War in Ancient India c11.39

c11.39

"With the six attributes of kings (viz., cleverness of speech, readiness in providing means, intelligence in dealing with the foe, memory, and acquaintance with morals and politics), doest thou attend to the seven means (viz., sowing dissensions, chastisement, conciliation, gifts, incantation, medicine and magic)? Examinest thou also, after a survey of thy own strength and weakness, the fourteen possessions of thy foes? These are the territory, forts, cars, elephants, cavalry, foot-soldiers, the principal officials of state, the zenana, food supply, computation of the army and income, the religious treatises in force, the accounts of state, the revenue, wine-shops and other secret enemies. Attendest thou to the eight occupations (agriculture, trade, etc.) after having examined, and made peace with thy enemies? O bull of the Bhārata race, thy seven principal officers of state (viz. the governor of the citadel, the commander of the forces, the chief judge, the general in interior command, the chief priest, the chief physician, and the chief astrologer), have not, I hope, succumbed to the influence of thy foes, nor have they, I hope, become idle in consequence of the wealth they have earned? They are, I hope, all obedient to thee. Thy counsels, I hope, are never divulged by the trusted spies in disguise, by thyself or by thy ministers? Thou ascertainest, I hope, what thy friends, foes and strangers are about? Makest thou peace and makest thou war at proper times? Observest thou neutrality towards strangers and persons that are neutral themselves towards thee.