemy or being engaged in sports, the king may send for his seditious ministers for an interview. While leading the ministers to the king, fiery spies with concealed weapons shall, in the middle enclosure of the king's pavilion, offer themselves to be searched for admittance into the interior, and, when caught, with their weapons by the door-keepers, declare themselves to be the accomplices of the seditious ministers. Having made this affair known to the public, the door-keepers shall put the ministers to death, and in the place of the fiery spies, some others are to be hanged.

5.1.24

te gūḍhaśastrais tīkṣṇaiḥ saha praviṣṭā madhyamakakṣyāyām ātmavicayam antaḥpraveśanārthaṃ dadyuḥ //

5.1.25

tato dauvārikābhigṛhītās tīkṣṇāḥ "dūṣyaprayuktāḥ sma" iti brūyuḥ //

5.1.26

te tadabhivikhyāpya dūṣyān hanyuḥ //

5.1.27

tīkṣṇasthāne cānye vadhyāḥ //

5.1.28

bahirvihāragato vā dūṣyān āsannāvāsān pūjayet //

While engaged in sports outside the city, the king may honour his seditious ministers with accommodation close to his own. A woman of bad character under the guise of the queen may be caught in the apartment of these ministers and steps may be taken against them as before.

5.1.29

teṣāṃ devīvyañjanā vā duḥstrī rātrāv āvāseṣu gṛhyeteti samānaṃ pūrveṇa //

5.1.30

dūṣyamahāmātraṃ vā "sūdo bhakṣakāro vā te śobhanaḥ" iti stavena bhakṣyabhojyaṃ yāceta, bahir vā kvacid adhvagataḥ pānīyam //

A sauce-maker or a sweetmeat-maker may request of a seditious minister some sauce and sweetmeat by flattering him--"thou alone art worthy of such things." Having mixed those two things and half a cup of water with poison, he may substitute those things in the luncheon (of the king) outside the city. Having made this event known to the public, the king may put them (the minister and the cook) to death under the plea that they are poisoners.

5.1.31

tadubhayaṃ rasena yojayitvā pratisvādane tāv evopayojayet //

5.1.32

tadabhivikhyāpya "rasadau" iti ghātayet //

5.1.33

abhicāraśīlaṃ vā siddhavyañjano "godhākūrmakarkaṭakakūṭānāṃ lakṣaṇyānām anyatamaprāśanena manorathān avāpsyasi" iti grāhayet //

If a seditious minister is addicted to witchcraft, a spy under the guise of an accomplished wizard may make him believe that by manifesting (in witchcraft) any one of the beautiful things,--a pot containing an alligator, or a tortoise or crab--he can attain his desired end. While, with this belief, he is engaged in the act of witchcraft, a spy may murder him either by poisoning him or by striking him with an iron bar, and declare that he brought his own death by his proclivity to witchcraft.

5.1.34

pratipannaṃ karmaṇi rasena lohamusalair vā ghātayet "karmavyāpadā hataḥ" iti //

5.1.35

cikitsakavyañjano vā daurātmikam asādhyaṃ vā vyādhiṃ dūṣyasya sthāpayitvā bhaiṣajyāhārayogeṣu rasenātisaṃdadhyāt //

A spy under the guise of a physician may make a seditious minister believe that he is suffering from a fatal or incurable disease and contrive to poison him while prescribing medicine and diet to him.

5.1.36

sūdārālikavyañjanā vā praṇihitā dūṣyaṃ rasenātisaṃdadhyuḥ //

Spies under the guise of sauce-makers and sweet meat-makers may, when opportunity occurs, contrive to poison him.

5.1.37

ity upaniṣatpratiṣedhaḥ //

Such are the secret measures to get rid of seditious persons.

5.1.38

ubhayadūṣyapratiṣedhas tu //

As to measures to get rid of seditious persons conspiring against both the king and his kingdom:--

5.1.39

yatra dūṣyaḥ pratiṣeddhavyas tatra dūṣyam eva phalgubalatīkṣṇayuktaṃ preṣayet, gaccha, amuṣmin durge rāṣṭre vā sainyam utthāpaya hiraṇyaṃ vā, vallabhād vā hiraṇyam āhāraya, vallabhakanyāṃ vā prasahyānaya, durgasetuvaṇikpathaśūnyaniveśakhanidravya.hastivanakarmaṇām anyatamad vā kāraya rāṣṭrapālyam antapālyaṃ vā yaś ca tvā pratiṣedhayen
na vā te sāhāyyaṃ dadyāt sa bandhavyaḥ syāt" iti //

When a seditious person is to be got rid of, another seditious person with an army of inefficient soldiers and fiery spies may be sent with the mission: "Go out into this fort or country and raise an army or some revenue; deprive a courtier of his gold; bring by force the daughter of a courtier; build a fort; open a garden; construct a road for traffic; set up a new village; exploit a mine; form forest-preserves for timber or elephants; set up a district or a boundary; and arrest and capture those who prevent your work or do not give you help." Similarly the other party may be instructed to curb the spirit of the above person. When a quarrel arises between the two parties at work, fiery spies under cover may throw their weapons and murder the seditious person; and others are to be arrested and punished for the crime.

