Kautilya's Arthashastra 7.5: Chapter 5 (Sections 108; 109; 110): Considerations about Attack on a Vulnerable King and the Enemy; Causes Leading to Decline, Greed and Disaffection among Subjects; Confederated Allies

7.5.1

tulyasāmantavyasane yātavyam amitraṃ vety amitram abhiyāyāt, tatsiddhau yātavyam //

WHEN two enemies, one an assailable enemy and another a strong enemy, are equally involved in troubles, which of them is to be marched against first?

The strong enemy is to be marched against first; after vanquishing him, the assailable enemy is to be attacked, for, when a strong enemy has been vanquished, an assailable enemy will volunteer of his own accord to help the conqueror; but not so, a strong enemy.

7.5.2

amitrasiddhau hi yātavyaḥ sāhāyyaṃ dadyān nāmitro yātavyasiddhau //

7.5.3

guruvyasanaṃ yātavyaṃ laghuvyasanam amitraṃ veti "guruvyasanaṃ saukaryato yāyād" ity ācāryāḥ //

Which is to be marched against---an assailable enemy involved in troubles to a greater degree or a strong enemy troubled to a lesser degree?

My teacher says that as a matter of easy conquest, the assailable enemy under worse troubles should be marched against first.

7.5.4

neti kauṭilyaḥ //

Not so, says Kautilya: The conqueror should march against the strong enemy under less troubles, for the troubles of the strong enemy, though less, will be augmented when attacked. True, that the worse troubles of the assailable enemy will be still worse when attacked. But when left to himself, the strong enemy under less troubles will endeavour to get rid of his troubles and unite with the assailable enemy or with another enemy in the rear of the conqueror.

7.5.5

laghuvyasanam amitraṃ yāyāt //

7.5.6

laghv api hi vyasanam abhiyuktasya kṛcchraṃ bhavati //

7.5.7

satyaṃ gurv api gurutaraṃ bhavati //

7.5.8

anabhiyuktas tu laghuvyasanaḥ sukhena vyasanaṃ pratikṛtyāmitro yātavyam abhisaret, pārṣṇiṃ vā gṛhṇīyāt //

7.5.9

yātavyayaugapadye guruvyasanaṃ nyāyavṛttiṃ laghuvyasanam anyāyavṛttiṃ viraktaprakṛtiṃ veti viraktaprakṛtiṃ yāyāt //

When there are two assailable enemies, one of virtuous character and under worse troubles, and another of vicious character, under less troubles, and with disloyal subjects, which of them is to be marched against first?

7.5.10

guruvyasanaṃ nyāyavṛttim abhiyuktaṃ prakṛtayo 'nugṛhṇanti, laghuvyasanam anyāyavṛttim upekṣante, viraktā balavantam apy ucchindanti //

When the enemy of virtuous character and under worse troubles is attacked, his subjects will help him; whereas, the subjects of the other of vicious character and under less troubles will be indifferent. Disloyal or indifferent subjects will endeavour to destroy even a strong king. Hence the conqueror should march against that enemy whose subjects are disloyal.

7.5.11

tasmād viraktaprakṛtim eva yāyāt //

7.5.12

kṣīṇalubdhaprakṛtim apacaritaprakṛtiṃ veti kṣīṇalubdhaprakṛtiṃ yāyāt, kṣīṇalubdhā hi prakṛtayaḥ sukhenopajāpaṃ pīḍāṃ vopagacchanti, nāpacaritāḥ pradhānāvagrahasādhyāḥ" ity ācāryāḥ //

Which is to be marched against--an enemy whose subjects are impoverished and greedy or an enemy whose subjects are being oppressed?

My teacher says that the conqueror should march against that enemy whose subjects are impoverished and greedy, for impoverished and greedy subjects suffer themselves to be won over to the other side by intrigue, and are easily excited. But not so the oppressed subjects whose wrath can be pacified by punishing the chief men (of the State).

7.5.13

neti kauṭilyaḥ //

Not so, says Kautilya: for though impoverished and greedy, they are loyal to their master and are ready to stand for his cause and to defeat any intrigue against him; for it is in loyalty that all other good qualities have their strength. Hence the conqueror should march against the enemy whose subjects are oppressed.

7.5.14

kṣīṇalubdhā hi prakṛtayo bhartari snigdhā bhartṛhite tiṣṭhanti, upajāpaṃ vā visaṃvādayanti, anurāge sārvaguṇyam iti //

7.5.15

tasmād apacaritaprakṛtim eva yāyāt //

7.5.16

balavantam anyāyavṛttiṃ durbalaṃ vā nyāyavṛttim iti balavantam anyāyavṛttiṃ yāyāt //

Which enemy is to be marched against--a powerful enemy of wicked character or a powerless enemy of righteous character?

The strong enemy of wicked character should be marched against, for when he is attacked, his subjects will not help him, but rather put him down or go to the side of the conqueror. But when the enemy of virtuous character is attacked, his subjects will help him or die with him.

