Public Administration in Ancient India c17.19

c17.19

In Chānakya’s view expediency was to be the main consideration in foreign policy. “If a king,” says Chānakya, “is weaker than his neighbour, he should adopt a peaceful policy; but if he is superior in strength to his rival he should make war.¹ When neither of the two is the superior of the other, both should be neutral. When one king is endowed with an excess of quality, he should prepare for war; but if he is powerless, he should make an alliance. If the circumstance be such that it is desirable to crush a rival, but this can only be done with the assistance of some other Power, then the king should adopt a policy of double-dealing.”²