laying down instructions that are plain according to
what has been inculcated hi sacred treatise.
Thou hast spoken also of the behaviour that should
be adopted by kings desirous of conquering their foes.
I desire now, O foremost of intelligent men, to listen
to the behaviour that one should observe towards the
multitude of courageous men that assemble round a
king![327] I desire to hear how these may grow, how
they may be attached to the king, O Bharata, how may
they succeed in subjugating their foes and in acquiring
friends. It seems to me that disunion alone can
bring about their destruction. I think it is always
difficult to keep counsels secret when many are concerned.
I desire to hear all this in detail, O scorcher of
foes! Tell me also, O king, the means by which
they may be prevented from falling out with the king.’
“Bhishma said, ’Between the aristocracy
on the one side and the kings on the other, avarice
and wrath, O monarch, are the causes that produce
enmity.[328] One of these parties (viz., the king,)
yields to avarice. As a consequence, wrath takes
possession of the other (the aristocracy). Each
intent upon weakening and wasting the other, they both
meet with destruction. By employing spies, contrivances
of policy, and physical force, and adopting the arts
of conciliation, gifts, and disunion and applying
other methods for producing weakness, waste, and fear,
the parties assail each other. The aristocracy
of a kingdom, having the characteristics of a compact
body, become dissociated from the king if the latter
seeks to take too much from them. Dissociated
from the king, all of them become dissatisfied, and
acting from fear, side with the enemies of their ruler.
If again the aristocracy of a kingdom be disunited
amongst themselves, they meet with destruction.
Disunited, they fall an easy prey to foes. The
nobles, therefore, should always act in concert.
If they be united together, they may earn acquisitions
of value by means of their strength and prowess.
Indeed, when they are thus united, many outsiders
seek their alliance. Men of knowledge applaud
those nobles that art united with one another in bonds
of love. If united in purpose, all of them can
be happy. They can (by their example) establish
righteous courses of conduct. By behaving properly,
they advance in prosperity. By restraining their
sons and brothers and teaching them their duties,
and by behaving kindly towards all persons whose pride
has been quelled by knowledge,[329] the aristocracy
advance in prosperity. By always attending to
the duties of setting spies and devising means of
policy, as also to the matter of filling their treasuries,
the aristocracy, O thou of mighty arms, advance in
prosperity. By showing proper reverence for them
that are possessed of wisdom and courage and perseverance
and that display steady prowess in all kinds of work,
the aristocracy advance in prosperity. Possessed
of wealth and resources, of knowledge of the scriptures
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