7.5.17

balavantam anyāyavṛttim abhiyuktaṃ prakṛtayo nānugṛhṇanti, niṣpātayanti, amitraṃ vāsya bhajante //

7.5.18

durbalaṃ tu nyāyavṛttim abhiyuktaṃ prakṛtayaḥ parigṛhṇanti, anuniṣpatanti vā //

7.5.19

avakṣepeṇa hi satām asatāṃ pragraheṇa ca /
abhūtānāṃ ca hiṃsānām adharmyāṇāṃ pravartanaiḥ //

By insulting the good and commending the wicked; by causing unnatural and unrighteous slaughter of life;

7.5.20

ucitānāṃ caritrāṇāṃ dharmiṣṭhānāṃ nivartanaiḥ /
adharmasya prasaṅgena dharmasyāvagraheṇa ca //

by neglecting the observance of proper and righteous customs; by doing unrighteous acts and neglecting righteous ones;

7.5.21

akāryāṇāṃ ca karaṇaiḥ kāryāṇāṃ ca praṇāśanaiḥ /
apradānaiś ca deyānām adeyānāṃ ca sādhanaiḥ //

by doing what ought not to be done and not doing what ought to be done; by not paying what ought to be paid and exacting what ought not to be taken;

7.5.22

adaṇḍanaiś ca daṇḍyānām adaṇḍyānāṃ ca daṇḍanaiḥ /
agrāhyāṇām upagrāhair grāhyāṇāṃ cānabhigrahaiḥ //

by not punishing the guilty and severely punishing the less guilty; by arresting those who are not to be caught hold of and leaving those who are to be arrested;

7.5.23

anarthyānāṃ ca karaṇair arthyānāṃ ca vighātanaiḥ /
arakṣaṇaiś ca corebhyaḥ svayaṃ ca parimoṣaṇaiḥ //

by undertaking risky works and destroying profitable ones; by not protecting the people against thieves and by robbing them of their wealth;

7.5.24

pātaiḥ puruṣakārāṇāṃ karmaṇāṃ guṇadūṣaṇaiḥ /
upaghātaiḥ pradhānānāṃ mānyānāṃ cāvamānanaiḥ //

by giving up manly enterprise and condemning good works; by hurting the leaders of the people and despising the worthy;

7.5.25

virodhanaiś ca vṛddhānāṃ vaiṣamyeṇānṛtena ca /
kṛtasyāpratikāreṇa sthitasyākaraṇena ca //

by provoking the aged, by crooked conduct, and by untruthfulness; by not applying remedies against evils and neglecting works in hand;

7.5.26

rājñaḥ pramādālasyābhyāṃ yogakṣemavadhena vā /
prakṛtīnāṃ kṣayo lobho vairāgyaṃ copajāyate //

and by carelessness and negligence of himself in maintaining the security of person and property of his subjects, the king causes impoverishment, greed, and disaffection to appear among his subjects;

7.5.27

kṣīṇāḥ prakṛtayo lobhaṃ lubdhā yānti virāgatām /
viraktā yānty amitraṃ vā bhartāraṃ ghnanti vā svayam //

when a people are impoverished, they become greedy; when they are greedy, they become disaffected; when disaffected, they voluntarily go to the side of the enemy or destroy their own master.

7.5.28

tasmāt prakṛtīnāṃ kṣayalobhavirāgakāraṇāni notpādayet, utpannāni vā sadyaḥ pratikurvīta //

Hence, no king should give room to such causes as would bring about impoverishment, greed or disaffection among his people. If, however, they appear, he should at once take remedial measures against them.

7.5.29

kṣīṇā lubdhā viraktā vā prakṛtaya iti //

Which (of the three) is the worst--an impoverished people? greedy people? or disaffected people?

7.5.30

kṣīṇāḥ pīḍanocchedanabhayāt sadyaḥ saṃdhiṃ yuddhaṃ niṣpatanaṃ vā rocayante //

An impoverished people are ever apprehensive of oppression and destruction (by over-taxation, etc.), and are therefore desirous of getting rid of their impoverishment, or of waging war or of migrating elsewhere.

7.5.31

lubdhā lobhenāsaṃtuṣṭāḥ paropajāpaṃ lipsante //

A greedy people are ever discontented and they yield themselves to the intrigues of an enemy.

7.5.32

viraktāḥ parābhiyogam abhyuttiṣṭhante //

A disaffected people rise against their master along with his enemy.

7.5.33

tāsāṃ hiraṇyadhānyakṣayaḥ sarvopaghātī kṛcchrapratīkāraś ca, yugyapuruṣakṣayo hiraṇyadhānyasādhyaḥ //

When the dwindling of the people is due to want of gold and grain, it is a calamity fraught with danger to the whole of the kingdom and can be remedied with difficulty. The dearth of efficient men can be made up by means of gold and grain. Greed (is) partial and is found among a few chief officers, and it can be got rid of or satisfied by allowing them to plunder an enemy's wealth. Disaffection or disloyalty (virága) can be got rid of by putting down the leaders; for in the absence of a leader or leaders, the people are easily governed (bhogya) and they will not take part in the intrigues of enemies. When a people are too nervous to endure the calamities, they first become dispersed, when their leaders are put down; and when they are kept under restraint, they endure calamities.

7.5.34

lobha aikadeśiko mukhyāyattaḥ parārtheṣu śakyaḥ pratihantum ādātuṃ vā //

7.5.35

virāgaḥ pradhānāvagrahasādhyaḥ //

7.5.36

niṣpradhānā hi prakṛtayo bhogyā bhavanty anupajāpyāś cānyeṣām, anāpatsahās tu //

7.5.37

prakṛtimukhyapragrahais tu bahudhā bhinnā guptā bhavanty āpatsahāś ca //

7.5.38

sāmavāyikānām api saṃdhivigrahakāraṇāny avekṣya śaktiśaucayuktaiḥ sambhūya yāyāt //

Having well considered the causes which bring about peace or war, one should combine with kings of considerable power and righteous character and march against one's enemy.

7.5.39

śaktimān hi pārṣṇigrahaṇe yātrāsāhāyyadāne vā śaktaḥ, śuciḥ siddhau cāsiddhau ca yathāsthitakārīti //

‘A king of considerable power,’ means one who is strong enough to put down or capture an enemy in the rear of his friend or to give sufficient help to his friend in his march.

‘A king of righteous character,’ means one who does what one has promised to do, irrespective of good or bad results.

7.5.40

teṣāṃ jyāyasaikena dvābhyāṃ samābhyāṃ vā sambhūya yātavyam iti dvābhyāṃ samābhyāṃ śreyaḥ //

Having combined with one of superior power, or with two of equal power among such kings, should the conqueror march against his enemy?

It is better to march combined with two kings of equal power; for, if combined with a king of superior power, the ally appears to move, caught hold of, by his superior, whereas in marching with two kings of equal power, the same will be the result, only, when those two kings are experts in the art of intrigue; besides it is easy to separate them; and when one of them is wicked, he can be put down by the other two and made to suffer the consequence of dissension.

7.5.41

jyāyasā hy avagṛhītaś carati, samābhyām atisaṃdhānādhikye vā //

7.5.42

tau hi sukhau bhedayitum, duṣṭaś caiko dvābhyāṃ niyantuṃ bhedopagrahaṃ copagantum iti //

7.5.43

samenaikena dvābhyāṃ hīnābhyāṃ veti dvābhyāṃ hīnābhyāṃ śreyaḥ //

Combined with one of equal power or with two of lesser power, should a king march against his enemy?

Better to march with two kings of lesser power; for the conqueror can depute them to carry out any two different works and keep them under his control. When the desired end is achieved, the inferior king will quietly retire after the satisfaction of his superior.

7.5.44

tau hi dvikāryasādhakau vaśyau ca bhavataḥ //

7.5.45

kāryasiddhau tu - kṛtārthāj jyāyaso gūḍhaḥ sāpadeśam apasravet /
aśuceḥ śucivṛttāt tu pratīkṣetā visarjanāt //

Till his discharge, the good conduct of an ally of usually bad character should be closely scrutinised either by suddenly coming out at a critical time from a covert position (sattra) to examine his conduct, or by having his wife as a pledge for his good conduct.

7.5.46

sattrād apasared yattaḥ kalatram apanīya vā /
samād api hi labdhārthād viśvas tasya bhayaṃ bhavet //

Though actuated with feelings of true friendship, the conqueror has reason to fear his ally, though of equal power, when the latter attains success in his mission; having succeeded in his mission, an ally of equal power is likely to change his attitude even towards the conqueror of superior power.

7.5.47

jyāyastve cāpi labdhārthaḥ samo 'pi parikalpate /
abhyuccitaś cāviśvāsyo vṛddhiś cittavikāriṇī //

An ally of superior power should not be relied upon, for prosperity changes the mind. Even with little or no share in the spoils, an ally of superior power may go back, appearing contented; but some time afterwards, he may not fail to sit on the lap of the conqueror and carry off twice the amount of share due to him.

7.5.48

viśiṣṭād alpam apy aṃśaṃ labdhvā tuṣṭamukho vrajet /
anaṃśo vā tato 'syāṅke prahṛtya dviguṇaṃ haret //

7.5.49

kṛtārthas tu svayaṃ netā visṛjet sāmavāyikān /
api jīyeta na jayen maṇḍaleṣṭas tathā bhavet //E

Having been satisfied with mere victory, the leading conqueror should discharge his allies, having satisfied them with their shares he may allow himself to be conquered by them instead of attempting to conquer them (in the matter of spoils); it is thus that a king can win the good graces of his Circle of States.