Comforting
thy foe by conciliation, by gift of wealth, and smooth behaviour, thou
must smite him when he walketh not aright. Thou shouldst equally smile the
heinous offender who liveth by the practice of virtue, for the garb of
virtue simply covereth his offences like black clouds covering the
mountains. Thou shouldst burn the house of that person whom thou punishest
with death. And thou shouldst never permit beggars and atheists and
thieves to dwell in thy kingdom. By a sudden sally or pitched battle by
poison or by corrupting his allies, by gift of wealth, by any means in thy
power, thou shouldst destroy thy foe. Thou mayest act with the greatest
cruelty. Thou shouldst make thy teeth sharp to give a fatal bite. And thou
should ever smite so effectually that thy foe may not again raise his head.
Thou shouldst ever stand in fear of even one from whom there is no fear,
not to speak of him from whom there is such. For if the first be ever
powerful he may destroy thee to the root (for thy unpreparedness). Thou
shouldst never trust the faithless, nor trust too much those that are
faithful, for if those in whom thou confidest prove thy foes, thou art
certain to be annihilated. After testing their faithfulness thou shouldst
employ spies in thy own kingdom and in the kingdoms of others. Thy spies
in foreign kingdoms should be apt deceivers and persons in the garb of
ascetics. Thy spies should be placed in gardens, places of amusement,
temples and other holy places, drinking halls, streets, and with the
(eighteen) tirthas (viz.
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