Chapter 5 - External and Internal Dangers

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The formation of a treaty and other settlements otherwise than they ought to have been made is impolicy. From it arise dangers.

The various kinds of dangers are: that which is of external origin and of internal abetment; that which is of internal origin and of external abetment; that which is of external origin and of external abetment; and that which is of internal origin and of internal abetment.

Where foreigners carry on an intrigue with local men or local men with foreigners, there the consequence of the intrigue carried on by the combination of local and foreign persons will be very serious. Abettors of an intrigue have a better chance of success than its originators; for when the originators of an intrigue are put down, others will hardly succeed in undertaking any other intrigue. Foreigners can hardly win over local persons by intrigue; nor can local men seduce foreigners. Foreigners will find their vast efforts after all unavailing, and only conducive to the prosperity of the king (against whom they want to conspire).

When local persons are abetting (with foreigners), the means to be employed to suppress them are conciliation (sāma) and gifts (dāna).

The act of pleasing a man with a high rank and honour is conciliation; favour and remission of taxes or employment to conduct state works is what is termed gifts.

When foreigners are abetting, the king should employ the policy of dissension and coercion. Spies under the guise of friends may inform foreigners: “Mind, this man is desirous of deceiving you with the help of his own spies, who are disguised as traitors.” Spies under the garb of traitors may mix with traitors and separate them from foreigners, or foreigners from local traitors. Fiery spies may make friendship with traitors and kill them with weapons or poison; or having invited the plotting foreigners, they may murder the latter.

Where foreigners carry on an intrigue with foreigners, or local men with local men, there the consequences of the intrigue, unanimously carried on with a set purpose, will be very serious. When guilt is got rid of, there will be no guilty persons; but when a guilty person is got rid of, the guilt will contaminate others. Hence, when foreigners carry on an intrigue, the king should employ the policy of dissension and coercion. Spies under the guise of friends may inform foreign conspirators: “Mind, this your king, with the desire of enriching himself, is naturally provoked against you all.” Then fiery spies may mix with the servants and soldiers of the abettor (of foreign conspirators) and kill them with weapons, poison, and other means. Other spies may then expose or betray the abettor.

When local men carry on an intrigue with local men, the king should employ necessary strategic means to put it down. He may employ the policy of conciliation with regard to those who keep the appearance of contentment, or who are naturally discontented or otherwise. Gifts may be given under the pretext of having been satisfied with a favoured man’s steadfastness in maintaining the purity of his character, or under the plea of anxious care about his weal or woe. A spy under the garb of a friend may tell the local persons: “Your king is attempting to find your heart; you should tell him the truth.” Or local men may be separated from each other, by telling them: “This man carries such a tale to the king against you.” And coercive measure may be employed as described in the chapter on “Awards of Punishments.”^[1]

Of these four kinds of danger, internal danger should first be got rid of; for it has been already stated that internal troubles, like the fear from a lurking snake, are more serious than external troubles.

* One must consider that of these four kinds of danger, that which is mentioned first is less grave than the one subsequently mentioned, whether or not it is caused by powerful persons; otherwise (i.e. when the danger is caused by insignificant persons), simple means may be used to get rid of it.

[Thus ends Chapter V, “External and Internal Dangers,” in Book IX, “The Work of an Invader” of the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭiiya. End of the hundred and twenty-sixth chapter from the beginning.]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Chapter I, Book V.