Verse 7.106

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

बकवत्चिन्तयेदर्थान् सिंहवत्च पराक्रमे ।
वृकवत्चावलुम्पेत शशवत्च विनिष्पतेत् ॥ १०६ ॥

bakavatcintayedarthān siṃhavatca parākrame |
vṛkavatcāvalumpeta śaśavatca viniṣpatet || 106 ||

He shall ponder over his plans like the heron, and like the lion he shall exert his power; he shall snatch like the wolf, and like the hare he shall double in retreat.—(106)

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

When large bodies of fish are hidden within their fortress in the water, the heron, with a view to catch them, adopts the plan of appearing indifferent, as if rapt in contemplation, and thereby succeeds in getting at them; in the same manner, even things difficult of attainment are attained by much care and attention being devoted to them. With this idea in his mind, the King should not give up hopes regarding the things sought to be attained.

Then again, the hare, being small of body, is capable of doubling back in retreat even from among a host of pursuers; similarly even though alone and helpless, having all his feudatory chiefs risen against him and being incapable of making a stand against them, the King should allow his enemies to enter the fortress, and then double back in retreat, with a view to seeking refuge under a powerful ally.

Further, the wolf, with a view to seizing its prey, finding the keepers of the sheep careless, snatches it away; in the same manner the King shall not give up the idea of pouncing upon his enemy, under the impression that the latter is watchful of his own safety; because the time may come when he may be able, like the wolf, to get at him.

Lastly, the lion kills even such large-bodied animals as the elephant and the rest, by virtue of its valour and strength; similarly the King should not be frightened by the enemy simply because the latter has a large army; because even a weak person, if imbued with courage, sometimes succeeds in killing a powerful person.—(106)