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DECEMBER, 1909.)
THE ARTH ASASTRA OF CHANAKYA.
305
Or if a king thinks :
"That neither is my enemy strong enough to destroy my works, nor am I bis; or if he comes to fight with me like a dog with a boar, I can increase his afflictions without incurring any loss in my own works," then he may observe neutrality and augment his own resources.
Or if a king thinks :
"That by marching my troops it is possible to destroy the works of my enemy; and as for myself, I bave made proper arrangements to safeguard my own works," then he may increase his resources by marching.
Or if a king thinks :
“That I am strong enough neither to harass my enemy's works nor to defend my own against my enemy's attack," then he shall seek protection from a king of superior power and endeatonr to pass from the stage of deterioration to that of stagnancy and from the latter to that of progress.
Or if a king thinks :
" That by making peace with one, I can work out my own resources, and by waging war with another, I can destroy the works of my enemy," then lie may adopt that double policy and improve his resources.
Thus, a king in the circle of sovereign elements shall, by adopting the six-fold policy, endeavour to pass from the state of deterioration to that of stagnation and from the latter to that of progress.21
Chapter II.
The Nature of Alliance (8ambrayavrittih).
When the advantages derivable from peace and war are of equal character, one should prefe: peace ; for disadvantages, such as the loss of power and wealth, sojourning, and sin, are erer attending upon war.
The same bolds good in the case of neutrality and war.
Of the two (forms of policy), double policy and alliance, double policy (i. e., making peace with one and waging war with another) is preferable ; for wboever adopts the double policy enriches himself, being ever attentive to his own works, whereas an allied king has to help his ally at bis own expense.
One shall make an alliance with a king who is stronger than one's neighbouring enemy; in the absence of such a king, one should ingratiate oneself with one's neighbouring enemy, either by supplying noney or army or by ceding a part of one's territory and by keeping oneself aloof; for there can be no greater evil to kings than alliance with a king of considerable power, unless one is actually attacked by one'a enemy.
11 In Alcka metro.
