“According to Manusmiriti, there are six policies of dealing with such an issue – Sandhi (peace treaty), Vigraha (war), Yaana (preparation for war), Asana (neutrality), Samsraya (forming alliances) and Dvaidhibhava (double-dealing or pretending to be friendly). So please discuss among yourselves and let us reach a consensus on how we are going to tackle this situation.”
अपृष्टेनापि वक्तव्यं सचिवेनात्र किंचन ।
पृष्टेन तु विशेषेण वाच्यं पथ्यं महीपतेः ॥ ४ ॥
apṛṣṭenāpi vaktavyaṃ sacivenātra kiṃcana |
pṛṣṭena tu viśeṣeṇa vācyaṃ pathyaṃ mahīpateḥ || 4 ||
In such a serious situation, a minister should offer advice even when he is not consulted. And when consulted, he should advise of the right course of action, that is beneficial to the king, and the state.
यो न पृष्टो हितं ब्रूते परिणामे सुखावहम् ।
मन्त्रो न प्रिय-वक्ता च केवलं स रिपुः स्मृतम् ॥ ५ ॥
yo na pṛṣṭo hitaṃ brūte pariṇāme sukhāvaham |
mantro na priya-vaktā ca kevalaṃ sa ripuḥ smṛtam || 5 ||
A minister who does not give the right advice even when asked by the king, is considered an enemy, how much ever a sweet talker he may be.
बलीयसि प्रणमतां काले प्रहरताम् अपि ।
सम्पदो नावगच्छन्ति प्रतीपम् इव निम्नगाः ॥ ७ ॥
balīyasi praṇamatāṃ kāle praharatām api |
sampado nāvagacchanti pratīpam iva nimnagāḥ || 7 ||
Just like a river does not flow in the opposite direction, prosperity never leaves a king who acts humble in front of a stronger enemy, but attacks him at an opportune time.
सत्याढ्यो धार्मिकश् चार्यो भ्रातृ-सङ्घातवान् बली ।
अनेक-विजयी चैव सन्धेयः स रिपुर् भवेत् ॥ ८ ॥
satyāḍhyo dhārmikaś cāryo bhrātṛ-saṅghātavān balī |
aneka-vijayī caiva sandheyaḥ sa ripur bhavet || 8 ||
An enemy who is righteous, principled, rich, who has ample support from his huge family, and who has won many battles, can only be won over by having an alliance with him.
सन्धिः कार्यो ऽप्य् अनार्येण विज्ञाय प्राण-संशयम् ।
प्राणैः संरक्षितैः सर्वं यतो भवति रक्षितम् ॥ ९ ॥
sandhiḥ kāryo ‘py anāryeṇa vijñāya prāṇa-saṃśayam |
prāṇaiḥ saṃrakṣitaiḥ sarvaṃ yato bhavati rakṣitam || 9 ||
In the event of danger to a king’s life, he should enter into an alliance with even a wicked enemy. If the king is safe, the kingdom also remains safe.
अनेक-युद्ध-विजयी सन्धानं यस्य गच्छति ।
तत्-प्रभावेण तस्याशु वशं गच्छन्त्य् अरातयः ॥ १० ॥
aneka-yuddha-vijayī sandhānaṃ yasya gacchati |
tat-prabhāveṇa tasyāśu vaśaṃ gacchanty arātayaḥ || 10 ||
If a king has an alliance with a powerful enemy, the other enemies of the king also come under control.
सन्दिग्धो विजयो युद्धे जनानाम् इह युद्ध्यताम् ।
उपाय-त्रितयाद् ऊर्ध्वं तस्माद् युद्धं समाचरेत् ॥ १२ ॥
sandigdho vijayo yuddhe janānām iha yuddhyatām |
upāya-tritayād ūrdhvaṃ tasmād yuddhaṃ samācaret || 12 ||
Since the results of war are unpredictable, one should go to war with an equally powerful enemy only if all other strategies fail.
मिर् मित्रं हिरण्यं वा विग्रहस्य फल-त्रयम् ।
नास्त्य् एकम् अपि यद्य् एषां विग्रहं न समाचरेत् ॥ १५ ॥
bhūmir mitraṃ hiraṇyaṃ vā vigrahasya phala-trayam |
nāsty ekam api yady eṣāṃ vigrahaṃ na samācaret || 15 ||
There are three possible gains from war – land, friendship or riches. If there is no hope of getting at least one of these, going to war is futile.
खनन्न् आखु-बिलं सिंहः पाषाण-शकलाकुलम् ।
प्राप्नोति नख-भङ्गं हि फलं वा मूषको भवेत् ॥ १६ ॥
khanann ākhu-bilaṃ siṃhaḥ pāṣāṇa-śakalākulam |
prāpnoti nakha-bhaṅgaṃ hi phalaṃ vā mūṣako bhavet || 16 ||
A lion who digs a rat’s hole in rocky terrain will only break his nails. And the only possible reward he would get for all his efforts, is just a small rat.
“And so, why waste one’s efforts on a fight when there is nothing to be gained?”
