“Bhishma said, ’If the invading enemy be of pure heart and if he be conversant with both morality and profit, a king of the kind you have indicated should, with no loss of time, make peace with the invader and bring about the restoration of those portions of the kingdom that have already been conquered.  If, again, the invader be strong and sinful and seek to obtain victory by unrighteous means, the king should make peace with him, too, by abandoning a portion of his territories.  If the invader be unwilling to make peace, the king should then abandon his very capital and all his possessions for escaping from danger.  If he can save his life he may hope for similar acquisitions in future.  What man conversant with morality is there that would sacrifice his own self, which is a more valuable possession, for encountering that danger from which escape can be had by the abandonment of his treasury and army?  A king should protect the ladies of his household.  If these fall into the hands of the enemy, he should not show any compassion for them (by incurring the risk of his own arrest in delivering them).  As long as it is in his power, he should never surrender his own self to the enemy.’

“Yudhishthira said, ’When his own people are dissatisfied with him, when he is oppressed by invaders, when his treasury is exhausted, and when his counsels are divulged, what should the king then do?’

“Bhishma said, ’A king, under such circumstances, should (if his enemy be righteous) seek to make peace with him.  If the enemy be unrighteous, he should then put forth his valour.  He should, by such means, seek to cause the foe to withdraw from his kingdom; or fighting bravely, he should lay down his life and ascend to heaven.  A king can conquer the whole earth with the help of even a small force if that force be loyal, cheerful, and devoted to his good.  If slain in battle, he is sure to ascend to heaven.  If he succeeds in slaying (his enemies), he is sure to enjoy the earth.  By laying down one’s life in battle, one obtains the companionship of Indra himself.’”

SECTION CXXXII

“Yudhishthira said, ’When practices fraught with high morality and beneficial to the world, (viz., those that appertain to righteous rule) disappear, when all the means and resources for the support of life fall into the hands of robbers, when, indeed, such a calamitous time sets in, by what means should a Brahmana, O grandsire, who from affection is unable to desert his sons and grandsons, subsist?’

“Bhishma said, ’When such a time sets in, the Brahmana should live by the aid of knowledge.  Everything in this world is for them that are good.  Nothing here is for them that are wicked.  He who making himself an instrument of acquisition, takes wealth from the wicked and gives it unto them that are good, is said to be conversant with the morality of adversity.  Desirous of maintaining his rule,