2.1.21. Detectives
581 These two: the code renowned and spies, In these let king confide as eyes. Let a king consider as his eyes these two things, a spy and a book (of laws) universally esteemed.
582 Each day, of every subject every deed, 7 2 ‘Tis duty of the king to learn with speed. It is the duty of a king to know quickly (by a spy) what all happens, daily, amongst all men.
583 By spies who spies, not weighing things they bring, Nothing can victory give to that unwary king. There is no way for a king to obtain conquests, who knows not the advantage of discoveries made by a spy.
584 His officers, his friends, his enemies, All these who watch are trusty spies. He is a spy who watches all men, to wit, those who are in the king’s employment, his relatives, and his enemies.
585 Of unsuspected mien and all-unfearing eyes, Who let no secret out, are trusty spies. A spy is one who is able to assume an appearance which may create no suspicion (in the minds of others), who fears no man’s face, and who never reveals (his purpose).
586 As monk or devotee, through every hindrance making way, A spy, whate’er men do, must watchful mind display. He is a spy who, assuming the appearance of an ascetic, goes into (whatever place he wishes), examines into (all, that is needful), and never discovers himself, whatever may be done to him.
587 A spy must search each hidden matter out, And full report must render, free from doubt. A spy is one who is able to discover what is hidden and who retains no doubt concerning what he has known.
588 Spying by spies, the things they tell To test by other spies is well. Let not a king receive the information which a spy has discovered and made known to him, until he has examined it by another spy.
589 One spy must not another see: contrive it so; And things by three confirmed as truth you know. Let a king employ spies so that one may have no knowledge of the other; and when the information of three agrees together, let him receive it.
590 Reward not trusty spy in others’ sight, Or all the mystery will come to light. Let not a king publicly confer on a spy any marks of his favour; if he does, he will divulge his own secret.
2.1.22. Energy
591 ‘Tis energy gives men o’er that they own a true control; They nothing own who own not energy of soul. Energy makes out the man of property; as for those who are destitute of it, do they (really) possess what they possess ?
592 The wealth of mind man owns a real worth imparts, Material wealth man owns endures not, utterly departs. The possession of (energy of) mind is true property; the possession of wealth passes away and abides not.
593 ‘Lost is our wealth,’ they utter not this cry distressed, The men of firm concentred energy of soul possessed. They who are possessed of enduring energy will not trouble themselves, saying, “we have lost our property.”
594 The man of energy of soul inflexible, Good fortune seeks him out and comes a friend to dwell. Wealth will find its own way to the man of unfailing energy.
595 With rising flood the rising lotus flower its stem unwinds; The dignity of men is measured by their minds. The stalks of water-flowers are proportionate to the depth of water; so is men’s greatness proportionate to their minds.
596 Whate’er you ponder, let your aim be loftly still, Fate cannot hinder always, thwart you as it will. In all that a king thinks of, let him think of his greatness; and if it should be thrust from him (by fate), it will have the nature of not being thrust from him.
597 The men of lofty mind quail not in ruin’s fateful hour, The elephant retains his dignity mind arrows’ deadly shower. The strong minded will not faint, even when all is lost; the elephant stands firm, even when wounded by a shower of arrows.
598 The soulless man can never gain Th’ ennobling sense of power with men. Those who have no (greatness of) mind, will not acquire the joy of saying in the world, “we have excercised liaberality”. 7 4
599 Huge bulk of elephant with pointed tusk all armed, When tiger threatens shrinks away alarmed! Although the elephant has a large body, and a sharp tusk, yet it fears the attack of the tiger.
600 Firmness of soul in man is real excellance; Others are trees, their human form a mere pretence. Energy is mental wealth; those men who are destitute of it are only trees in the form of men.