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Arthashastra

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बहुली भूते तीक्ष्णाः पौरान् निशास्व् आहारयेयुः, मुख्यांश् च अभिहन्युः "एवं क्रियन्ते ये शून्य पालस्य न शुश्रूषन्ते" इति ॥

if so, you will all be put to death.'" When all the people are collected together, fiery spies may take the citizens out of the town and kill their leaders, saying: "Thus will be treated those who do not hear the officer in charge of the waste lands."

english translation

शून्य पाल स्थानेषु च सशोणितानि शस्त्र वित्त बन्धनान्य् उत्सृजेयुः ॥

On the waste lands under the charge of the officer, the spies may throw down weapons, money and ropes bespattered with blood.

english translation

ततः सत्त्रिणः "शून्य पालो घातयति विलोपयति च" इत्य् आवेदयेयुः ॥

Then other spies may spread the news that the officer in charge of the waste lands destroys the people and plunders them.

english translation

एवं जानपदान् समाहर्तुर् भेदयेयुः ॥

Similarly, spies may cause disagreement between the enemy's collector-general and the people.

english translation

समाहर्तृ पुरुषांस् तु ग्राम मध्येषु रात्रौ तीक्ष्णा हत्वा ब्रूयुः "एवं क्रियन्ते ये जन पदम् अधर्मेण बाधन्ते" इति ॥

Addressing the servants of the collector-general in the centre of the village at night, fiery spies may say: "Thus will be treated those who subject the people to unjust oppression."

english translation