protect his own self.  One’s possessions and children and everything are so long valuable as one is alive.  In brief, the highest truth of all treatises on policy is mistrust.  For this reason, mistrust of all is productive of the greatest good.  However weak people may be, if they mistrust their foes, the latter, even if strong, never succeed in getting them under power.  O cat, one like myself should always guard ones life from persons like thee.  Do thou also protect thy own life from the Chandala whose rage has been excited.’[412] While the mouse thus spake, the cat, frightened at the mention of the hunter, hastily leaving the branch of the tree, ran away with great speed.  Having thus displayed his power of understanding, the mouse Palita also, conversant with the truths of scripture and possessed of wisdom, entered another hole.’

“Bhishma continued, ’Even thus the mouse Palita, possessed of wisdom, though weak and alone, succeeded in baffling many powerful foes.  One possessed of intelligence and learning should make peace with a powerful foe.  The mouse and the cat owed their escape to their reliance upon each other’s services.  I have thus pointed out to thee the course of Kshatriya duties at great length.  Listen now to me in brief.  When two persons who were once engaged in hostilities make peace with each other, it is certain that each of them has it in his heart to over-reach the other.  In such a case he that is possessed of wisdom succeeds by the power of his understanding in over-reaching the other.  He, on the other hand, who is destitute of wisdom suffers himself, in consequence of his heedlessness, to be over-reached by the wise.  It is necessary, therefore, that, in fear one should seem to be fearless, and while really mistrusting others one should seem to be trustful.  One who acts with such heedfulness never trips, or tripping, is never ruined.  When the time comes for it, one should make peace with an enemy; and when the time comes, one should wage war with even a friend.  Even thus should one conduct oneself, O king, as they have said that are conversant with the considerations of peace (and war).  Knowing this, O monarch, and bearing the truths of scripture in mind, one should, with all his senses about one and without heedfulness, act like a person in fear before the cause of fear actually presents itself.  One should, before the cause of fear has actually come, act like a person in fear, and make peace with foes.  Such fear and heedfulness lead to keenness of understanding.  If one acts like a man in fear before the cause of fear is at hand, one is never filled with fear when that cause is actually present.  From the fear, however, of a person who always acts with fearlessness, very great fear is seen to arise.[413] ’Never cherish fear’—­such a counsel should never be given to any one.  The person that cherishes fear moved by a consciousness of his weakness, always seeks ’the counsel of wise and experienced men.