War in Ancient India c11.40

c11.40

"Seekest thou to know everything about the eighteen tīrthas of the foe, and fifteen of thine own, by means of three spies all acquainted with one another? O Slayer of all foes, watchest thou all thy enemies with care and attention, and unknown to them? ¹⁴ “Marchest thou, without loss of time, and reflecting well upon three kinds of forces, against thy foe when thou hearest that he is in distress? O, subjugator of all foes, beginnest thou thy march when the time cometh, having taken into consideration all the omens you might see, and convinced that the resolutions thou hast formed, and defeat in their execution, depend upon the twelve maṇḍalas (such as reserves, and ambuscades, etc.), and having paid the troops their pay in advance? And, O persecutor of all foes, givest thou gems and jewels, as they deserve, unto the principal officers of thy enemy, without thy enemy’s knowledge? O son of Pārtha, seekest thou to conquer thy incensed foes that are slaves to their passions, having first conquered thy own soul and obtained the mastery of thy own senses? Before thou marchest out against thy foes, dost thou properly employ the four arts, conciliation, gift (of wealth), producing disunion, and application of strength? O monarch, goest thou out against thy enemies, having first strengthened thy own kingdom? And having gone out against them, exertest thou to the utmost to obtain victory over them? And having conquered them, seekest thou to protect them with care?”¹⁵