Chapter 11 - Interminable Agreement

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The agreement made under the condition, “Let us colonize waste land,” is termed an interminable agreement.

Whoever of the two parties of the agreement colonizes a fertile land, reaping the harvest earlier, over-reaches the other.

Which is better for colonization: a plain or a watery land?

A limited tract of land with water is far better than a vast plain, inasmuch as the former is conducive to the growth of crops and fruits throughout the year.

Of plains, that which is conducive to the growth of both early and late crops, and which requires less labour and less rain for cultivation, is better than the other of reverse character.

Of watery lands that which is conducive to the growth of grains is better than another productive of crops other than grains.

Of two watery tracts, one of limited area and conducive to the growth of grains, and another, vast and productive of crops other than grains, the latter is better, inasmuch as it affords vast area not only to grow spices and other medicinal crops, but also to construct forts and other defensive works in plenty: lor fertility and other qualities of lands are artificial (kṛtrima).

Of the two tracts of land, one rich in grains and another in mines, the latter helps the treasury while the former can fill both the treasury and the store-house; and besides this, the construction of forts and other buildings requires grains. Still that kind of land containing mines and which yields precious metals to purchase large tracts of land is far better.

My teacher says that of the two forests, one productive of timber and another of elephants, the former is the source of all kinds of works and is of immense help in forming a store-house, while the latter is of reverse character.

Not so, says Kauṭilya, for it is possible to plant any number of timber forests in many places, but not an elephant forest; yet it is on elephants that the destruction of an enemy’s army depends.

Of the two, communication by water and by land, the former is not long-standing, while the latter can ever be enjoyed.

Which is better, the land with scattered people or that with a corporation of people?

The former is better, inasmuch as it can be kept under control and is not susceptible to the intrigues of enemies, while the latter is intolerant of calamities and susceptible of anger and other passions.

In colonizing a land with four castes, colonization with the lowest caste is better, inasmuch as it is serviceable in various ways, plentiful, and permanent.

Of cultivated and uncultivated tracts, the uncultivated tract may be suitable for various kinds of agricultural operations; and when it is fertile, adapted for pasture grounds, manufacture of merchandise, mercantile transactions of borrowing and lending, and attractive to rich merchants, it is still far better (than a cultivated tract).

Which is better of the two, the tract of land with forts or that which is thickly populated?

The latter is better; for that which is thickly populated is a kingdom in all its senses. What can a depopulated country like a barren cow be productive of?

The king who is desirous of getting back the land sold for colonization to another when the latter has lost his men and money in colonizing it, should first make an agreement with such a purchaser as is weak, base-born, devoid of energy, helpless, of unrighteous character, addicted to evil ways, trusting to fate, and indiscreet in his actions. When the colonization of a land entails much expenditure of men and money, and when a weak and base-born man attempts to colonize it, he will perish along with his people in consequence of his loss of men and money. Though strong, a base-born man will be deserted by his people who do not like him lest they may come to grief under him; though possessing an army, he cannot employ it if he is devoid of energy; and such an army will perish in consequence of the loss incurred by its master; though possessing wealth, a man who hesitates to part with his money and shows favour to none, cannot find help in any quarter; and when it is easy to drive out a man of unrighteous character from the colony in which he has firmly established himself, none can expect that a man of unrighteous character would he capable of colonizing a tract of waste land and keeping it secure; the same fact explains the fate of such a colonizer as is addicted to evil ways; whoever, trusting to fate and putting no reliance on manliness, withdraws himself from energetic work, will perish without undertaking anything or without achieving anything from his undertaking; and whoever is indiscreet in his action will achieve nothing, and is the worst of the set of the colonizers.

My teacher says that an indiscreet colonizer may sometimes betray the weak points of his employer, the conqueror.

But Kauṭilya says that, just as he betrays the weak points, so also does he facilitate his destruction by the conqueror.

In the absence of such persons to colonize waste lands, the conqueror may arrange for the colonization of waste land in the same way as we shall treat of later on in connection with the “Capture of an Enemy in the Rear.”^[1]

The above is what is termed verbal agreement (abhihitasandhi).

When a king of immense power compels another to sell a portion of the latter’s fertile territory, of which the former is very fond, then the latter may make an agreement with the former and sell the land. This is what is termed “unconcealed peace” (anibhṛtasandhi).

When a king of equal power demands lands from another as above, then the latter may sell it after considering “Whether the land can be recovered by me, or can be kept under my control; whether my enemy can be brought under my power in consequence of his taking possession of the land; and whether I can acquire by the sale of the land friends and wealth enough to help me in my undertakings.”

This explains the case of a king of inferior power, who purchases lands.

* Whoever, well versed in the science of polity, thus acquires friends, wealth, and territory, with or without population, will overreach other kings in combination with him.

[Thus ends Chapter XI, “Interminable Agreement,” in the Section of “Agreement for the Acquisition of a Friend, Gold or Land, and Agreement for Undertaking a Work,” in Book VII. “The End of the Six-fold Policy” of the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya. End of the hundred and ninth chapter from the beginning.]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Chapter XIII, Book VII.