Arthashastra

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तस्माद् विरक्त प्रकृतिम् एव यायात् ॥

Hence the conqueror should march against that enemy whose subjects are disloyal.

english translation

tasmAd virakta prakRtim eva yAyAt ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

क्षीण लुब्ध प्रकृतिम् अपचरित प्रकृतिं वा इति क्षीण लुब्ध प्रकृतिं यायात्, क्षीण लुब्धा हि प्रकृतयः सुखेन उपजापं पीडां वा उपगच्छन्ति, न अपचरिताः प्रधान अवग्रह साध्याः" इत्य् आचार्याः ॥

Which is to be marched against--an enemy whose subjects are impoverished and greedy or an enemy whose subjects are being oppressed? My teacher says that the conqueror should march against that enemy whose subjects are impoverished and greedy, for impoverished and greedy subjects suffer themselves to be won over to the other side by intrigue, and are easily excited. But not so the oppressed subjects whose wrath can be pacified by punishing the chief men (of the State).

english translation

kSINa lubdha prakRtim apacarita prakRtiM vA iti kSINa lubdha prakRtiM yAyAt, kSINa lubdhA hi prakRtayaH sukhena upajApaM pIDAM vA upagacchanti, na apacaritAH pradhAna avagraha sAdhyAH" ity AcAryAH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

न इति कौटिल्यः ॥

Not so, says Kautilya.

english translation

क्षीण लुब्धा हि प्रकृतयो भर्तरि स्निग्धा भर्तृ हिते तिष्ठन्ति, उपजापं वा विसंवादयन्ति, अनुरागे सार्वगुण्यम् इति ॥

for though impoverished and greedy, they are loyal to their master and are ready to stand for his cause and to defeat any intrigue against him; for it is in loyalty that all other good qualities have their strength.

english translation

kSINa lubdhA hi prakRtayo bhartari snigdhA bhartR hite tiSThanti, upajApaM vA visaMvAdayanti, anurAge sArvaguNyam iti ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

तस्माद् अपचरित प्रकृतिम् एव यायात् ॥

Hence the conqueror should march against the enemy whose subjects are oppressed.

english translation

tasmAd apacarita prakRtim eva yAyAt ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript