2.1.12. Knowing the Place
491 Begin no work of war, depise no foe, Till place where you can wholly circumvent you know. Let not (a king) despise (an enemy), nor undertake any thing (against him), until he has obtained (a suitable) place for besieging him.
492 Though skill in war combine with courage tried on battle-field, The added gain of fort doth great advantage yield. Even to those who are men of power and expedients, an attack in connection with a fortification will yield many advantages.
493 E’en weak ones mightily prevail, if place of strong defence, They find, protect themselves, and work their foes offence. Even the powerless will become powerful and conquer, if they select a proper field (of action), and guard themselves, while they make war on their enemies.
494 The foes who thought to triumph, find their thoughts were vain, If hosts advance, seize vantage ground, and thence the fight maintain. If they who draw near (to fight) choose a suitable place to approach (their enemy), the latter, will have to relinquish the thought which they once entertained, of conquering them.
495 The crocodile prevails in its own flow of water wide, If this it leaves, ’tis slain by anything beside. In deep water, a crocodile will conquer (all other animals); but if it leave the water, other animals will conquer it.
496 The lofty car, with mighty wheel, sails not o’er watery main, The boat that skims the sea, runs not on earth’s hard plain. Wide chariots, with mighty wheels, will not run on the ocean; neither will ships that the traverse ocean, move on the earth.
497 Save their own fearless might they need no other aid, If in right place they fight, all due provision made. You will need no other aid than fearlessness, if you thoroughly reflect (on what you are to do), and select (a suitable) place for your operations.
498 If lord of army vast the safe retreat assail Of him whose host is small, his mightiest efforts fail. The power of one who has a large army will perish, if he goes into ground where only a small army can act. 62
499 Though fort be none, and store of wealth they lack, ‘Tis hard a people’s homesteads to attack! It is a hazardous thing to attack men in their own country, although they may neither have power nor a good fortress.
500 The jackal slays, in miry paths of foot-betraying fen, The elephant of fearless eye and tusks transfixing armed men. A fox can kill a fearless, warrior-faced elephant, if it go into mud in which its legs sink down.
2.1.13. Selection and Confidence
501 How treats he virtue, wealth and pleasure? How, when life’s at stake, Comports himself? This four-fold test of man will full assurance make. Let (a minister) be chosen, after he has been tried by means of these four things, viz,-his virtue, (love of) money, (love of) sexual pleasure, and tear of (losing) life.
502 Of noble race, of faultless worth, of generous pride That shrinks from shame or stain; in him may king confide. (The king’s) choice should (fall) on him, who is of good family, who is free from faults, and who has the modesty which fears the wounds (of sin).
503 Though deeply learned, unflecked by fault, ’tis rare to see, When closely scanned, a man from all unwisdom free. When even men, who have studied the most difficult works, and who are free from faults, are (carefully) examined, it is a rare thing to find them without ignorance.
504 Weigh well the good of each, his failings closely scan, As these or those prevail, so estimate the man. Let (a king) consider (a man’s) good qualities, as well as his faults, and then judge (of his character) by that which prevails.
505 Of greatness and of meanness too, The deeds of each are touchstone true. A man’s deeds are the touchstone of his greatness and littleness.
506 Beware of trusting men who have no kith of kin; No bonds restrain such men, no shame deters from sin. Let (a king) avoid choosing men who have no relations; such men have no attachment, and thereforehave no fear of crime.
507 By fond affection led who trusts in men of unwise soul, 63 Yields all his being up to folly’s blind control. To choose ignorant men, through partiality, is the height of folly.
508 Who trusts an untried stranger, brings disgrace, Remediless, on all his race. Sorrow that will not leave even his posterity will come upon him chooses a stranger whose character he has not known.
509 Trust no man whom you have not fully tried, When tested, in his prudence proved confide. Let (a king) choose no one without previous consideration; after he has made his choice, let him unhesitatingly select for each such duties as are appropriate.
510 Trust where you have not tried, doubt of a friend to feel, Once trusted, wounds inflict that nought can heal. To make choice of one who has not been examined, and to entertain doubts respecting one who has been chosen, will produce irremediable sorrow.