er examining the incomes and expenses of his subjects like
men repairing to a full-grown palmyra for drawing its juice.[356] He
should act equitably towards his own subjects; cause the crops of his
enemies to be crushed by the tread of his cavalry; march against foes
when his own wings have become strong; and observe all the sources of his
own weakness. He should proclaim the faults of his foes; crush those that
are their partisans; and collect wealth from outside like a person
plucking flowers from the woods. He should destroy those foremost of
monarchs that swell with might and stand with uplifted heads like
mountains, by seeking the shelter of unknown shades[357] and by
ambuscades and sudden attacks. Like the peacock in the season of rains,
he should enter his nightly quarters alone and unseen. Indeed, he should
enjoy, after the manner of the peacock, within his inner apartments, the
companionship of his wives. He should not put off his mail. He should
himself protect his own self, and avoid the nets spread out for him by
the spies and secret agents of his foes. He should also win over the
affections of the spies of his enemies, but extirpate them when
opportunity occurs. Like the peacocks the king should kill his powerful
and angry foes of crooked policy, and destroy their force and drive them
away from home. The king should also like the peacock do what is good to
him, and glean wisdom from everywhere as they collect insects even from
the forest. A wise and peacock-like king should thus rule his kingdom and
adopt a policy which is beneficial to him. By exercising his own
intelligence, he should settle what he is to do. By consulting with
others he should either abandon or confirm such resolution. Aided by that
intelligence which is sharpened by the scriptures, one can settle his
courses of action. In this consists the usefulness of the scriptures. By
practising the arts of conciliation, he should inspire confidence in the
hearts of his enemies. He should display his own strength. By judging of
different courses of action in his own mind he should, by exercising his
own intelligence, arrive at conclusions. The king should be well-versed
in the arts of conciliatory policy, he should be possessed of wisdom; and
should be able to do what should be done and avoid what should not. A
person of wisdom and deep intelligence does not stand in need of counsels
or instruction. A wise man who is possessed of intelligence like
Vri