5.1.40

tathaivetareṣāṃ preṣayed "amuṣyāvinayaḥ pratiṣeddhavyaḥ" iti //

5.1.41

tam eteṣu kalahasthāneṣu karmapratighāteṣu vā vivadamānaṃ tīkṣṇāḥ śastraṃ pātayitvā pracchannaṃ hanyuḥ //

5.1.42

tena doṣeṇetare niyantavyāḥ //

5.1.43

purāṇāṃ grāmāṇāṃ kulānāṃ vā dūṣyāṇāṃ sīmākṣetrakhalaveśmamaryādāsu dravyopakaraṇasasyavāhanahiṃsāsu prekṣākṛtyotsaveṣu vā samutpanne kalahe tīkṣṇair utpādite vā tīkṣṇāḥ śastraṃ pātayitvā brūyuḥ "evaṃ kriyante ye 'munā kalahāyante: iti //

When with reference to boundaries, field-produce, and boundaries of houses, or with reference to any damage done to things, instruments, crops, and beasts of burden or on occasions of witnessing spectacles and processions, any dispute, real or caused by fiery spies, arises in seditious towns, villages, or families, fiery spies may hurl weapons and say: "This is what is done to them who quarrel with this man"; and for this offence others may be punished.

5.1.44

tena doṣeṇetare niyantavyāḥ //

5.1.45

yeṣāṃ vā dūṣyāṇāṃ jātamūlāḥ kalahās teṣāṃ kṣetrakhalaveśmāny ādīpayitvā bandhusaṃbandhiṣu vāhaneṣu vā tīkṣṇāḥ śastraṃ pātayitvā tathaiva brūyuḥ "amunā prayuktāḥ smaḥ" iti //

When there arises a quarrel among seditious persons, fiery spies may set fire to their fields, harvest-grounds, and houses, hurl weapons on their relatives, friends and beasts of burden, and say that they did so at the instigation of the seditious; and for this offence others may be punished.

4.4.46

tena doṣeṇetare niyantavyāḥ //

There are thirteen kinds of criminals who, secretly attempting to live by foul means, destroy the peace of the country. They shall either be banished or made to pay an adequate compensation according as their guilt is light or serious.

5.1.47

durgarāṣṭradūṣyān vā sattriṇaḥ parasparasyāveśanikān kārayeyuḥ //

Spies may induce seditious persons in forts or in country parts to be each other's guests at a dinner in which poisoners may administer poison; and for this offence others may be punished.

5.1.48

tatra rasadā rasaṃ dadyuḥ //

5.1.49

tena doṣeṇetare niyantavyāḥ //

5.1.50

bhikṣukī vā dūṣyarāṣṭramukhyaṃ "dūṣyarāṣṭramukhyasya bhāryā snuṣā duhitā vā kāmayate" ity upajapet //

A mendicant woman may delude a seditious chief of a district into the belief that the wife, daughter, or daughter- in-law of another seditious chief of another district loves the former. She may take the jewellery which the deluded chief gives her (for delivery to the wife, daughter, etc.), and, presenting it before the other chief, narrate that this chief in the pride of his youth makes love to the other's wife, daughter, or daughter-in-law. When at night a duel arises between the two chiefs, etc., as before.

5.1.51

pratipannasyābharaṇam ādāya svāmine darśayet "asau te mukhyo yauvanotsikto bhāryāṃ snuṣāṃ duhitaraṃ vābhimanyate" iti //

5.1.52

tayoḥ kalaho rātrau iti samānam //

5.1.53

dūṣyadaṇḍopanateṣu tu - yuvarājaḥ senāpatir vā kiṃcid apakṛtyāpakrānto vikrameta //

The prince or the commander of the army may confer some benefit upon such inimical persons as have been cowed down by a seditious army, and may declare his displeasure against them afterwards. And then some other persons, who are equally cowed down by another seditious army of the king, may be sent against the former along with an army of inefficient soldiers and fiery spies. Thus all the measures to get rid of seditious persons are of the same type.

5.1.54

tato rājā dūṣyadaṇḍopanatān eva preṣayet phalgubalatīkṣṇayuktān iti samānāḥ sarva eva yogāḥ //

5.1.55

teṣāṃ ca putreṣv anukṣiyatsu yo nirvikāraḥ sa pitṛdāyaṃ labheta //

Whoever among the sons of the seditious persons thus put down shows no perturbance of mind shall receive his father's property. It is only thus that the whole of the country will loyally follow the sons and grandsons of the king, and will be free from all troubles caused by men.

5.1.56

evam asya putrapautrān anuvartate rājyam apāstapuruṣadoṣam //

5.1.57

svapakṣe parapakṣe vā tūṣṇīṃ daṇḍaṃ prayojayet /
āyatyāṃ ca tadātve ca kṣamāvān aviśaṅkitaḥ //E

Possessed of forbearance and apprehending no disturbance either in the present or future, the king may award punishments in secret both upon his own subjects and those who uphold the enemy's cause.