pole, if made straight without the application of heat in the first instance, very soon assumes its former state.  Persons skilled in the scriptures do not, however, applaud this.  Nor do they regard this as an indication of a good king.  On the other hand, they say that a foe should be subdued and checked, like a sire subduing and checking a son, without anger and without destroying him.  If, O Yudhishthira, a king becomes severe, he becomes an object of hatred with all creatures.  If, on the other hand, he becomes mild, he becomes disregarded by all.  Do thou, therefore, practise both severity and mildness.  Before smiting, O Bharata, and while smiting, utter sweet words; and having smitten, show them compassion and let them understand that thou art grieving and weeping for them.  Having vanquished an army, the kind should address the survivors saying, ’I am not at all glad that so many have been slain by my troops.  Alas, the latter, though repeatedly dissuaded by me, have not obeyed my direction.  I wish they .(that are slain) were all alive.  They do not deserve such death.  They were all good men and true, and unretreating from battle.  Such men, indeed, are rare.  He that has slain such a hero in battle, has surely done that which is not agreeable to me.’  Having uttered such speeches before the survivors of the vanquished foe, the king should in secret honour those amongst his own troops that have bravely slain the foe.  For soothing the wounded slayers for their sufferings at the hand of the foe, the king, desirous of attaching them to himself, should even weep, seizing their hands affectionately.  The king should thus, under all circumstances, behave with conciliation.  A king that is fearless and virtuous, becomes the beloved of all creatures.  All creatures, also, O Bharata, trust such a ruler.  Winning their trust, he succeeds in enjoying the earth as he pleases.  The king should, therefore, by abandoning deceitfulness, seek to obtain the trust of all creatures.  He should also seek to protect his subjects from all fears if he seek to enjoy the earth.’”

SECTION CIII

“Yudhishthira said, ’Tell me, O grandsire, how a kin should behave towards foe that is mild, towards one that is fierce, and towards one that has many allies and a large force.’

“Bhishma said, ’In this connection is cited, O Yudhishthira. the old narrative of the discourse between Vrihaspati and Indra.  Once on a time, that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., Vasava, the chief of the celestials, joining his palms, approached Vrihaspati, and saluting him, said these words.’

“Indra said.  ’How, O regenerate one, should I behave towards my foes?  Row should I subdue them by means of contrivances, without exterminating them?  In a collision between two armies, victory may be won by either side.  In what way should I behave so that this blazing prosperity that I have won and that scorches all my enemies may not desert me?’ Thus addressed, Vrihaspati, skilled in Virtue, Profit, and Pleasure, possessed of a knowledge of kingly duties, and endued with great intelligence, answered Indra in the following words.’