विगृहीतश्चेत्परप्रकृतयो लुब्धक्षीणापचरिता विग्रहोद्विग्ना वा मां नोपगच्छन्ति इति पश्येज्ज्यायानपि संधीयेत विग्रहोद्वेगं वा शमयेत् ॥ कZ_०७.३.१४ ॥
vigṛhītaś cet paraprakṛtayo lubdhakṣīṇāpacaritā vigrahodvignā vā māṃ nopagacchanti iti paśyej jyāyān api saṃdhīyeta vigrahodvegaṃ vā śamayet
If, while at war, he observes that the rival’s constituents—greedy, depleted, or alienated—still do not come over to him because they are frightened by the conflict, then he should make peace even with a stronger opponent, or else calm the panic caused by the war.
Either pivot to a treaty with a stronger adversary if war is blocking political gains, or adjust conduct/propaganda to reduce fear so that defections and cooperation become possible.