Matsya Purana 223.6

223.6

svamukhenāśrayed bhedam bhedaṃ paramukhena ca.
parīkṣya sādhu manyeta bhedaṃ paramukhācchrutam .. 223.5 ..

When many kings are bound in alliance one single king cannot conquer them without creating disunion among them therefore to create disunion among them is the best policy Even Indra is unable to bear the influence of the united ones. Therefore the policy of divide and rule is so much praised by the politicians A king should hear either directly from persons who are to be divided or through others, then he is to test it and if he be satisfied that he is to take up the Bheda policy. Such a policy should however not be launched personally by a sovereign, it should be given effect to through another agency for then it proves more effective—4-5