“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘On hearing that the heroic
Pandavas endued with excess of energy had become so mighty, king Dhritarashtra
became very miserable with anxiety. Then summoning to his side Kanika, that
foremost of minister, well-versed in the science of politics and an expert in advice
(counsels)
the king (Dhritarashtra) said, ‘O
best of Brahmanas (Kanika), the
Pandavas are daily overshadowing the earth. I am exceedingly jealous of them.
Should I have peace or war with them? O Kanika, advise me truly, for I shall do
as you direct.
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘That best of Brahmanas (Kanika), thus addressed by
the king (Dhritarashtra), freely
answered him in these pointed words well-agreeing with the essence of political
science.’
“Listen to me, O sinless king (Dhritarashtra), as I answer you.
O best of Kuru kings, it is your responsibility not to be angry with me after
hearing all I say. Kings should ever be ready with
uplifted maces (Gada in Hindi) (to strike when necessary), and they should ever increase their capabilities.
Carefully avoiding all faults themselves, they (kings) should always watch over the faults of their enemies and take
advantage of them. If the king is always ready to strike, everybody fears him.
Therefore, the king should ever have alternative to punishments in all he does.
He should so conduct himself that, his enemy may not detect any weak side in
him. But by means of the weakness he detects in his enemy he should pursue him (to
destruction). He should always hide,
like the tortoise hiding its body, his means and ends, and he should always
keep back his own weakness from, the sight of others. Having begun a particular
act, he should always accomplish it thoroughly. Look, a thorn, if not extracted
wholly, produces a decaying painful inflammation. The slaughter of an enemy who
does you evil is always praiseworthy. If the enemy be one of great capability,
one should always watch for the hour of his disaster and then kill him without
any hesitation. If he should happen to be a great warrior, his hour of disaster
also should be watched and he should then be induced to fly.
“O king (Dhritarashtra), an enemy should
never be disrepected, however contemptible. A spark of fire is capable of
consuming an extensive forest if only it can spread from one object to another
in close range. Kings should sometimes pretend blindness and deafness, for if powerless
to punish, they should pretend not to notice the faults that call for punishment.
On occasions, such as these, let them regard their bows as made of straw (i.e. on such occasions kings should regard their means of
punishment to be useless). But they
should be always on the alert like a herd of deer sleeping in the forest. When your
enemy is in your power, destroy him by every means open or secret. Do not show
him any mercy, although he seeks your protection. An enemy, or one that has
once injured you, should be destroyed by generously spending money, if
necessary, because by killing him you may be at your ease. The dead can never
inspire fear. You must destroy the three, five and seven (resources) of your enemies (The three resources
are: Mantra [advice], Prabhutva [command over material resources] and Utsaaha
[energy]; the five resources are: Mantri [minister], Raashtram [country], Fire
[power], Nidhi [treasury] and Sena [army]; the seven resources are: Raaja
[king], Mantri [minister], Mitra [friend or allied countries], Nidhi
[treasury], Raashtram [country], Fire [power] and Sena [army]).
“You must destroy your enemies
root and branch. Then you should destroy their allies and supporters. The
allies and supporters can never exist if the principal be destroyed. If the
root of the tree is torn up, the branches and sticks (in the tree)
can never exist as before. Carefully hiding your own means and ends, you should
always watch your enemies, always seeking their flaws. You should, O king (Dhritarashtra), rule your kingdom, always anxiously
watching your enemies. By maintaining the unending fire by yagnas, by brown (saffron?) clothes, by matted locks, and by skin of
animals for your bedding, you should at first gain the confidence of your enemies
(making them assume that you are a non-aggressor and you are only
spiritually inclined), and when you have
gained it you should then spring upon them like a wolf. For it has been said
that in the acquisition of wealth even the garments of holiness might be
employed as an attached staff to bend down a branch in order to pluck the
fruits that are ripe.
“The method followed in the
plucking of fruits should be the method in destroying enemies, for you should
proceed on the principle of selection. Bear your enemy upon your shoulders till
the time comes when you can throw him down, breaking him into pieces like a clay
pot thrown down with violence upon a stony surface. The enemy must never be let
off even though he addresses you most piteously. You should show him no pity but
slay him at once. By the arts of hiding or the expenditure of money should the enemy
be slain. By creating disunion among his allies, or by the employment of force,
indeed by every means in your power, you should destroy your enemy.’
