laying down instructions that are plain according to what has been inculcated hi sacred treatise.  Thou hast spoken also of the behaviour that should be adopted by kings desirous of conquering their foes.  I desire now, O foremost of intelligent men, to listen to the behaviour that one should observe towards the multitude of courageous men that assemble round a king![327] I desire to hear how these may grow, how they may be attached to the king, O Bharata, how may they succeed in subjugating their foes and in acquiring friends.  It seems to me that disunion alone can bring about their destruction.  I think it is always difficult to keep counsels secret when many are concerned.  I desire to hear all this in detail, O scorcher of foes!  Tell me also, O king, the means by which they may be prevented from falling out with the king.’

“Bhishma said, ’Between the aristocracy on the one side and the kings on the other, avarice and wrath, O monarch, are the causes that produce enmity.[328] One of these parties (viz., the king,) yields to avarice.  As a consequence, wrath takes possession of the other (the aristocracy).  Each intent upon weakening and wasting the other, they both meet with destruction.  By employing spies, contrivances of policy, and physical force, and adopting the arts of conciliation, gifts, and disunion and applying other methods for producing weakness, waste, and fear, the parties assail each other.  The aristocracy of a kingdom, having the characteristics of a compact body, become dissociated from the king if the latter seeks to take too much from them.  Dissociated from the king, all of them become dissatisfied, and acting from fear, side with the enemies of their ruler.  If again the aristocracy of a kingdom be disunited amongst themselves, they meet with destruction.  Disunited, they fall an easy prey to foes.  The nobles, therefore, should always act in concert.  If they be united together, they may earn acquisitions of value by means of their strength and prowess.  Indeed, when they are thus united, many outsiders seek their alliance.  Men of knowledge applaud those nobles that art united with one another in bonds of love.  If united in purpose, all of them can be happy.  They can (by their example) establish righteous courses of conduct.  By behaving properly, they advance in prosperity.  By restraining their sons and brothers and teaching them their duties, and by behaving kindly towards all persons whose pride has been quelled by knowledge,[329] the aristocracy advance in prosperity.  By always attending to the duties of setting spies and devising means of policy, as also to the matter of filling their treasuries, the aristocracy, O thou of mighty arms, advance in prosperity.  By showing proper reverence for them that are possessed of wisdom and courage and perseverance and that display steady prowess in all kinds of work, the aristocracy advance in prosperity.  Possessed of wealth and resources, of knowledge of the scriptures