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.
Translations (1)
- Kautilya's Arthaśāstra — R. Shamasastry 1915, English
Commentaries (4)
- Śrīmūla — T. Gaṇapati Śāstrī, Sanskrit
- Pratipadapañcikā — Bhaṭṭasvāmin, Sanskrit
- Cāṇakyaṭīkā — Bhikṣu Prabhamati, Sanskrit
- Nayacandrikā — Mādhavayajvan, Sanskrit