Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c8.11

c8.11

Powers reserved to the King. It may be noted that of the several elements making up the State, the king was to retain in his own hands his ultimate control over two elements viz., *Kośa* and *Daṇḍaśakti*, the power of purse and the military, by which he will be able to prevail over *Amātyas* or ministers, in case they are disloyal to him. The disloyalty of ministers is described as an internal trouble which is far more dangerous to the State than any of its troubles from an external source and is described as a snake (*Ahibhayāt abhyantaraḥ kopo bāhyakopāt pāpīyān* | *Antaramātya-kopaśchāntaḥ kopāt* | *Tasmāt kośa-daṇḍa-śaktimātmasamsthāṁ kurvīta*) [VIII. 2].