Chapter 233 - The propitious periods for undertaking an expedition (yātrā-maṇḍala)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Puṣkara said:

1-3. I shall describe all kinds of journeys [i.e., yātrā] relating to a sovereign. A journey should be abandoned when the Venus has set or is in a weak house or debilitated or in the house of an enemy or retrograde or malefic. One should avoid a journey when the Mercury is retrograde, the presiding planet of the quarter or any other planet (in a similar position), is under the vaidhṛti^[1], vyatīpāta, nāga^[2], śakuna, catuṣpada and kintughna.

4. One should avoid undertaking journey under (the influence of) vipat (tāra)^[3], naidhana, pratyari, as well as the janma, the gaṇḍa^[4] and the void lunar day.

5. The north and the east are said to be having the same virtues. In the same way the west and south are of the same virtues.

6. One should not cross the obstacle that has risen from the north-west to the south-east. Sundays, Mondays and Saturdays are not auspicious (for a journey).

7-10. (The asterisms) kṛttikā and others (for journey) in the east, (the asterisms) maghā and others (for journey) in the south, (the asterisms) anurādhā and others (for journey) in the west and (the asterisms) jyeṣṭhā and others (for journey) in the north are all commendable. I shall describe the measure of the shadows (cast by the sun on different days. It is said to be twenty for the Sun, sixteen for the Moon, fifteen for the Mars, fourteen for the Mercury, thirteen for the Jupiter, twelve for the Venus and eleven for the Saturn. These are said (to be valid) for all actions. One should not set out on a journey under his native ascendant and in the direction of the rainbow.

11. One should march on an expedition after meditating on lord Hari for victory if the omens and other things are good. I shall describe the circle (of twelve primary kings) to be thought. about that would offer protection to the king.

12. A kingdom is said to consist of seven constituents—the king, minister, fort, treasury, punishment (law), allies and township.

13. One should destroy all those who obstruct (the normal course) of the seven constituents of a kingdom. Efforts should be made by the king to make all these circles develop.

14-15. The kingdom over which a king exercises direct control would be the first circle. The feudatories of that kingdom should be known as the enemies. If they are attached (to the paramount lord they) should be known as friends. The next (circle is) the allies of the enemy. The next (circle) should be known as the ally of the ally. The next (circle would be) the enemy of the ally of the ally.

16-20. Those in front have been described. Tell me those who are behind. Then there would be the enemy in the rear. A king whose kingdom lies next but one is said to be the next one (friend in rear). A hostile king would be the next one (friend of the rear enemy). That which is adjacent to the former is said to be the next one (friend of rear friend). O Brahmin! This is (the way of maintaining order) by an independent king that has an enemy and is desirous of conquering (the same). O Excellent among men! It is not possible to declare that it is settled. One is said to be an intermediary that is capable of punishing and favouring. A mighty king that would be able to punish and favour all is said to be neutral. No one is really one’s enemy or ally. One is an enemy or an ally on account of some reason. I have described these twelve circles relating to a king.

21-25. Enemies are known to be of three kinds—ancestral, personal and artificial. Each one of the preceding class among them are (known to be) stronger (than the succeeding ones). One that is a personal enemy is considered by me as artificial. An enemy in the rear of an enemy and his hostiles would be one’s friends. A king should subdue his hostile king in the rear by means of strategies. The ancient authorities commend the extinction of an enemy with (the help of) an ally. An ally may become an enemy after being a feudal. A king wishing to vanquish an enemy should himself destroy him if it is possible for him to do. There will not be any fear from an enemy when the glory is waxing. A king desiring to conquer righteously should exercise control over the world in such a way that the people do not feel grief-stricken and trust him.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This and the next one are among the twenty-seven yogas or combinations.

[2]:

This and the following three are some of the eleven divisions of a day called karaṇas.

[3]:

This and the next three are the astral indications.

[4]:

This is one of the twenty-seven yogas.