But if the king undertakes an expedition against a hostile kingdom, then let him gradually advance, in the following manner, against his foe’s capital.
मार्गशीर्षे शुभे मासि यायाद् यात्रां महीपतिः । फाल्गुनं वाथ चैत्रं वा मासौ प्रति यथाबलम् ॥ १८२ ॥
Let the king undertake his march in the fine month Margasirsha, or towards the months of Phalguna and Kaitra, according to the (condition of his) army.
कृत्वा विधानं मूले तु यात्रिकं च यथाविधि । उपगृह्यास्पदं चैव चारान् सम्यग् विधाय च ॥ १८४ ॥
But having duly arranged (all affairs) in his original (kingdom) and what relates to the expedition, having secured a basis (for his operations) and having duly dispatched his spies;
संशोध्य त्रिविधं मार्गं षड्विधं च बलं स्वकम् । साम्परायिककल्पेन यायादरिपुरं प्रति ॥ १८५ ॥
Having cleared the three kinds of roads, and (having made) his sixfold army (efficient), let him leisurely proceed in the manner prescribed for warfare against the enemy’s capital.