by Visnu Sarma
The hunter looked around, rubbed his eyes and almost believed that some magic was afoot. ‘What on earth is happening?’ he exclaimed in utter disappointment and hurried to the spot where he had left the tortoise. And what did he see there but the cords with which he had tied the tortoise up, all cut into small pieces, each a finger’s length. Seeing that the tortoise had vanished like some sorcerer or saint, he looked at his own body, fearful that something strange might happen to his person. With a mind filled with deep misgivings, he hurried home, all the while casting troubled glances in every direction.
Meanwhile the four friends, free from all dangers to their persons gathered together once again and lived happily in mutual friendship and affection feeling that they had been granted a fresh lease of life.
Therefore, I say to you:
(198) If creatures going on all fours display
Such friendship welded through worldly wisdom,
what wonder then that men endowed
with so fine an intelligence should do likewise.
And now we come to the end of Book Two entitled the Winning of Friends, of which this is the opening verse:
(199) Lacking resources, destitute of wealth,
wise men possessed of common sense and learning
are quick to accomplish their desired aims
as the crow and mole, the deer and tortoise did.
BOOK III
Of Crows and Owls
And now begins the third book entitled Of Crows and Owls that treats of peace, war and other matters.1 This is the opening verse.
(1) Trust not a former enemy
who comes professing amity;
Mark! The cave thronged by owls was burned
by deadly fire the crows kindled.
‘Oh! And how was that?’ asked the princes. And Viṣṇu Śarma began his tale Of Crows and Owls and their bitter enmity.
In the southern land there was a city named Earth Support.2 Near the city grew a huge, many-branching banyan tree in which Cloud Hue,3 King of Crows, nested, attended by hundreds of crow-retainers. He spent all his time there because that was home.
Now, another king, a great owl named Foe Crusher4 lived secure in a fortress in a mountain cave, and he had countless numbers of owls serving him. This king of owls obsessed by some ancient enmity, invariably killed any crow that crossed his path as he made his rounds in that region. As time went by, a ring of dead crows encircled the tree on account of his daily forays. Things happen that way: for as it is wisely observed:
(2) Whoever through sheer indifference
disregards his foe, or a disease,
and lets them move unchecked
will, in no time, meet his end.
One day, Cloud Hue summoned his ministers of state and addressed them.
‘Honourable gentlemen,’ he began, ‘we have an enemy whose power cannot be denied—a person of determination—and he knows how to choose his time too. For he comes at nightfall, each day, and wreaks havoc in our ranks. Now how do we retaliate? The truth is that we cannot see at night. And as we haven’t a clue to the location of his fortress, we cannot go there during the day to attack him. Tell me, which of the following options should we make use of: start negotiations, or hostilities; begin a retreat or make a stand; seek alliance or sow discord in his ranks?’5
Then the ministers answered, ‘Your Majesty has spoken wisely in posing this question. As it is wisely observed:
(3) Even if his opinion is unsolicited,
a minister should speak his mind at such times;
and when his advice is specially sought
it should be for the good of the king…
(4) As for him who asked for advice
refrains from speaking what is right
and in the royal interests as well,
who offers soothing words instead, regard him
as an enemy in minister’s guise.
‘It is important, Your Majesty, that we confer immediately in private.’
Cloud Hue then began consulting with each one of his ministers whose names were, Live Again, Live Well, Live Along, Live On and Live Long.6
First the king asked Live Again, ‘Dear friend, in the circumstances, what do you think we should do?’
To this Live Again replied, ‘My lord; it is not wise to start hostilities against a powerful enemy. The enemy is not only powerful but one who knows when to strike. It is best to be conciliatory. For it is wisely said:
(5) As streams do not flow against the current,
so too the prosperity of the noble
who for the moment bow before
one more powerful, will not reverse its course.
‘Moreover:
(6) While the powerful foe, just, virtuous,
rich in kin and in resources,
and victorious in many battles
is a worthy ally indeed;
(7) Make peace even with the vilest
When your life is in danger;
once life is well protected,
the whole realm becomes secure.
‘And further:
(8) He who gains a firm alliance
with the victor of many wars
will soon find his other foes come to heel,
awed into submission by his allies’ power.
(9) Desire to make peace even with your equals;
for victory is never a certainty;
better not take risks,
counsels the sage, Brhaspati—
(10) Victory is ever uncertain, even
when warriors are evenly matched.
Try first the other three expedients7
before you opt for hostilities.
(11) Blinded by wounded pride,
reluctant to sue for peace,
a man may be destroyed even by an equal;
unable to make a stand
he comes apart
like an unbaked clay pot.