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Tell me truly how an enemy can
be destroyed by the arts of hiding or the expenditure of money, or by producing
disunion or by the employment of force.’
“Kanika replied, ‘Listen, O monarch (Dhritarashtra), to the
history of a jackal staying in ancient days in the forest and fully familiar
with the science of politics. There was a wise jackal, mindful of his own
interests who lived in the company of four friends – a tiger, a mouse, a wolf,
and a mongoose. One day they saw in the forest a strong deer, the leader of a
herd, whom, however, they could not capture for his fleetness and strength.
They immediately called a council for consultation. The jackal opening the
proceedings said, ‘O tiger, you have made many an effort to capture this deer,
but all in vain simply because this deer is young, fleet and very intelligent.
Let now the mouse go and bite its feet when it lies asleep. When this is done,
let the tiger approach and catch it. Then shall we all, with great pleasure
feast on it.’
“Hearing these words of the jackal, they all set to
work very cautiously as he (Jackal) directed. The mouse bited the feet of the
deer and the tiger killed it as expected. Seeing the body of the deer lying
motionless on the ground, the jackal said to his companions, ‘Blessed be you!
Go and perform your cleasing. In the meantime, I will look after the deer.’
“Hearing what the jackal said, they all went into a
stream. The jackal waited there, deeply thinking upon what he should do. The
tiger endued with great strength, returned first of all to the spot after
having performed his washing. He saw the jackal there plunged in meditation.
The tiger said, ‘Why art you so sorrowful, O wise one! You are the foremost of
all intelligent beings. Let us enjoy ourselves today by feasting on this meat.’
“The jackal said, ‘Hear, O mighty-armed one, what the
mouse has said. He has said, O, shame on the strength of the king of the animals (Tiger)! This deer has been
slain by me. By might of my arm he will today satisfy his hunger.’ When he has
boasted in such a language, I, for my part, do not wish to touch this food.’
“The tiger replied, 'If, indeed, the mouse has said
so, my sense is now awakened. I shall, from this day, slay with the might of my
own arms, creatures ranging the forest and then feast on their flesh.’ Having said
this, the tiger went away.
“After the tiger had left the spot, the mouse
came. Seeing the mouse come, the jackal addressed him and said, ‘Blessed be you,
O mouse, but listen to what the mongoose has said. He (Mongoose) has said, ‘The meat
of this deer is poison (the tiger having touched it with his claws). I will not eat of it. On the other hand,
if you, O jackal, permit it, I will slay the mouse and feast on him.’ Hearing
this the mouse became alarmed and quickly entered his hole.
“O king (Dhritarashtra), after the mouse had gone, the wolf came
there having performed his washing. Seeing the wolf come, the jackal said to
him, ‘The king of the animals (Tiger)
has been angry with you. Evil is certain to overtake you. He is expected here
with his wife. Do as you please.’ Thus was the wolf also, fond of animal flesh,
got rid of by the jackal. The wolf fled, contracting his body into the smallest
dimensions.
“It was then that the mongoose came. O king (Dhritarashtra), the jackal,
seeing him come, said, ‘By the might of my arm, I have defeated the others who
have already fled. Fight with me first and then eat of this flesh as you
please.’ The mongoose replied, ‘When, indeed, the tiger, the wolf, and the
intelligent mouse have all been defeated by you, heroes (Veera in Sanskrit) as they are, you seem to be a greater hero
still. I do not desire to fight with you.’ Saying this, the mongoose also went
away.
“Kanika
continued, ‘When they all had thus left the place, the jackal, well-pleased
with the success of his policy, alone ate up that flesh. If kings always act in
this way, they can be happy. Thus, should the ones who
are afraid by exciting their fears, the courageous by the arts of peacemaking,
the greed by gift of wealth (corruption),
and equals and inferiors by exhibition of bravery be brought under your rule. Apart
from all this, O king, that I have said, listen now to something else that I
say.’
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