309. i.e., ascertaining everything regarding him.

310.  The French had taken Alsace and Lorraine.  That was an impolitic step, though, perhaps, Germany also, by taking back those provinces after they had been completely Frenchified, has committed the same mistake.  Such injuries rankle in the heart and are never forgotten.

311. i.e., ruin him outright.

312.  Brahma-dandah is the chastisement through the gods.  When foes are not seen, i.e., when they are at a distance, the king should employ his priest to perform the rites of the Atharvan for bringing destruction upon them.  In the case, however, of foes being seen, i.e., when they are near, he should move his troops without depending upon Atharvan rites.

313.  Nipunam is explained by Nilakantha as Kusalam; and after drabhet pestum is understood.

314.  The sixfold forces are foot, horse, elephants, cars, treasury, and traders following the camp.

315.  I adopt Nilakantha’s explanation of this verse.  Loss of crops, etc. are the inevitable consequences of expeditions.  The king, on such occasions, is obliged also to take particular care of the seven branches of administration.  As these are all unpleasant, they should be avoided.

316. i.e., starts such subjects for conversation as do not arise naturally, for what he has in view is the proclaiming of the faults of other people, a topic in which he alone is interested and not his hearers.

317.  In the Bengal texts there is an error of reading viz., Satru for Yatra in the first line of verse 3.  The Burdwan Pundits repeat the error in their vernacular version.  K.P.  Singha, of course, avoids it.

318.  The Bengal texts, in the second line of verse 7, contain an error, Saktincha is evidently a misreading for Sokancha.  The Burdwan version, as a matter of course, repeats the error, While K.P.  Singha avoids it.

319. i.e., though dispossessed of my kingdom, I cannot yet cast off the hope of recovering it.

320. i.e., he should think that his wealth has been given to him for the sake of friends and relatives and others.  He will then succeed in practising charity.

321.  Nilakantha explains Kusalah as niamatsarah and anyatra as Satrau.  I do not follow him.

322.  The Bengal texts read Vidhitsa dhanameva cha.  This is evidently erroneous.  The correct reading, as given in the Bombay text, is Vidhitsasadhanena cha.  Both the Bengali versions are incorrect.

323.  The Vilwa is the fruit of the Egle marmelos.

324.  The sense seems to be that by causing thy foe to be attached to these things, the treasury of thy foe is likely to be exhausted.  If this can be brought about, thy foe will soon be ruined.

325. i.e., for the ruler of Videhas.

326.  Jitavat is explained by Nilakantha as prapta jaya.