Arthashastra

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कृत महा मात्र अपसर्पः पौर जानपदान् अपसर्पयेत् ॥

HAVING set up spies over his prime ministers (mahámátra), the king shall proceed to espy both citizens and country people.

english translation

kRta mahA mAtra apasarpaH paura jAnapadAn apasarpayet ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

सत्त्रिणो द्वन्द्विनस् तीर्थ सभा पूग जन समवायेषु विवादं कुर्युः ॥

Classmate spies (satri) formed as opposing factions shall carry on disputations in places of pilgrimage (tírtha), in assemblies, houses, corporations (púga), and amid congregations of people. One spy may say:--

english translation

sattriNo dvandvinas tIrtha sabhA pUga jana samavAyeSu vivAdaM kuryuH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

"सर्व गुण सम्पन्नश् च अयं राजा श्रूयते, न च अस्य कश्चिद् गुणो दृश्यते यः पौर जानपदान् दण्ड कराभ्यां पीडयति" इति ॥

"This king is said to be endowed with all desirable qualities; he seems to be a stranger to such tendencies as would lead him to oppress citizens and country people by levying heavy fines and taxes."

english translation

"sarva guNa sampannaz ca ayaM rAjA zrUyate, na ca asya kazcid guNo dRzyate yaH paura jAnapadAn daNDa karAbhyAM pIDayati" iti ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

तत्र ये अनुप्रशंसेयुस् तान् इतरस् तं च प्रतिषेधयेत् ॥

Against those who seem to commend this opinion, another spy may interrupt the speaker and say:--

english translation

tatra ye anuprazaMseyus tAn itaras taM ca pratiSedhayet ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

"मात्स्य न्याय अभिभूताः प्रजा मनुं वैवस्वतं राजानं चक्रिरे ॥

"People suffering from anarchy as illustrated by the proverbial tendency of a large fish swallowing a small one (mátsyanyáyábhibhútah prajáh), first elected Manu, the Vaivasvata, to be their king.

english translation

"mAtsya nyAya abhibhUtAH prajA manuM vaivasvataM rAjAnaM cakrire ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript