Arthashastra - Sovereign Control and Internal Security

Devanagari

राजा राज्यमिति प्रकृतिसंक्षेपः ॥
राज्ञोऽभ्यन्तरो बाह्यो वा कोप इति ॥
अहिभयादभ्यन्तरः कोपो बाह्यकोपात्पापीयान् अन्तरमात्यकोपश्चान्तःकोपात् ॥
तस्मात्कोशदण्डशक्तिमात्मसंस्थां कुर्वीता ॥

Transliteration

rājā rājyam-iti prakṛti-saṃkṣepaḥ ||
rājño’bhyantaro bāhyo vā kopa iti ||
ahibhayād-abhyantaraḥ kopo bāhyakopāt-pāpīyān antaramātyakopaścāntaḥkopāt ||
tasmāt-kośa-daṇḍa-śaktim-ātmasaṃsthāṃ kurvīta ||

Translation

The Ruler is the State (8.2.01): “The King is the State”—this is the summary of the constituent elements.

Types of Revolt (8.2.02): Disaffection (revolt) against the king is either internal (Abhyantara) or external (Bāhya).

The Snake in the House (8.2.03): Internal revolt is more dangerous than external revolt, like the fear of a snake (in one’s house). Furthermore, the revolt of the inner ministers is even worse than a general internal revolt.

Personal Control (8.2.04): Therefore, the ruler should keep the power of the Treasury (Kosha) and the Army (Danda) under his own personal control.

Analysis

Kautilya argues that the ruler is the “head” that coordinates all other limbs. If you are ruling your life, you are the summary of your habits. Your health, money, and skills are just reflections of your central “Will” (Swami).

---

Index: index