Matsya Purana 223.13

223.13

parataḥ kopamutpādya bhedena vijigīṣuṇāḥ.
jñātīnāṃ bhedanaṃ kāryaṃ pareṣāṃ vijigīṣuṇā .. 223.12 ..

A sovereign using the policy of divide and rule in case of his compeers should first try and create disunion among their communities, and kith and kin, but he should very cautiously prevent a similar thing happening amongst his brethren, for distressed kith and kin bring suffering on their overlord, they should therefore be kept intact by gifts and royal regards as a dissension among them is so dangerous to a sovereign—12-14