Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/457

danger doth not come so long only shalt thou act as if thou art afraid, But when it hath overtaken thee, thou must grapple with it courageously. He who trusteth in a foe who hath been brought under subjection by force, summoneth his own death as a she-mule by her act of conception. Thou shouldst always reckon the act that is future as already arrived (and concert measures for meeting it), else, from want of calmness caused by haste, thou mayst even overlook an important point in meeting it when it is before thee. A person desirous of prosperity should always exert with prudence adapting his measures to time and place. He should also act with an eye to destiny as capable of being regulated by mantras and sacrificial rites, and to virtue, wealth, and pleasure. It is well-known that time and place (if taken into consideration) always produce the greatest good. If the foe is insignificant, he should not yet be despised, for he may soon grow like a palm tree extending its roots, or like a spark of fire in the deep woods that may soon flame up into an extensive conflagration. As a little fire gradually fed with faggots soon becometh capable of consuming even the biggest blocks, so the person who increaseth his power by making alliances and friendships soon becometh capable of subjugating even the most formidable foe. The hope thou givest unto thy foe should be long deferred int he filing; and when the time cometh for its fulfilment, invent some pretext for deferring it still. Let that pretext be shown as founded upon some reason, and let that reason itself be made to appear as founded on some other reason. Kings should, in the matter of destroying their foes, ever resemble razors in every particular: unpitying as these are sharp, hiding their intents as these are concealed in their leathern cases, striking when the opportunity cometh as these are used on proper occasions, sweeping off their foes with all allies and dependents as these shave the head or the chin without leaving a single hair. O thou supporter of the dignity of the Kurus, bearing thyself towards the Pandavas and others also as policy dictateth, act in such a way that thou mayst not have to grieve in future. Well do I know that thou art endued with every blessing, and