बलीयसा समाक्रान्तो वैतसीं वृत्तिम् आश्रयेत् ।
वाञ्छन्न् अभ्रंशिनीं लक्ष्मीं न भौजङ्गी कदाचन ॥ १८ ॥
balīyasā samākrānto vaitasīṃ vṛttim āśrayet |
vāñchann abhraṃśinīṃ lakṣmīṃ na bhaujaṅgī kadācana || 18 ||
When attacked by a stronger enemy, one should act a reed in the wind and not like a snake that raises it’s hood to fight back. That is the only way to stay prosperous.
“A reed in the wind bows when a strong wind blows, and hence survives. A snake that raises it’s hood to fight a strong enemy, perishes. And that is why a wise king should…”
कौर्मं सङ्कोचम् आस्थाय प्रहारान् अपि मर्षयेत् ।
काले काले च मतिमान् उत्तिष्ठेत् कृष्ण-सर्पवत् ॥ २० ॥
kaurmaṃ saṅkocam āsthāya prahārān api marṣayet |
kāle kāle ca matimān uttiṣṭhet kṛṣṇa-sarpavat || 20 ||
Withdraw into a shell like a tortoise, and patiently bear the attack of an enemy…and when the time is right, raise his hood like a snake and strike back.
शत्रुणा न हि सन्दध्यात् सुश्लिष्टेनापि सन्धिना ।
सुतप्तम् अपि पानीयं शमयत्य् एव पावकम् ॥ २३ ॥
śatruṇā na hi sandadhyāt suśliṣṭenāpi sandhinā |
sutaptam api pānīyaṃ śamayaty eva pāvakam || 23 ||
One should not make friends with an enemy, even if he seeks a truce. Because, no matter how much heat is given to water, it ends up extinguishing the fire.
“Fire and water cannot meet as friends, nor can two enemies. Also, the king of owls is cruel, greedy and unethical. So you should not seek to make an alliance with such an enemy, at any cost.
सत्य-धर्म-विहीनेन न सन्दध्यात् कथञ्चन ।
सुगन्धितो ऽप्य् असाधुत्वाद् अचिराद् याति विक्रियाम् ॥ २४ ॥
satya-dharma-vihīnena na sandadhyāt kathañcana |
sugandhito ‘py asādhutvād acirād yāti vikriyām || 24 ||
One should never make an alliance with a person who is greedy, untruthful and unethical. Such an enemy, even if bound by an alliance, will end up breaking it anyway, due to his cruel nature.
चतुर्थोपाय-साध्ये तु रिपौ सान्त्वम् अपक्रिया ।
स्वेद्यम् आम-ज्वरं प्राज्ञः को ऽम्भसा परिषिञ्चति ॥ २६ ॥
caturthopāya-sādhye tu ripau sāntvam apakriyā |
svedyam āma-jvaraṃ prājñaḥ ko ‘mbhasā pariṣiñcati || 26 ||
When it is feasible to fight an enemy, seeking peace or an alliance is not the right course of action. A wise man does not sprinkle cold water on a person who has fever, when sweating can itself be the cure.
“And I also don’t agree to Ujjeevin’s statement when he said that “the enemy is very strong.” It has been said…
उत्साह-शक्ति-सम्पन्नो हन्याच् छत्रुं लघुर् गुरुम् ।
यथा कण्ठीरवो नागं भारद्वाजः प्रचक्षते ॥ २९ ॥
utsāha-śakti-sampanno hanyāc chatruṃ laghur gurum |
yathā kaṇṭhīravo nāgaṃ bhāradvājaḥ pracakṣate || 29 ||
An energetic king should kill all his enemies, be they strong, or weak. Just like an energetic lion establishes his hold on the jungle by killing even elephants.
अवस्कन्द-प्रदानस्य सर्वे कालाः प्रकीर्तिताः ।
व्यसने वर्तमानस्य शत्रोच्छिद्रान्वितस्य च ॥ ३८ ॥
avaskanda-pradānasya sarve kālāḥ prakīrtitāḥ |
vyasane vartamānasya śatrocchidrānvitasya ca || 38 ||
If one wants to attack in secret, then all times are favourable. You can attack once you know the enemy’s secrets, and also the time when he is in trouble.
यद् अपसरति मेषः कारणं तत् प्रहर्तुं मृग-पतिर् अपि कोपात् सङ्कुचत्य् उत्पतिष्णुः ।
हृदय-निहित-भावा गूढ-मन्त्र-प्रचाराः किम् अपि विगणयन्तो बुद्धिमन्तः सहन्ते ॥ ४२ ॥
yad apasarati meṣaḥ kāraṇaṃ tat prahartuṃ mṛga-patir api kopāt saṅkucaty utpatiṣṇuḥ |
hṛdaya-nihita-bhāvā gūḍha-mantra-pracārāḥ kim api vigaṇayanto buddhimantaḥ sahante || 42 ||
If a goat moves back, it is only to attack with more force. The lion also crouches first, not out of fear, but in preparation to pounce on it’s enemy. Keeping enmity in their heart, the wise plan well ahead, and so bear the attacks of their enemies, or withdraw into hiding.
