________________
MAY, 1910.)
THE ARTHASASTRA OF CHANAKYA.
143
This explains the work of ministers and wild chiefs under the mission of the conqueror.
After making peace with the enemy the conqueror may dismiss his own confidential ministers. They may request the enemy to reconcile them to their master. When the enemy sends & messenger for this purpose, the conqueror may rebuke him and say, “Thy master attempts to sow the seeds of dissension between myself and my ministers; so, thon should not come here again." Then one of the dismissed ministers may go over to the enemy, taking with him a band of spies, disaffected people, traitors, brave thieves, and wild tribes who make no distinction between a friend and a foe. Having secured the good graces of the enemy, the minister may propose to him the destruction of his officers, such as the boundary-guard, wild chief, and commander of his army, telling him, " These and other persons are in concert with your enemy." Then these persons may be put to death under the unequivocal orders of the enemy.
The conqueror may tell bis enemy, "A chief with a powerful army means to offend us, so let us combine and put bim down; you may take possession of his treasury or territory." When the enemy agrees to the proposal and comes out honoured by the conqueror, he may be slain in a tumult or in an open battle with the chief (in concert with the conqueror). Or having invited the enemy to be present as a thick friend on the occasion of a pretended gift of territory, or the installation of the heir-apparent, or the performance of some expiatory rites, the conqueror may capture the enemy. Whoever withstands such inducements may be slain by secret means. If the enemy refuses to meet any man in person, then also attempts may be made to kill him by employing his enemy. If the enemy likes to march alone with his army, but not in company with the conqueror, then he may be hemmed in between two forces and destroyed. If, trusting to none, he wants to march alone in order to capture a portion of the territory of an assailable enemy, then he may be slain by employing one of his enemies or any other person provided with all necessary help. When he goes to his subdued enemy for the purpose of collecting an army, his capital may be captured. Or he may be asked to take possession of the territory of another enemy or a friend of the conqueror; and when he goes to seize the territory, the conqueror may ask his (the conqueror's) friend to offend him (the conqneror), and then enable the friend to catch hold of the enemy. These and other contrivances lead to the same end.
When the enemy is desirous of taking possession of the territory of the conqueror's friend, then the conquerer may, under the pretence of compliance, supply the enemy with army. Then, having entered into a secret concert with the friend, the conqueror may pretend to be under troubles and allow himself to be attacked by the enemy combined with the neglected friend. Then, hemmed from two sides, the enemy may be killed or captured alive to distribute his territory among the conqueror and his friend.
If the enemy, helped by his friend, shuts himself in an impregnable fort, then his neighbouring enemies may be employed to lay waste bis territory. If he attempts to defend his territory by his army, that army may be annihilated. If the enemy and his ally cannot be separated, then onch of these may be openly asked to come to an agreement with the conqueror to seize the territory of the other. Then they will, of course, send such of their messengers as are ter med friends and recipients of salaries from two states to each other with information, " This king (the conqueror), allied with my army, desires to seize thy territory.” Then one of them may, with enragement and suspicion, act as before i.e., fall upon the conqueror or the friend).
The conqueror may dismiss his chief officers in charge of his forests, country parts, and army, under the pretence of their intrigue with the enemy. Then, going over to the enemy, they may catch hold of him on occasions of war, siege, or any other troubles; or they may sow the seeds of dissension between the enemy and his party, corroborating the causes of dissension by producing witnesses specially tutored.
