Indian Antiquary Vol 39

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 51

FEBRUARY, 1910.)
THE ARTHASASTRA OF CHANAKYA.
45
Which is better, scattered troops, or an unsubmissive standing army?
My teacher says that scattered troops can be collected in time as they are of submissive nature.
Not so, says Kautilya: an unsubmissive standing army is better as it can be made submissive by conciliation and other strategic means ; but it is not so easy to collect in time scattered troops as they are engaged in their individual avocations.
Which is better, a friend of vast population, or a friend of immense gold ?
My teacher says that a friend of vast population is better inasmuch as such a friend will be of imposing power and can, when he rises up, accomplish any work undertaken.
Not so, says Kautilya: a friend possessing immense gold is better; for possession of gold is ever desirable ; but an army is not always required. Moreover armies and other desired objects can be purchased for gold.
Which is better, a friend possessing gold, or a friend possessing vast territory?
My teacher says that a friend possessing gold can stand any heavy expenditure made with discretion.
Not go, says Kanţilya : for it has already been stated that both friends and gold can be acquired by means of territory. Hence a friend of vast territory is far better.
When the friend of the conqueror and his enemy happen to possess equal population, their people may yet differ in possession of qualities such as bravery, power of endurance, amicableness, and qualification for the formation of any kind of army.
When the friends are equally rich in gold, they may yet differ in qualities such as readiness to comply with requests, magnanimous and munificent help, and accessibility at any time and always.
About this topic, the following sayings are current :. (a) Longstanding, submissive, easy to be roused, coming from fathers and grand-fathers, powerful, and never of a contradictory nature, is a good friend; and these are said to be the six qualities of a good friend.
(6) that friend who maintains friendship with disinterested motives and merely for the sake of friendship, and by whom the relationship acquired of old is kept intact, is a long standing friend.
() that friend whose munificence is enjoyable in various ways is a submissive friend, and is said to be of three forms - one who is enjoyable only by one, who is enjoyable by two ( the enemy and the conqueror ), and one who is enjoyable by all, is the third.
(d) that friend who, whether as receiving help or as giving help, lives with an oppressive hand over his enemies, and who possesses a number of forts and a vast army of wild tribes is said to be a long standing friend of unsubmissive nature.
() that friend who, either when attacked or when in trouble, makes friendship for the security of his own existence is a temporary and submissive friend.
(5) that friend who contracts friendship with a single aim in view and who is helpful, immutable, and amioable is a friend never falling foul even in adversity,
() whoever is of an amicable nature is a true friend ; whoever sides also with the enemy is a mutable friend ; and whoever is indifferent to neither the conqueror and his enemy) is a friend to both.
(h) that friend who is inimical to the conqueror or who is equally friendly to the conqueror's enemy is a harmful friend, whether he is giving help or is capable of helping.