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Kautilya's Arthashastra 7.4.7

Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra 7.4.7

Language
Sanskrit

7.4.7

yadā vā paśyet "parasyāpacaritāḥ kṣīṇā lubdhāḥ svacakrastenāṭavīvyathitā vā prakṛtayaḥ svayam upajāpena vā mām eṣyanti, sampannā me vārttā, vipannā parasya, tasya prakṛtayo durbhikṣopahatā mām eṣyanti; vipannā me vārttā, sampannā parasya, - //
taṃ me prakṛtayo na gamiṣyanti, vigṛhya cāsya dhānyapaśuhiraṇyāny āhariṣyāmi, svapaṇyopaghātīni vā parapaṇyāni nivartayiṣyāmi, - //
paravaṇikpathād vā saravanti mām eṣyanti vigṛhīte, netaram, dūṣyāmitrāṭavīnigrahaṃ vā vigṛhīto na kariṣyati, tair eva vā vigrahaṃ prāpsyati, - //
mitraṃ me mitrabhāvy abhiprayāto bahvalpakālaṃ tanukṣayavyayam arthaṃ prāpsyati, guṇavatīm ādeyāṃ vā bhūmim, - //
sarvasaṃdohena vā mām anādṛtya prayātukāmaḥ kathaṃ na yāyād" iti paravṛddhipratighātārthaṃ pratāpārthaṃ ca vigṛhyāsīta //

When a king finds that as his enemy's subjects are ill-treated, impoverished and greedy and are ever being oppressed by the inroads of the army, thieves, and wild tribes, they can be made through intrigue to join his side; or that his own agriculture and commerce are flourishing while those of his enemy are waning; or that as the subjects of his enemy are suffering from famine, they will immigrate into his own territory; or that, though his own returns of agriculture and commerce are falling and those of his enemy increasing, his own subjects will never desert him in favour of his enemy; or that by proclaiming war, he can carry off, by force, the grains, cattle and gold of his enemy; or that he can prevent the import of his enemy's merchandise, which was destructive of his own commerce; or that valuable merchandise would come to his own territory, leaving that of his enemy; or that war being proclaimed, his enemy would be unable to put down traitors, enemies, and wild tribes and other rebels, and would be involved in war with them; or that his own friend would in a very short time accumulate wealth without much loss and would not fail to follow him in his march, since no friend would neglect the opportunity of acquiring a fertile land and a prosperous friend like himself,--then in view of inflicting injuries on his enemy and of exhibiting his own power, he may keep quiet after proclaiming war.

R. Shamasastry 1915, Kautilya's Arthaśāstra

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Commentaries (4)