Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/349

Rh bis ablutions. And seeing the wolt come, the jackal said unto him.The king of the beasts bath been angry with thee! Evil is certain to overtake thee! He is expected here with his wife. Do as thou pleasest! Thus was the wolf also, fond of animal flesh, got rid of by the jackal. And the wolf fled, contracting his body into the smallest dimensions. It was then that the mongoose came. And, o king the jackal, seeing him come, said. By the might of my arm bave I defeated the others who have already fled. Fight with me first and then eat of this flesh as you please ! The mongoose replied, When, indeed, the tiger, the wolf, and the intelligent mouse have all been defeated by thee, heroes as they are, thou seemest to be a greater hero still 1 I do not desire to fight with thee --Saying this, the mongoose also went away.'

"Kanika continued.-When they all had thus left the place, the Jackal, well-pleased with the success of his policy, alone ate up that flesh. If kings always act in this way, they can be happy. Thus should the timid by exciting their fears, the courageous by the arts of conciliation, the coveto us by gift of wealth, and equals and inferiors by exhibition of prowess be brought under thy sway. Besides all this, o king, that I have said, listen now to something else that I say.

"Kanika continued. -- 'If thy son, friend, brother, father, or even the spiritual preceptor, anyone becometh thy foe, thou shouldst, if desirous of prosperity, slay bin without scruples. By curses and incantations, by gift of wealth, by poison, or by deception, the foe should be slain. He should never be neglected from disdain. It both the parties be equal and success uncertain, then he that acteth with deligence growth in prosperity. If the spiritual preceptor himself be vain, ignorant of what should be done and what left undone, and vicious in his ways, even he should be chastised. If thou art angry. show thyself as it thou art not so, speaking even then with a smile on thy lips. Never reprove any one with indications of anger (in thy speech). And O. Bharata, speak soft words before thou smiteth and even while thou art smithing! After the smiting is over, pity the victim, and grieve for him, and even shed tears. Comforting thy foe by conciliation, by gift of wealth, and smooth behaviour, thou must smite him when he walketh not aright. Thou shouldst equally smite the beinous offender who liveth by the practice of virtue, for the garb of virtue simply covereth his offences like black clouds covering the mountains. Thou shouldst burn the house of that person whom thou punishest with death. And thou shouldst never permit beggars and atheists and thieves to dwell in thy kingdom. By a sudden sally or pitched battle by poison or by corrupting his allies, by gift of wealth, by any means in thy power, thou shouldst destroy thy foe. Thou mayest act with the greatest cruelty. Thou shouldst make thy