War in Ancient India c12.71

c12.71

In the epics, again, there is a fund of information about these officials. In the *Mahābhārata*³⁸ it is said that they frequented all places and sent up regular reports. When the Pāṇḍavas were living in the country of King Virāṭa, Duryodhana sent able spies in search of them. Duśśāsana offered advance pay to these secret emissaries.³⁹ An illustration may also be cited from the *Rāmāyaṇa*.⁴⁰ Rāvaṇa sent two of his ministers Śuka and Sāraṇa to report from time to time on the strength and the movements of Rāma’s forces (*Parijñātum balam sarvam*). They entered the Vānara host in the disguise of monkeys. Soon they were found out and Rāma sent an ultimatum through them to their master. According to the great epic, men able to disguise themselves as idiots, and blind and deaf men, were appointed as spies. They should have been previously engaged in other services and their conduct testified to. Able to endure fatigue and thirst, they should be men of intelligence, and he was a wise king who employed these spies in such a way that they might not recognise one another. The king should also endeavour to get at the knowledge of foreign spies frequenting his kingdom in its parks, learned assemblies, courts, places of amusement, etc.⁴¹ Elsewhere it is said⁴² that having spies for his eyes, the king should learn all the acts and intentions of his foes, friends and neutrals.⁴³