Arthashastra
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लगु समुत्थम् अल्पं मित्रं कार्य कालं न अतिपातयति दौर्बल्याच् च यथा इष्ट भोग्यं भवति, न इतरत् प्रकृष्ट भौमम् ॥
for such a friend will not, in virtue of his ready preparations, be behind the opportune moment of work, and can, in virtue of his weakness in power, be used in any way the conqueror may like; but not so the other of vast territorial power.
english translation
lagu samuttham alpaM mitraM kArya kAlaM na atipAtayati daurbalyAc ca yathA iSTa bhogyaM bhavati, na itarat prakRSTa bhaumam ॥
hk transliteration by Sanscriptविक्षिप्त सैन्यम् अवश्य सैन्यं वा इति "विक्षिप्तं सैन्यं शक्यं प्रतिसंहर्तुं वश्यत्वाद्" इत्य् आचार्याः ॥
Which is better, scattered troops, or an unsubmissive standing army? My teacher says that scattered troops can be collected in time as they are of submissive nature.
english translation
vikSipta sainyam avazya sainyaM vA iti "vikSiptaM sainyaM zakyaM pratisaMhartuM vazyatvAd" ity AcAryAH ॥
hk transliteration by Sanscriptन इति कौटिल्यः ॥
Not so, says Kautilya.
english translation
na iti kauTilyaH ॥
hk transliteration by Sanscriptअवश्य सैन्यं श्रेयः ॥
Of course, the army is better.
english translation
avazya sainyaM zreyaH ॥
hk transliteration by Sanscriptअवश्यं हि शक्यं साम आदिभिर् वश्यं कर्तुम्, न इतरत् कार्य व्यासक्तं प्रतिसंहर्तुम् ॥
an unsubmissive standing army is better as it can be made submissive by conciliation and other strategic means; but it is not so easy to collect in time scattered troops as they are engaged in their individual avocations.
english translation
avazyaM hi zakyaM sAma Adibhir vazyaM kartum, na itarat kArya vyAsaktaM pratisaMhartum ॥
hk transliteration by Sanscript