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MAY, 1910.]
THE ARTHASASTRA OF CHANAKYA.
131
THE ARTHASASTRA OF CHANAKYA (BOOKS V-XV).
Translated by
B. SHAMASASTRY. B.A., Librarian, Government Oriental Library, Mysore. 77
(Continued from p. 118.)
Rook XI. Concerning a powerful enemy (Abaltyasam ).
Chapter 1.
The duties of & messenger (Datakarmani ). When a king of poor resources is attacked by a powerful eng ay, he should sarren der himself together with his song to the enemy and live like a rael in th: nilst of a current of water).
Bharadvaja says that he who surrenders himself to the song, bons down before Indra (the god of rain).
But Vibaláksha says that a weak king should rather fight with all his resources, for bravery destroys all troubles ; this (fighting) is the natural duty of a Kshattriya, no matter whether he achieves victory or sustains defeat in battle.
No, says Kautilya : be who bows down to all like a crab on the banks of a river) lives in despair ; whoever goes with his small army to fight perishes like a ma: attempting to cross the sex withoat a boat. Hence a weak king should either sezk the pro-ection of a powerful king or maintain himself in an impregnab le fort.
Invaders are of three kinds : & just conqueror, a demon-like coaqueror, and a greedy conqueror.
Of these, the just conqueror is satisfied with mere obeisance. Hence a weak king should seek his protection,
Fearing his own enemies, the greedy conqueror is satisfied with wbat he can safely gain in land or money. Hence a weak king should satisfy such a conqueror with wealth.
The demon-like couyderor satisfies himself not merely by seizing the land, treasure, sons and wives of the conquered, but by taking the life of the latter. Hence a weak king should keep such a conqueror at a distance by offering him land and wealth.
When any one of these is on the point of rising against a weak king, the latter should avert the invasion by making a treaty of peace, or by taking reconrse to the battle of intrigue (mantrayuddha), or by a treacherous fight in the battle-field. He may se lace tha enemy's men either by conciliation or by giving gifts, and should prevent the treacherous procedings of his own men either by sowing the seeds of dissension among them or by panishing them. Spies, under concealment, may capture the enemy's fort, country, or camp with the aid of weapons, poison, or fire. He may harass the enemy's rear oa all sides; and he may devastate the enemy's country through the help of wild tribes. Or he may set up a scion of the eneroy's family or an imprisoned prince to seize the enemy's territory. When all this mischief has been perpetrated, a messenger may be sent to the enemy (to sng for pence); or he may make peace with the enemy without offending the latter. If the enemy still continues the march, the weak king may sue for peace by offering more than one-fourth of his wealth and army, the paymeat being male after the lapse ofa day anl night.
11 The first four books have been published in the Mysore Review, 1908-1909.
