deserve to be trusted nor should he trust too much
the person that is deserving of trust. Danger
springs from trust. Trust should never be placed
without previous examination. Having by plausible
reasons inspired confidence in the enemy, the king
should smite him when he makes a false step. The
king should fear him, from whom there is no fear;
he should also always fear them that should be feared.
Fear that arises from an unfeared one may lead to
total extermination. By attention (to the acquisition
of religious merit), by taciturnity, by the reddish
garb of ascetics, and wearing matted locks and skins,
one should inspire confidence in one’s foe,
and then (when the opportunity comes) one should jump
upon him like the wolf. A king desirous of prosperity
should not scruple to slay son or brother or father
or friend, if any of these seek to thwart his objects.
The very preceptor, if he happens to be arrogant, ignorant
of what should be done and, what should not, and a
treader of unrighteous paths, deserves to be restrained
by chastisement. Even as certain insects of sharp
stings cut off all flowers and fruits of the trees
on which they sit, the king should, after having inspired
confidence in his foe by honours and salutations and
gifts, turn against him and shear him of everything.
Without piercing the very vitals of others, without
accomplishing many stern deeds, without slaughtering
living creatures after the manner of the fisherman,
one cannot acquire great prosperity. There is
no separate species of creatures called foes or friends.
Persons become friends or foes according to the force
of circumstances. The king should never allow
his foe to escape even if the foe should indulge piteous
lamentations. He should never be moved by these;
on the other hand, it is his duty to destroy the person
that has done him an injury. A king desirous
of prosperity should take care to attach to himself
as many men as he can, and to do them good. In
behaving towards his subjects he should always be
free from malice. He should also, with great care,
punish and check the wicked and disaffected. When
he intends to take wealth, he should say what is agreeable.
Having taken wealth, he should say similar things.
Having struck off one’s head with his sword,
he should grieve and shed tears. A king desirous
of prosperity should draw others unto himself by means
of sweet words, honours, and gifts. Even thus
should he bind men unto his service. The king
should never engage in fruitless disputes. He
should never cross a river with the aid only of his
two arms. To eat cow-horns is fruitless and never
invigorating. By, eating them one’s teeth
are broken while the taste is not gratified. The
triple aggregate has three disadvantages with three
Inseparable adjuncts. Carefully considering those
adjuncts, the disadvantages should be avoided.[424]
The unpaid balance of a debt, the unquenched remnant
of a fire, and the unslain remnant of foes, repeatedly
grow and increase. Therefore, all those should