234 - The six expedients used by the king

Pushkara said:

1. I have already described (the political expedients of) conciliatory measures, creating dissensions, bribery (to win the enemy) and punishment. I have described the punishment (to be made by the king) in his own country. Ishall (now) describe (the punishment to be meted to a person living) in a foreign country. 

2. Punishment is said to be of two types-public and private. Public punishment (consists of) looting and the destruc tion of villages (of the enemy country), destruction of the food grains and setting fire. (The private punishment consists of) killing by poisoning or setting fire or by engaging several men, dishonouring pious men and poisoning waters. 

3-7. O Bhargava (son of Bhrugu)! I have described the mode of executing the punishment. Listen! Ishall describe when (the king)should be indifferent. A kingshould make peace (with his enemy) if he thinks that by his battle in the battle-field there would be bad consequences. One maybe indif ferent (when he would find) the conciliatory measures as securing the position (of the enemy), paying a bribe would be squandering money and creating dissension would have punish ment as the consequence. One may resort to indifference (if he is sure) that 'this person is not capable of doing any harm to me' and 'I am not capable of causing any harm to him'. In that case the kingshould humiliate the enemy (by being indifferent). 

8-14. Ishall describe the strategies of illusion (to be practis ed by a king). The enemyshould be agitated by false portents by sending extensive lighted torches (tied to) the tails of strong birds in the camp of the enemy. Then the fall of the meteorshould beshown to them, in this way many other portents alsoshould beshown. The enemiesshould thus be agitated by different (kinds of) deception. The astrologers and asceticsshould proclaim the fall of the enemy. A king that desires to conquer the earthshould agitate others by the above (proclamation). The favour of godsshould also be proclaimed to others. A kingshould declare (to his men) "We have received increased strength and you strike without fear; all others have been routed”, when the battle has begun. War-cry and great commotionshould be made saying that the enemy has been routed. (Itshould also be proclaimed); "The king has been blessed by the gods profusely and is ready for the battle”. Ishall describe Indrajala (a kind of stratagem in war). 

15. A kingshould exhibit the four divisions of the army (such as the infantry, cavalry, men mounted on elephants and chariots) (to delude the enemy) that the gods had sent them for aid.showers of bloodshould beshed on the enemy. 

16. Severed heads of the enemyshould be exhibited on (the terrace of) palaces. Ishall describe six expedients, among which war and peace are most excellent. 

17. Making peace, war, expedition, halt, seekingshelter and duplicity are said to be the six expedients. 

18-25. Making peace is known to be a treaty. War is offending (the enemy). Expedition is said to be the march against the enemy by the one that desires to conquer. It is said to be 'the halt when (a king) remains in his own territory (mobilising his forces) for the war. Mobilisation of half the army in the enemy country is said to be 'seekingshelter'. It is said to be duplicity on account of resorting to indifference or neutral position. A kingshould seek a treaty with an equal (person) or not of lower strength and more powerful. A powerful kingshould make a war with (a king of) inferior strength. In that case heshould take a stronger (king) as an ally when he is not having an enemy in the rear. A kingshould mobilise his army when he could easily intercept the work of the enemy, though he is not free from an enemy in the rear. One who is strong enough could mobilise half of his army in the territory of the enemy even though he may have an enemy in the rear. An alliance with another king is said to be the worst of all expedients a king fighting with a stronger adversary is compelled to do. It is said to bring many a long and tedious marches, loss of many lives and expenditure. A kingshould have an alliance only when he would have great benefits later. Moreover, heshould have an alliance only when he has been deprived of all his strength.