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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1909.
The qualifications of a minister have already been described. 16
Possessed of capital cities both in the centre and the extremities of the kingdom, productive of subsistence not only to its own people, but also to outsiders on occasions of calamities, repulsive to enemies, powerful enough to pat down neighbouring kings, free from miry, rocky, uneven, and desert tracts as well as from conspirators, tigers, wild beasts, and large tracts of wilderness, beautiful to look at, containing fertile lands, mines, timber and elephant forests, and pasture grounds, artistic, containing hidden passages, full of cattle, not depending upon rain for water, possessed of land and waterways, rich in various kinds of commercial articles, capable of bearing the burden of a vast army and heavy taxation, inhabited by agriculturists of good character, full of intelligent masters and servants, and with a population noted for its loyalty and good character; - these are the qualities of & good country,
The excellent qualities of forts have already been described.
Justly obtained either by inheritance or by self-acquisition, rich in gold and silver, filled with an abundance of big gems of various colours and of gold coins, and capable to withstand calamities of long duration is the best treasury.
Coming down directly from father and grandfather of the king), ever strong, obedient, happy in keeping their sons and wives well contented, not averse to making a long sojourn, ever and everywhere invincible, endowed with the power of endurance, trained in fighting various kinds of battles. skilful in handling various forms of weapons, ready to share in the weal or woe of the king, and consequently not falling foul of him, and purely composed of soldiers of Kshatriya caste, is the best army.
Coming down directly from father and grandfather, long-standing, open to conviction, never falling foul, and capable of making preparations for war quickly and on a large scale, is the best friend.
Not born of a royal family, greedy, posgessed of a mean assembly of ministers, with disloyal subjects, ever doing unrightoons acts, of loose character, addicted to moan pleasures, devoit of enthusiasm, trusting to fate, indiscreet in action, powerless, helpless, impotent, and ever injurious, is the worst enemy. Such an enemy is easily uprooted,
(a) Excepting the enomy, these seven elements, possessed of their excellent characteristics are said to be the limb-like elements of sovereignty.
(6) A wise king can make even the poor and miserable elements of his sovereignty happy and prosperous; but a wicked king will surely destroy the most prosperous and loyal elements of his kingdom.
(c) Honco a king of uprighteous character and of vicious habits will, though he is an emperor. fall a prey either to the fary of his own subjects or to that of bis enemies.
(d) But a wise king, trained in politics, will, though he possesses a small territory, conquer the whole earth with the help of the best-fitted elements of his sovereignty, and will never be defeated. 17
18 Chapter 9, Book I.
# Chapter X, Book II.
11 a. D, c and d are in floka metre.
