Kalakavrikshiya's Counsel for Winning a Kingdom

Verse 1 (12.105.1)

अथ चेत्पौरुषं किंचित्क्षत्रियात्मनि पश्यसि । ब्रवीम्यहं तु ते नीतिं राज्यस्य प्रतिपत्तये ॥

atha cetpauruṣaṃ kiṃcitkṣatriyātmani paśyasi | bravīmyahaṃ tu te nītiṃ rājyasya pratipattaye

If you see some manly vigour in your kshatriya nature, I shall tell you the policy by which a kingdom is regained.

Verse 2 (12.105.2)

तां चेच्छक्ष्यस्यनुष्ठातुं कर्म चैव करिष्यसि । शृणु सर्वमशेषेण यत्ते वक्ष्यामि तत्त्वतः ॥

tāṃ cecchakṣyasyanuṣṭhātuṃ karma caiva kariṣyasi | śṛṇu sarvamaśeṣeṇa yatte vakṣyāmi tattvataḥ

If you are able to carry it out, and will do the work, then listen to all that I shall tell you, in full and as it truly is.

Note on the text: Corrected तां चच्छक्ष्यस्यनुष्ठातुं → तां चेच्छक्ष्यस्यनुष्ठातुं (misprint in Wikisource; the vowel े is dropped; CE 12.106.2 has tāṃ cec chakṣyasy anuṣṭhātum).

Verse 3 (12.105.3)

आचरिष्यसि चेत्कर्म महतोऽर्थानवाप्स्यसि । राज्यं वा राज्यमन्त्रं वा महतीं वा पुनः श्रियम् । यद्येतद्रोचते राजन्पुनर्ब्रूहि ब्रवीमि ते ॥

ācariṣyasi cetkarma mahato'rthānavāpsyasi | rājyaṃ vā rājyamantraṃ vā mahatīṃ vā punaḥ śriyam | yadyetadrocate rājanpunarbrūhi bravīmi te

If you act on it, you will gain great wealth: a kingdom, or a share in the counsels of a kingdom, or great fortune once more. If this pleases you, O king, ask me again and I shall tell you.

Verse 4 (12.105.4)

ब्रवीतु भगवान्नीतिमभिपन्नोऽस्म्यधीहि भो । अमोघ एव मेऽद्यास्तु त्वया सह समागमः ॥

bravītu bhagavānnītimabhipanno'smyadhīhi bho | amogha eva me'dyāstu tvayā saha samāgamaḥ

Let the venerable one tell me the policy; I am committed to it. Teach me, sir. May my meeting with you today not be fruitless.

Verse 5 (12.105.5)

हित्वा मानं च दम्भं च क्रोधं हर्षं भयं तथा । प्रत्यमित्राणि सेवस्व प्रणिपत्य कृताञ्जलिः । तमुत्तमेन शौचेन कर्मणा चावधारय ॥

hitvā mānaṃ ca dambhaṃ ca krodhaṃ harṣaṃ bhayaṃ tathā | pratyamitrāṇi sevasva praṇipatya kṛtāñjaliḥ | tamuttamena śaucena karmaṇā cāvadhāraya

Setting aside pride, arrogance, anger, joy and fear, wait upon your enemy, bowing low with joined hands, and win his confidence by the highest integrity and by your actions.

Note on the text: Corrected हर्ष भयं → हर्षं भयं (misprint in Wikisource; the anusvara is dropped; CE 12.106.5 has the object forms krodhaharṣau bhayam). Lines 1-2 are the critical edition's verse 12.106.5 (5a, 5c); line 3 corresponds to 12.106.6a.

Verse 6 (12.105.6)

दातुमर्हति ते वित्तं वैदेहः सत्यविक्रमः । प्रमाणं सर्वभूतेषु प्रग्रहं च गमिष्यसि ॥

dātumarhati te vittaṃ vaidehaḥ satyavikramaḥ | pramāṇaṃ sarvabhūteṣu pragrahaṃ ca gamiṣyasi

The king of Videha, true in valour, will be able to give you wealth; you will win credence among all beings and their good regard.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 12.106.6c; line 2 is 12.106.7a.

Verse 7 (12.105.7)

ततः सहायान्सोत्साहाँल्लप्स्यसेऽव्यसनाञ्शुचीन् । वर्तमानः स्वशास्त्रे वै संयतात्मा जितेन्द्रियः । अभ्युद्धरति चात्मानं प्रसादयति च प्रजाः ॥

tataḥ sahāyānsotsāhām̐llapsyase'vyasanāñśucīn | vartamānaḥ svaśāstre vai saṃyatātmā jitendriyaḥ | abhyuddharati cātmānaṃ prasādayati ca prajāḥ

Then you will gain helpers who are zealous, free from vice and pure; for a man who lives by his own science of policy, with self restrained and senses conquered, lifts himself up and wins the favour of his people.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 12.106.7c; lines 2-3 are its verse 12.106.8.