(12) Land, friends, gold:
these are the three fruits of war;
if not even one of these is on the cards,
then, why in God’s name
should anyone go to war.
(13) Digging into a mole’s burrow
all filled with bits of rock,
what does a lion get for his pains
but broken claws—at best a mouse.
(14) Where no gain may be expected,
and only the fury of fighting is foreseen,
why start a war on your own
and carry it on at any cost?
(15) If a stronger enemy assails you,
better bend like the reed by the stream.
Do not rear like an angry snake
if unremitting prosperity is what you seek.
(16) Following the lowly manner of the reed
a man gains great prosperity in time.
Adopting the overbearing manner of the snake,
he is simply courting death.
(17) Like the tortoise a wise man will retreat
into his shell and suffer cruel blows;
when the time is ripe he will rear up
ready to strike like a deadly serpent.
(18) I know of no test that lays down
you ought to fight a powerful foe.
A rain cloud never moves ahead
if contrary winds prevail.’
Having listened to this view, Cloud Hue turned to Live Well and asked, ‘Gracious sir, let me have your opinion now.’
‘Your Majesty,’ replied Live Well, ‘I am afraid this counsel does not appeal to me. In as much as the enemy is cruel, rapacious and unscrupulous, the prospect of peace with him should definitely not be entertained. For it is said:
(19) At no cost should peace be proposed
with one devoid of truth and justice;
however binding the agreement you make,
inborn viciousness will in no time change his course.
‘Therefore, my counsel is to go to war with the enemy, for it has been said:
false and lazy,
unprepared and cowardly
and a blundering fool
who despises warriors to boot,
why, that is quite easy.
‘Another point that we ought to remember is, that he has humiliated us badly. Now, if we propose peace talks with him, he will be so exasperated that he is bound to resort to further violence. As the saying goes:
(21) When it is clear a foe can be contained
only by recourse to the final expedient,8
conciliation proves a disservice:
Would a wise man douse with water
the initial stages of a fever
that can only be sweated out?
(22) Conciliation merely serves to further inflame
the man sputtering with violent rage;
drops of water
suddenly falling on boiling butter
only makes it spatter.
‘And to consider what my honourable friend here has just expressed, that the enemy is powerful… that is hardly a worthwhile reason.
(23) A smaller person of impetuous energy
may slay the larger and gain sovereignty,
as the lion the lordly tusker.
‘Again:
(24) Where force cannot overpower a foe,
guile might do the trick,
just as Kīćaka was overthrown
by Bhīma dressed in women’s clothes.
‘Then again:
(25) Foes crumble before a king
who wields like Death a cruel rod.
But foes are all quick to fall upon
a king by compassion ruled.
(26) If a man’s valour fades
at the sight of others’ heroic valour;
he was born in vain indeed,
born only to rob his mother of her youth
(27) Royal Glory whose limbs are unadorned,
with the bright saffron of enemy blood,
though dearly loved does not bring high-souled men
the taste of that pleasure they crave for.
(28) What glory can a monarch whose kingdom
is not drenched with blood of foes
and tears of their wailing wives
truely boast of!’
After listening to this view expressed by Live Well, the King of Crows next turned to Live Along. ‘Gracious friend,’ he said, ‘now it is your turn to present your counsel.’
And Live Along replied: ‘Your Majesty! I fear the enemy is vicious; he is superior in strength as well and unscrupulous in behaviour. Neither war nor peace ought to be considered in this situation. Our only option is withdrawal; moving out. As the saying goes:
(29) Not peace, not war, neither course is right
when facing an enemy power-drunk
and vicious, who lacks all restraint;
nothing will work except withdrawal.
(30) Moving out takes two forms; retreat,
or flight, fearing for one’s life, that’s one;
marching forwards thirsting for victory
that’s the other.
(31) For a monarch exceedingly valorous
and set on conquest, December or April
are deemed the best months to set out
marching into an enemy’s land.
(32) But all times are deemed favourable
for a surprise attack on a foe
dogged by disaster and vulnerable
the chinks in his armour clearly showing.
(33) Having first made his own realm secure,
well-guarded by warriors loyal and valorous,
a king might then march against another
once his trusted spies are in right places.
(34) Our present plight calls for withdrawal, O King!
No war, no, nor peace, is now possible
with a foe both strong and evil-minded.
‘Furthermore, the texts state quite clearly that withdrawal should be effected with due regard to cause and effect. As the proverb says:
(35) A ram draws back to butt more fiercely;
the Lord of Beasts first crouches in cold fury
before he makes his deadiy spring.
Hiding enmity deep within their hearts,
keeping secret their counsel and their moves,
the wise wait biding their time
and endure whatever happens to them meantime.
