War in Ancient India c12.28

c12.28

There are other salutary regulations touching the treatment that should be meted out to an envoy. He must be respectfully welcomed, and accorded a seat of honour near the throne. Enquiries as to the health of the enemy king, the ambassador's master, as well as of his friends should next be made. The ambassador's message should be patiently heard and he must be sent back with a suitable reply. Above all, the mission must be closed with satisfaction. The envoy should not stay longer than necessary in the enemy's country and while there, he must not touch women or liquor and must sleep alone and in a lonely apartment if possible. He must further put up with any indignity offered. This is not all. While staying in the enemy's court, he must mix freely with all classes of people in the realm and thus try to understand the degree of loyalty of the subjects. If it is not possible to gather reliable information by open means, then an ambassador may put on various disguises like those of an ascetic, a merchant, a disciple, a physician, a beggar or an insane person and thus try to get correct information regarding the people, the army and the kingdom. These are really speaking the functions of a spy.