Verse 8 (12.105.8)

तेनैव त्वं धृतिमता श्रीमता चापि सत्कृतः । प्रमाणं सर्वभूतेषु गत्वा च ग्रहणं महत् ॥

tenaiva tvaṃ dhṛtimatā śrīmatā cāpi satkṛtaḥ | pramāṇaṃ sarvabhūteṣu gatvā ca grahaṇaṃ mahat

Honoured by that same steady and prosperous conduct, you will have credence among all beings and attain great esteem.

Verse 9 (12.105.9)

ततः सुहृद्बलं लब्ध्वा मन्त्रयित्वा सुमन्त्रितम् । सान्त्वेन भेदयित्वाऽरीन्बिल्वं बिल्वेन शातय । परैर्वा संविदं कृत्वा बलमप्यस्य घातय ॥

tataḥ suhṛdbalaṃ labdhvā mantrayitvā sumantritam | sāntvena bhedayitvā'rīnbilvaṃ bilvena śātaya | parairvā saṃvidaṃ kṛtvā balamapyasya ghātaya

Then, having gained the strength of friends and taken well-considered counsel, split your enemies apart by conciliation and break one bilva fruit with another; or, making an agreement with other parties, destroy his army as well.

Verse 10 (12.105.10)

अलभ्या ये शुभा भावाः स्त्रियश्चाच्छादनानि च । शय्यासनानि यानानि महार्हाणि गृहाणि च ॥

alabhyā ye śubhā bhāvāḥ striyaścācchādanāni ca | śayyāsanāni yānāni mahārhāṇi gṛhāṇi ca

Whatever excellent things are hard to obtain, women, garments, beds, seats, carriages and costly houses,

Verse 11 (12.105.11)

पक्षिणो मृगजातानि रसगन्धाः फलानि च । तेष्वेव सज्जयेथास्त्वं यथा नश्येत्स्वयं परः ॥

pakṣiṇo mṛgajātāni rasagandhāḥ phalāni ca | teṣveva sajjayethāstvaṃ yathā naśyetsvayaṃ paraḥ

birds, kinds of game, savours, perfumes and fruits: attach him to just these, so that the enemy destroys himself.

Verse 12 (12.105.12)

यद्येवं प्रतिषेद्धव्यो यद्युपेक्षणमर्हति । सदैव राजशार्दूल विदुषा हितमिच्छता । न जातु विवृतः कार्यः शत्रुः सुनयमिच्छता ॥

yadyevaṃ pratiṣeddhavyo yadyupekṣaṇamarhati | sadaiva rājaśārdūla viduṣā hitamicchatā | na jātu vivṛtaḥ kāryaḥ śatruḥ sunayamicchatā

If he is to be opposed, or if he deserves to be overlooked, then always, O tiger among kings, a wise man who wishes his own good, indeed anyone who desires sound policy, must never put the enemy on his guard.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backquotes and quote marks printed around lines on the page). Line 2 (printed between marks on the page) is the star passage 12.106.013b*0247_01; lines 1 and 3 are the critical edition's 12.106.13a and 13c.

Verse 13 (12.105.13)

वसस्व परमामित्रं विषये मित्रसंमतः । भजस्व श्वेतकाकीयैर्मित्रधर्ममनर्थकैः ॥

vasasva paramāmitraṃ viṣaye mitrasaṃmataḥ | bhajasva śvetakākīyairmitradharmamanarthakaiḥ

Live in the territory of the arch-enemy, esteemed as a friend, and play a friend's part by the ways of the dog, the deer and the crow, pointless though they are.

Note on the text: Corrected पुरमामित्रं → परमामित्रं (misprint in Wikisource; the word is broken; CE 12.106.14 has paramāmitra, 'the arch-enemy'). Corrected मित्रधर्ममनथैकैः → मित्रधर्ममनर्थकैः (misprint in Wikisource; the word is broken; CE 12.106.14 has anarthakaiḥ).

Verse 14 (12.105.14)

आरम्भांश्चास्य महतो दुष्करान्संप्रयोजय । नदीबन्धविभेदांश्च बलवद्भिर्विरुध्यताम् ॥

ārambhāṃścāsya mahato duṣkarānsaṃprayojaya | nadībandhavibhedāṃśca balavadbhirvirudhyatām

Urge on him great and difficult undertakings, the damming and breaching of rivers, and let him be set against the powerful.

Verse 15 (12.105.15)

उद्यानानि महार्हाणि शयनान्यासनानि च । प्रीतिभोगमुखेनैव कोशमस्य विरेचय ॥

udyānāni mahārhāṇi śayanānyāsanāni ca | prītibhogamukhenaiva kośamasya virecaya

With pleasure gardens, costly couches and seats, drain his treasury by the pleasures of enjoyment.

Note on the text: Corrected विरोचय → विरेचय (misprint in Wikisource; the word is broken; CE 12.106.16 has virecaya, 'drain').

Verse 16 (12.105.16)

यज्ञदाने प्रशंसास्मै ब्राह्मणाननुवर्तय । ते त्वा प्रियं करिष्यन्ति तच्छेत्स्यन्ति वृका इव ॥

yajñadāne praśaṃsāsmai brāhmaṇānanuvartaya | te tvā priyaṃ kariṣyanti tacchetsyanti vṛkā iva

Praise sacrifice and giving to him, and set the brahmins to follow him; they will do what pleases you, and like wolves they will cut him down.

Verse 17 (12.105.17)

असंशयं पुण्यशीलः प्राप्नोति परमां गतिम् । त्रिविष्टपे पुण्यतमं स्थानं प्राप्नोति शाश्वतम् ॥

asaṃśayaṃ puṇyaśīlaḥ prāpnoti paramāṃ gatim | triviṣṭape puṇyatamaṃ sthānaṃ prāpnoti śāśvatam

Without doubt a man of virtuous conduct reaches the highest goal; he attains the most meritorious, everlasting place in heaven.

Note on the text: Corrected पुण्यशीलाः → पुण्यशीलः (misprint in Wikisource; the ending does not agree with the singular verb प्राप्नोति; CE 12.106.18 has puṇyaśīlaḥ). Corresponds to lines 18a and 18c of the critical edition's verse 12.106.18 (worded differently in the last word).

Verse 18 (12.105.18)

कोशक्षये त्वमित्राणां वशं कौसल्य गच्छति । उभयत्र प्रयुक्तस्य धर्मे चाधर्म एव च ॥

kośakṣaye tvamitrāṇāṃ vaśaṃ kausalya gacchati | ubhayatra prayuktasya dharme cādharma eva ca

When his treasury is exhausted, Kausalya, he falls under the sway of his enemies, he who has been engaged in both, in dharma and in adharma alike.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 12.106.18e; line 2 is 12.106.19a.

Verse 19 (12.105.19)

फलार्थमूलमुच्छिद्यात्तेन नन्दन्ति शत्रवः । न चास्मै मानुषं कर्म दैवमस्योपवर्णय ॥

phalārthamūlamucchidyāttena nandanti śatravaḥ | na cāsmai mānuṣaṃ karma daivamasyopavarṇaya

He cuts off the root of both reward and gain, and by that his enemies rejoice. Do not speak to him of human effort; set fate before him instead.

Note on the text: Corrected दैवप्रस्योपवर्णय → दैवमस्योपवर्णय (misprint in Wikisource; the word is broken; CE 12.106.20 has daivam asyopavarṇaya). Line 1 corresponds to the critical edition's 12.106.19c (worded differently); line 2 corresponds to 12.106.20a.

Verse 20 (12.105.20)

असंशयं दैवपरः क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यति । याजयैनं विश्वजिता सर्वस्वेन वियुज्यताम् ॥

asaṃśayaṃ daivaparaḥ kṣiprameva vinaśyati | yājayainaṃ viśvajitā sarvasvena viyujyatām

Without doubt a man who relies on fate perishes quickly. Have him perform the Vishvajit sacrifice and be stripped of all his wealth.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 12.106.20c; line 2 is 12.106.21a.

Verse 21 (12.105.21)

ततो गच्छत्यसिद्धार्थः पीड्यमानो महाजनम् । त्यागधर्मविदं पुण्यं कंचिदस्योपवर्णय ॥

tato gacchatyasiddhārthaḥ pīḍyamāno mahājanam | tyāgadharmavidaṃ puṇyaṃ kaṃcidasyopavarṇaya

Then, his aim unfulfilled, he goes on pressing hard upon the common people. Then describe to him some virtuous man who knows the dharma of renunciation.

Note on the text: Corrected पीडयानो → पीड्यमानो (misprint in Wikisource; the participle is malformed; CE 12.106.21 has pīḍyamāno). Line 1 corresponds to the critical edition's 12.106.21c; line 2 corresponds to 12.106.22a.

Verse 22 (12.105.22)

अपि त्यागं बुभूषेत कच्चिद्गच्छेदनामयम् । सिद्धेनौषधियोगेन सर्वशत्रुविनाशिना । गजानश्वान्मनुष्यांश्च कृतकैरुपघातय ॥

api tyāgaṃ bubhūṣeta kaccidgacchedanāmayam | siddhenauṣadhiyogena sarvaśatruvināśinā | gajānaśvānmanuṣyāṃśca kṛtakairupaghātaya

Perhaps he will then wish for renunciation and may even reach a state free from affliction. By a proven herbal preparation that destroys every enemy, and by contrived means, make away with his elephants, horses and men.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 12.106.22c; lines 2-3 are its verse 12.106.23.

Verse 23 (12.105.23)

एते चान्ये च बहवो दम्भयोगाः सुचिन्तिताः । शक्या विषहता कर्तुं न क्लीबेन नृपात्मज ॥

ete cānye ca bahavo dambhayogāḥ sucintitāḥ | śakyā viṣahatā kartuṃ na klībena nṛpātmaja

These and many other well-thought-out deceptions can be carried out by a man of resolve, not by a weakling, O prince.

Note on the text: Corrected विपहता → विषहता (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; CE 12.106.24 has viṣahatā, 'one who can endure').