The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,886 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,886 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3.
deserve to be trusted nor should he trust too much the person that is deserving of trust.  Danger springs from trust.  Trust should never be placed without previous examination.  Having by plausible reasons inspired confidence in the enemy, the king should smite him when he makes a false step.  The king should fear him, from whom there is no fear; he should also always fear them that should be feared.  Fear that arises from an unfeared one may lead to total extermination.  By attention (to the acquisition of religious merit), by taciturnity, by the reddish garb of ascetics, and wearing matted locks and skins, one should inspire confidence in one’s foe, and then (when the opportunity comes) one should jump upon him like the wolf.  A king desirous of prosperity should not scruple to slay son or brother or father or friend, if any of these seek to thwart his objects.  The very preceptor, if he happens to be arrogant, ignorant of what should be done and, what should not, and a treader of unrighteous paths, deserves to be restrained by chastisement.  Even as certain insects of sharp stings cut off all flowers and fruits of the trees on which they sit, the king should, after having inspired confidence in his foe by honours and salutations and gifts, turn against him and shear him of everything.  Without piercing the very vitals of others, without accomplishing many stern deeds, without slaughtering living creatures after the manner of the fisherman, one cannot acquire great prosperity.  There is no separate species of creatures called foes or friends.  Persons become friends or foes according to the force of circumstances.  The king should never allow his foe to escape even if the foe should indulge piteous lamentations.  He should never be moved by these; on the other hand, it is his duty to destroy the person that has done him an injury.  A king desirous of prosperity should take care to attach to himself as many men as he can, and to do them good.  In behaving towards his subjects he should always be free from malice.  He should also, with great care, punish and check the wicked and disaffected.  When he intends to take wealth, he should say what is agreeable.  Having taken wealth, he should say similar things.  Having struck off one’s head with his sword, he should grieve and shed tears.  A king desirous of prosperity should draw others unto himself by means of sweet words, honours, and gifts.  Even thus should he bind men unto his service.  The king should never engage in fruitless disputes.  He should never cross a river with the aid only of his two arms.  To eat cow-horns is fruitless and never invigorating.  By, eating them one’s teeth are broken while the taste is not gratified.  The triple aggregate has three disadvantages with three Inseparable adjuncts.  Carefully considering those adjuncts, the disadvantages should be avoided.[424] The unpaid balance of a debt, the unquenched remnant of a fire, and the unslain remnant of foes, repeatedly grow and increase.  Therefore, all those should
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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.