‘Then again:
(36) Faced by a powerful foe
the king who leaves his realm,
lives to see another day
and rule the earth as Yudhiṣṭhira9 did.
‘Again:
(37) A weak king driven by overweening pride
who sets out to fight a powerful foe
is in truth doing his enemy’s bidding
while bringing his own line to an end.
‘Pressed hard as you are, my lord, at this point by a powerful foe, I suggest that this is a time for retreat, not for proposing peace or engaging in war.’
Having listened to these words of Minister Live Along, the King of Crows now turned to Live On and said, ‘Gracious sir; come, now give us your advice on this matter.’
And the minister replied, ‘Well, my lord; peace, war, retreat, none of these policies appeal to me; especially the last, the policy of retreat. For:
(38) At home in his own world a crocodile
can seize and hold a lordly elephant;
but once dislodged from his habitat
even a dog can beat him hollow.
‘Once again:
(39) Attacked by a powerful foe, a monarch
to his fortress Should withdraw;
yet, persevere in his efforts
and stationed within send calls of distress
to friends to come to his aid.
(40) Were a king to abandon his realm
panic-stricken at the sound
of enemy approach, there is not a hope
he can ever enter it again.
(41) One man entrenched in his stronghold
can singly fight a hundred men,
each a powerful foe; therefore
a man should never give up his stronghold.
(42&43) Making his stronghold secure with deep moat
and ramparts bristling with machines of war;10
well-stocked with arrows and other weapons,
with supplies and transport and reinforcements;
laying in a goodly store of provisions,
he should wait within, ready, resolved to fight.
If he lives he gains great glory;
dead, he goes to Paradise.
‘It is also said:
(44) As shrubs growing together
in close-knit clumps stay unscathed
though buffeted by contrary winds,
so too by banding together
the weak are unassailable
by however powerful a foe.
(45&46) A lone tree firmly rooted,
and mighty, is yet no match
even for a moderate wind;
whereas trees densely packed in groves,
firmly rooted, stand tall
even when swift winds rip into them,
because they stand together.
(47) Likewise a lone man
heroic in the extreme
is regarded easy prey
by foes who soon hem him in.’
Having listened to these views, King Cloud Hue now turned to Live Long and said, ‘Worthy sir, pray let us now have your opinion.’
To which the minister replied, saying, ‘Well, my lord, of all the six policy-expedients laid down, forming an alliance seems to be what is called for in the situation. Therefore, let us scout around for a suitable alliance. As the saying goes:
(48) A man may be able and skilled;
he may be bold, energetic;
but if he lacks friends,
what can he achieve?
Mark how a fire
kindled in a windless spot
soon dies down on its own.
‘Therefore my lord, you should stay put right here and seek a powerful ally whose strength could offset the enemy’s. If however you abandon your position and go elsewhere then no one is going to throw even a friendly word your way. You know the saying:
(49) The wind is friend to the forest fire indeed;
but the same wind puts out the flame of the lamp.
Who in the world honours one
insignificant and weak?
‘It is not the absolute rule however, that only those powerful are to be sought out as allies. Alliances with those weak can also provide one security. As the saying goes:
(50) As a slender, swaying bamboo
that grows in a thicket,
encircled by other bamboos
is hard to uproot,
so too a monarch
however powerless he may be.
‘So much the better if you find an ally truly great and noble. As it is observed:
(51) Who is not ennobled
by the society of the eminent?
a drop of water on a lotus-leaf
takes on the lustre of a pearl.
‘Therefore, my lord, nothing but a proper alliance can possibly offset our enemy’s power; so let us go for an alliance. This is my advice.’
Thus advised, Cloud Hue now turned to an elder statesman, an ancient counsellor named Live Firm who had for a long time served as minister to his father and who was farseeing, and who possessed complete mastery of the texts on the political sciences. Bowing low, Cloud Hue addressed him as follows : ‘Father,’ he began, ‘I solicited my ministers to offer their opinions on this matter in your presence so that several points of view may be put forward; and so that having listened to all the options available, you could advise me as to the best possible course. So now, instruct me in the proper expedients to follow.’
And Live Firm replied, ‘Whatever your ministers have proposed here, my son, they have done so in complete conformity with the teaching of the texts on polity. Each, however, is appropriate for its own good time. But the present seems to be a time to practise double-dealing as the proverb puts it:
(52) Towards an enemy powerful and evil
always harbour deep distrust;
now offering peace, then again making war,
adopting a policy of duplicity.
‘Thus, by offering a tempting bait and thereby instilling confidence in him while remaining cautious oneself, the enemy can be easily extirpated. As we have heard: