grass, fuel, poisoned arrows, weapons of every kind such as darts, swords, lances, and others.  The king should store such articles.  He should especially keep ready drugs of every kind, roots and fruits, the four kinds of physicians, actors and dancers, athletes, and persons capable of assuming diverse disguises.  He should decorate his capital and gladden all his subjects.  The king should lose no time in bringing under his control such persons as may happen to inspire him with fear, be they his servants or counsellors or citizens or neighbouring monarchs.  After any task of the king has been accomplished, he should reward that those that have aided in its accomplishment with wealth and other proportionate gifts and thankful speeches.  It has been laid down in the scriptures, O delighter of the Kurus, that a king pays off his debt when he discomfits his foe or slays him outright.[223] A king should take care of seven things.  Listen to me as I recite them.  They are his own self, his counsellors, his treasury, his machinery for awarding punishments, his friends, his provinces, and his capital.  He should with care protect his kingdom which consists of these seven limbs.  That king, O tiger among men, who is conversant with the aggregate of six, the triple aggregate, and the high aggregate of three, succeeds in winning the sovereignty of the whole earth.  Listen, O Yudhishthira, to what has been called the aggregate of six.  These are ruling in peace after concluding a treaty (with the foe), marching to battle, producing disunion among the foe, concentration of forces, for inspiring the foe with fear, preparedness for war with readiness for peace, and alliance with others.  Listen now with attention to what has been called the triple aggregate.  They are decrease, maintenance of what is, and growth.  The high aggregate of three consists of Virtue, Profit and Pleasure.  These should be pursued judiciously.  By the aid of virtue, a king succeeds in ruling the earth for ever.  Touching this matter, Angirasa’s son:  Vrihaspati himself has sung two verses.  Blessed be thou, O son of Devaki, it behoveth thee to hear them.  ’Having discharged all his duties and having protected the earth, and having also protected his cities, a king attains to great happiness in heaven.  What are penances to that king, and what need has he of sacrifices who protects his people properly?  Such a king should be regarded as one conversant with every virtue!’

Yudhishthira said, ’There is the science of chastisement, there is the king, and there are the subjects.  Tell me, O grandsire, what advantage is derived by one of these from the others.’