नक्रः स्व-स्थानम् आसाद्य गजेन्द्रम् अपि कर्षति ।
स एव प्रच्युतः स्थानाच् छुनापि परिभूयते ॥ ४५ ॥
nakraḥ sva-sthānam āsādya gajendram api karṣati |
sa eva pracyutaḥ sthānāc chunāpi paribhūyate || 45 ||
A crocodile that stays in its house (water), can win over the biggest of elephants. The same crocodile, when away from his house (on land), is humiliated by a dog.
दंष्ट्रा-विरहितः सर्पो मद-हीनो यथा गजः ।
स्थान-हीनस् तथा राजा गम्यः स्यात् सर्व-जन्तुषु ॥ ४८ ॥
daṃṣṭrā-virahitaḥ sarpo mada-hīno yathā gajaḥ |
sthāna-hīnas tathā rājā gamyaḥ syāt sarva-jantuṣu || 48 ||
A serpent whose fangs have been removed, an elephant that is not in musth, and a king who has lost his fort, get defeated easily, even by an ordinary foe.
“My king, निज-स्थान-स्थितो ऽप्य् एकः शतं योद्धुं सहेन् नरः शक्तानाम् अपि शत्रूणां – a warrior, if he is at his secure fort, can face hundreds of enemies and defeat them as well, and so you should not leave this fort at any cost. Strengthen the fort, store all food and necessities, build a trench around it, arm the soldiers, make a firm decision of fighting the enemy, and stick to your decision of not leaving this place. जीवन् सम्प्राप्त्स्यति राज्यं मृतो वा स्वर्गम् एष्यति – If you live, you will rule over the earth, and if you die, you will go to heaven.”
बलिनापि न बाध्यन्ते लघवो ऽप्य् एक-संश्रयाः ।
विपक्षेणापि मरुता यथैक-स्थान-वीरुधाः ॥ ५२ ॥
balināpi na bādhyante laghavo ‘py eka-saṃśrayāḥ |
vipakṣeṇāpi marutā yathaika-sthāna-vīrudhāḥ || 52 ||
The weak cannot be harassed by the strong, if only they are together. Much like creepers that are entwined together do not get affected by strong winds, even if they come in from the opposite direction.
“महान् अप्य् एकजो वृक्षः बलवान् सुप्रतिष्ठितः प्रसह्य इव वातेन शक्यो धर्षयितुं यतः – A strong tree, standing alone, even if it has huge and deep roots, can be uprooted by strong winds…similarly enemies see a lone warrior, however powerful he is, as an easy target.”
असहायः समर्थो ऽपि तेजस्वी किं करिष्यति ।
निर्वाते ज्वलितो वह्निः स्वयम् एव प्रशाम्यति ॥ ५६ ॥
asahāyaḥ samartho ‘pi tejasvī kiṃ kariṣyati |
nirvāte jvalito vahniḥ svayam eva praśāmyati || 56 ||
What can a man do alone, even if he is capable, talented and brave? Can a majestic fire keep burning in the absence of air?
सङ्गतिः श्रेयसी पुंसां स्व-पक्षे च विशेषतः ।
तुषैर् अपि परिभ्रष्टा न प्ररोहन्ति तण्डुलाः ॥ ५७ ॥
saṅgatiḥ śreyasī puṃsāṃ sva-pakṣe ca viśeṣataḥ |
tuṣair api paribhraṣṭā na prarohanti taṇḍulāḥ || 57 ||
Man needs friends, and people who he can call his own. For, without the husk, even rice cannot now and ripen well.
वनानि दहतो वह्नेः सखी भवति मारुतः ।
स एव दीप-नाशाय कृशे कस्यास्ति सौहृदम् ॥ ५८ ॥
vanāni dahato vahneḥ sakhī bhavati mārutaḥ |
sa eva dīpa-nāśāya kṛśe kasyāsti sauhṛdam || 58 ||
The wind is a friend of the fire that fiercely burns forests. The same wind is a foe to a tiny lamp, and extinguishes it. Who is the friend of the weak?
सङ्घातवान् यथा वेणुर् निविडैर् वेणुभिर् वृतः ।
न शक्येत समुच्छेत्तुं दुर्बलो ऽपि यथा नृपः ॥ ५९ ॥
saṅghātavān yathā veṇur niviḍair veṇubhir vṛtaḥ |
na śakyeta samucchettuṃ durbalo ‘pi yathā nṛpaḥ || 59 ||
A bamboo tree that stands amidst many other shoots of bamboo cannot be uprooted, even though the bamboo shoots are not strong. This is also true in case of a ruler.
महाजनस्य सम्पर्कः कस्य नोन्नति-कारकः ।
पद्म-पत्र-स्थितं तोयं धत्ते मुक्ता-फल-श्रियम् ॥ ६० ॥
mahājanasya samparkaḥ kasya nonnati-kārakaḥ |
padma-patra-sthitaṃ toyaṃ dhatte muktā-phala-śriyam || 60 ||
Who does not shine in the company of great people? Even a drop of water that stays on a lotus leaf takes the shape of a beautiful pearl.