वधमेव प्रशंसन्ति शत्रूणामपकारिणाम्। सुविदीर्णं सुविक्रान्तं सुयुद्धं सुपलायितम्
They praise only the killing of enemies who cause harm—well executed, well undertaken, well fought, and well pursued.
आपद्यापदि काले कुर्वीत न विचारयेत्। नावज्ञेयो रिपुस्तात दुर्बलोऽपि कथं चन
In times of crisis, one should act without hesitation; O father, never despise an enemy, however weak he may be.
अल्पोऽप्यग्निर्वनं कृत्स्नं दहत्याश्रयसंश्रयात्। अन्धः स्यादन्धवेलायां बाधिर्यमपि चाश्रयेत्
Even a small fire can burn an entire forest if it finds shelter; one may become blind in a time of blindness, and even deafness may befall one.
कुर्यात्तृणमयं चापं शयीत मृगशायिकाम्। सान्त्वादिभिरुपायैस्तु हन्याच्छत्रुं वशे स्थितं
He should make a bow of grass, sleep on a deer’s bed, and, by means such as conciliation, slay an enemy who is under his control.
दया न तस्मिन्कर्तव्या शरणागत इत्युत। निरुद्विग्नो हि भवति न हताज्जायते भयम्
One should not show compassion to him who has sought refuge; for he becomes fearless, and from the unharmed arises no fear.
हन्यादमित्रं दानेन तथा पूर्वापकारिणम्। हन्यात्त्रीन्पञ्च सप्तेति परपक्षस्य सर्वशः
An enemy should be destroyed by gifts, and likewise one who has previously caused harm; three, five, or seven of the opposing side should be destroyed entirely.
मूलमेवादितश्छिन्द्यात्परपक्षस्य नित्यशः। ततः सहायांस्तत्पक्षान्सर्वांश्च तदनन्तरम्
One should always cut off the very root of the opposing side; then, afterwards, all their allies and supporters.
छिन्नमूले ह्यधिष्ठाने सर्वे तज्जीविनो हताः। कथं नु शाखास्तिष्ठेरंश्छिन्नमूले वनस्पतौ
When the root, the foundation, is cut, all who live by it are destroyed; how could the branches remain when the root of the tree is severed?
एकाग्रः स्यादविवृतो नित्यं विवरदर्शकः। राजन्नित्यं सपत्नेषु नित्योद्विग्नः समाचरेत्
A king should always be single-minded, discreet, ever watchful for openings, and ever act with anxiety regarding his rivals.
अग्न्याधानेन यज्ञेन काषायेण जटाजिनैः। लोकान्विश्वासयित्वैव ततो लुम्पेद्यथा वृकः
By establishing sacred fires, by sacrifice, by wearing ochre robes and matted hair and deer skin, one should win the trust of the people, and then plunder like a wolf.
अङ्कुशं शोचमित्याहुरर्थानामुपधारणे। आनाम्य फलितां शाखां पक्वं पक्वं प्रशातयेत्
They say a goad is sorrow in the pursuit of wealth; bending down a fruitful branch, one should pluck the ripe fruit again and again.
फलार्थोऽयं समारम्भो लोके पुंसां विपश्चिताम्। वहेदमित्रं स्कन्धेन यावत्कालस्य पर्ययः
For the wise in this world, all undertakings are for the sake of fruit; one should bear an enemy on one's shoulder until the time is ripe.
ततः प्रत्यागते काले भिन्द्याद्धृटमिवाश्मनि। अमित्रो न विमोक्तव्यः कृपणं बह्वपि ब्रुवन्
Then, when the time returns, one should break him as one would an object upon a stone; an enemy should not be released, even if he pleads much in misery.
कृपा न तस्मिन्कर्तव्या हन्यादेवापकारिणम्। हन्यादमित्रं सान्त्वेन तथा दानेन वा पुनः
No pity should be shown to him; one should indeed slay the wrongdoer. One should destroy an enemy by conciliation or again by gifts.
तथैव भेददण्डाभ्यां सर्वोपायैः प्रशातयेत्
Likewise, by division and punishment, and by all means, one should subdue him.
