Ashramavasika Parva — Instructions about war and peace

O best of kings you should, also, reflect properly on war and peacc. Each is of war kinds. The means are various, and the circumstances also, under which war or peace may be made, are various, O Yudhishthira.

O you of Kuru's race, you should, with coolness, reflect on the two (viz., thy strength and weakness) with regard to yourself. You should not suddenly march against an enemy who has contented and healthy soldiers, and who is gifted with intelligence. On the other hand, you should think carefully of the means of defeating him.

You should march against an enemy who is not provided with contented and healthy combatants. When everything's is favourable, the enemy may be beaten. After that however, the victor should retire.

He should next cause the enemy to be plunged into various calamities, and show dissension's among his allies. He should afflict the enemy and inspire terror in his heart, and, attacking him, weaken his forces.

The king, conversant with the scriptures, who marches against an enemy should think of the three kinds of strength, and, indeed, reflect on his own strength and the strength of his enemy.

Only that king, O Bharata, who is gifted with alacrity, discipline, and strength of counsels should march against an enemy. When his position is otherwise, he should avoid offensive works.

The king should provide himself with power of wealth, power of allies, power of foresters, power of paid soldiery, and the inechanical and trading classes, powerful power of one.

Among all these, power of allies and power of riches are superior to the rest. The power of classes and that of the standing army are equal.

The power of spies is considered by the king as equal in efficacy to either of the above, on many occasions, when the tiine comes for applying each.

Calamity, O king, with which rulers are overtaken, is of many forms. Listen, O you of Kuru's race, as to what those various forms are.

Indeed, calamities, O son of Pandu, are many. You should, always, count them, distinguishing their forms, o king, and try to meet them by applying the well-known ways of conciliation and the rest.

The king should, when possessed of a good arıny, march (out against a foc), O scorcher of enemics. He should, also, mark the considerations of time and place, while preparing to march, as also the forces he has collected and his own merits.

That king who seeks his own growth and advancement should not march unless he has cheerful and healthy warriors. When strong, O son of Pandu, he may march in even an unfavourable season.

The king should make a river having quivers for its stones, horses and cars for its current, and standards for the trees which cover its banks, and which is miry with foot-soldiers and elephants. Such a river should the king apply for the destruction of his enemy.

According to the science known to Ushanas, arrays called Shakata, Padma, and Vajra, should be formed, O Bharata, for fighting the enemy.

Knowing every thing about the enemy's sirength through spies, and examining his own strength himself, the king should begin war either within his own territories or within those of his cncmy.

The king should, always, please, his army, and hurl all his strongest warriors (against the cncmy). First determine the state of his kingdom, he should apply conciliation or the other well-known mean.

By all means, O king, should the body be protected. One should do what is highly beneficial for one both in this world and in the next.

The king, O monarch, by acting properly according to these ways, attains to Heaven hereafter, after ruling his subjects piously in this world.

O foremost one of Kurus' race, it is thus that you should always seek the well-being of your subjects for attaining to both the worlds.

You have been instructed in all duties by Bhishma, by Krishna, and by Vidura, I should, also, O best of kings, from the affection I bear you, give you these instructions.

O giver of profuse presents in sacrifices, you should duly do all this. You shall, by acting thus, become dear to your subjects and acquire happiness in the celestial region.

That king who worships the celestials in a hundred horse-sacrifices, and he who rules his subjects piously, acquire merit that is equal.