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यद् बलः सामन्तस् तद् विशिष्ट बलम् आश्रयेत् ॥
One shall make an alliance with a king who is stronger than one's neighbouring enemy.
english translation
तद् विशिष्ट बल अभावे तम् एव आश्रितः कोश दण्ड भूमीनाम् अन्यतमेन अस्य उपकर्तुम् अदृष्टः प्रयतेत ॥
in the absence of such a king, one should ingratiate oneself with one's neighbouring enemy, either by supplying money or army or by ceding a part of one's territory and by keeping oneself aloof.
english translation
महा दोषो हि विशिष्ट बल समागमो राज्ञाम्, अन्यत्र अरि विगृहीतात् ॥
for there can be no greater evil to kings than alliance with a king of considerable power, unless one is actually attacked by one's enemy.
english translation
अशक्ये दण्ड उपनतवद् वर्तेत ॥
A powerless king should behave as a conquered king (towards his immediate enemy).
english translation
यदा च अस्य प्राण हरं व्याधिम् अन्तः कोपं शत्रु वृद्धिं मित्र व्यसनम् उपस्थितं वा तन् निमित्ताम् आत्मनश् च वृद्धिं पश्येत् तदा सम्भाव्य व्याधि धर्म कार्य अपदेशेन अपयायात् ॥
but when he finds that the time of his own ascendancy is at hand due to a fatal disease, internal troubles, increase of enemies, or a friend's calamities that are vexing his enemy, then under the pretence of performing some expiatory rites to avert the danger of his enemy, he may get out (of the enemy's court).
english translation