अमित्रः शक्यते हन्तुं तन्मे ब्रूहि यथातथम्
An enemy can be slain—tell me, then, the exact means for this.
जम्बुकस्य महाराज नीतिशास्त्रार्थदर्शिनः। अथ कश्चित्कृतप्रज्ञः शृगालः स्वार्थपण्डितः
O King, there was a jackal, expert in the meaning of the science of policy; and there was a certain wise fox, skilled in his own interest.
सखिभिर्न्यवसत्सार्धं व्याघ्राखुवृकबभ्रुभिः। तेऽपश्यन्विपिने तस्मिन्बलिनं मृगयूथपम्
He dwelt with his companions—the tiger, the mouse, the wolf, and the bear; they saw in that forest a mighty leader of deer.
असकृद्यतितो ह्येष हन्तुं व्याघ्र वने त्वया
This one has often tried to be slain by you, O tiger, in the forest.
युवा वै जवसंपन्नो बुद्धिशाली न शक्यते। मूषिकोऽस्य शयानस्य चरणौ भक्षयत्वयम्
He is young, swift, and intelligent; he cannot be overcome. Let the mouse eat his feet while he sleeps.
अथैनं भक्षितैः पादैर्व्याघ्रो गृह्णातु वै ततः। ततो वै भक्षयिष्यामः सर्वे मुदितमानसाः
Then, when his feet are eaten, let the tiger seize him; then we shall all eat him, our hearts rejoicing.
जम्बुकस्य तु तद्वाक्यं तथा चक्रः समाहिताः। मूषिकाभक्षितैः पादैर्मृगं व्याघ्रोऽवधीत्तदा
The jackal's words were followed accordingly by the group; the tiger then slew the deer whose feet had been eaten by the mouse.
दृष्ट्वैवाचेष्टमानं तु भूमौ मृगकलेवरम्। स्नात्वाऽऽगच्छत भद्रं वोरक्षामीत्याह जम्बुकः
Seeing the lifeless body of the deer lying on the ground, the jackal said, 'Having bathed, come back safely; I will guard it.'
शृगालवचनात्तेऽपि गताः सर्वे नदीं ततः। स चिन्तापरमो भूत्वा तस्थौ तत्रैव जम्बुकः
Because of the jackal's words, all of them went to the river; the jackal remained there, filled with deep thought.
अथाजगाम पूर्वं तु स्नात्वा व्याघ्रो महाबलः। ददर्श जम्बुकं चैव चिन्ताकुलितमानसम्
Then, having bathed first, the mighty tiger arrived and saw the jackal, whose mind was troubled with worry.
किं शोचसि महाप्राज्ञ त्वं नो बुद्धिमतां वरः। अशित्वा पिशितान्यद्य विहरिष्यामहे वयम्
The tiger said, 'Why do you grieve, O wise one? Are you not the best among the intelligent? After eating the flesh today, we shall roam about.'
शृणु मे त्वं महाबाहो यद्वाक्यं मूषिकोऽब्रवीत्। धिग्बलं मृगराजस्य मयाद्यायं मृगो हतः
'Listen to what the mouse said, O mighty-armed one,' replied the jackal. 'Shame on the lion's strength, for today this deer was killed by me.'
मद्बाहुबलमाश्रित्य तृप्तिमद्य गमिष्यति। तस्यैवं गर्जितं श्रुत्वा ततो भक्ष्यं न रोचये
'Relying on my own strength, I will be satisfied today.' Hearing such boasting, I no longer desire to eat the meat.'
ब्रवीति यदि स ह्येवं काले ह्यस्मि प्रबोधितः। स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित्य हनिष्येऽहं वनेचरान्
'If he truly speaks so, and I am now awakened at this time, relying on my own strength, I will kill the forest-dwellers.'
खादिष्ये तत्र मांसानि इत्युक्त्वा प्रस्थितोवनम्। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु मूषिकोऽप्याजगाम ह
'I will eat the flesh there,' he said, and set out into the forest. At that very moment, the mouse also arrived.