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Arthashastra

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दूष्य महा मात्रम् अटवीं पर ग्रामं वा हन्तुं कान्तार व्यवहिते वा देशे राष्ट्र पालम् अन्त पालं वा स्थापयितुं नागर स्थानं वा कुपितम् अवग्राहितुं सार्थ अतिवाह्यं प्रत्यन्ते वा स प्रत्यादेयम् आदातुं फल्गु बलं तीक्ष्ण युक्तं प्रेषयेत् ॥

the king may send a seditious minister with an army of inefficient soldiers and fiery spies to put down a rebellious wild tribe or a village, or to set up a new superintendent of countries or of boundaries in a locality bordering upon a wilderness, or to bring under control a highly-rebellious city, or to fetch a caravan bringing in the tribute due to the king from a neighbouring country.

english translation

रात्रौ दिवा वा युद्धे प्रवृत्ते तीक्ष्णाः प्रतिरोधक व्यञ्जना वा हन्युः "अभियोगे हतः" इति ॥

In an affray (that ensues in consequence of the above mission) either by day or at night, the fiery spies, or spies under the guise of robbers (pratirodhaka) may murder the minister and declare that he was killed in the battle.

english translation

यात्रा विहार गतो वा दूष्य महा मात्रान् दर्शनाय आह्वयेत् ॥

While marching against an enemy or being engaged in sports, the king may send for his seditious ministers for an interview.

english translation

ते गूढ शस्त्रैस् तीक्ष्णैः सह प्रविष्टा मध्यम कक्ष्यायाम् आत्म विचयम् अन्तः प्रवेशन अर्थं दद्युः ॥

While leading the ministers to the king, fiery spies with concealed weapons shall, in the middle enclosure of the king's pavilion, offer themselves to be searched for admittance into the interior, and, when caught, with their weapons by the door-keepers, declare themselves to be the accomplices of the seditious ministers.

english translation

ततो दौवारिक अभिगृहीतास् तीक्ष्णाः "दूष्य प्रयुक्ताः स्म" इति ब्रूयुः ॥

Then the sharp men caught in the doorway would say, "We have been used to pollute.

english translation