Adhyaya 10

Sutra 1

मन्त्रिपुरोहितसखः सामान्येष्वधिकरणेषु स्थापयित्वामात्यानुपधाभिः शोधयेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१०.०१ ॥

Having appointed a counsellor, a chaplain (purohita), and a trusted companion in ordinary (non-sensitive) offices, the king should scrutinize the ministers through covert tests (upadhā).

Sutra 2

पुरोहितमयाज्ययाजनाध्यापने नियुक्तममृष्यमाणं राजावक्षिपेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१०.०२ ॥

The king should employ a resentful chaplain (i.e., one willing to act as a provocateur), assigning him to improper sacrificial officiation and instruction, so as to set the test in motion.

Sutra 3

स सत्त्रिभिः शपथपूर्वमेकैकममात्यमुपजापयेत् अधार्मिको अयं राजा साधु धार्मिकमन्यमस्य तत्कुलीनमपरुद्धं कुल्यमेकप्रग्रहं सामन्तमाटविकमौपपादिकं वा प्रतिपादयामः सर्वेषामेतद् रोचते कथं वा तव इति ॥ कZ_०१.१०.०३ ॥

Through sattri-agents, after administering an oath, he should privately sound out each minister: ‘This king is unrighteous. Let us install another—righteous—person: one of his own lineage, or a confined kinsman, or a collateral relative, or a single-pledge claimant, or a frontier vassal, or a forest chieftain, or even an adopted/introduced substitute. Everyone approves this; what about you?’

Sutra 4

प्रत्याख्याने शुचिः । इति धर्मोपधा ॥ कZ_०१.१०.०४ ॥

If he rejects (the proposal), he is clean; this is the ‘dharma-test’ (dharmopadhā).

Sutra 5

सेनापतिरसत्प्रग्रहेणावक्षिप्तः सत्त्रिभिरेकैकममात्यमुपजापयेत् लोभनीयेनार्थेन राजविनाशाय सर्वेषामेतद् रोचते कथं वा तव इति ॥ कZ_०१.१०.०५ ॥

Using sattri-agents, a commander (presented as having been trapped by an improper commitment) should privately solicit each minister: ‘For the king’s ruin, with tempting money, everyone is willing—what about you?’

Sutra 6

प्रत्याख्याने शुचिः । इत्यर्थोपधा ॥ कZ_०१.१०.०६ ॥

If he rejects (the offer), he is clean; this is the ‘wealth-test’ (arthopadhā).

Sutra 7

परिव्राजिका लब्धविश्वासान्तःपुरे कृतसत्कारा महामात्रमेकैकमुपजपेत् राजमहिषी त्वां कामयते कृतसमागमोपाया महानर्थश्च ते भविष्यति इति ॥ कZ_०१.१०.०७ ॥

A wandering ascetic woman, having gained trust and honors within the inner palace, should privately entice each high official: “The queen desires you. If you arrange a meeting, great gain will come to you.”

Sutra 8

प्रत्याख्याने शुचिः । इति कामोपधा ॥ कZ_०१.१०.०८ ॥

If he rejects (the proposition), he is clean; this is the “desire-test” (kāmopadhā).

Sutra 9

प्रहवणनिमित्तमेको अमात्यः सर्वानमात्यानावाहयेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१०.०९ ॥

On the pretext of an alarm or disturbance, one minister should summon all the ministers.

Sutra 10

तेनोद्वेगेन राजा तानवरुन्ध्यात् ॥ कZ_०१.१०.१० ॥

Using that resulting panic, the king should secure/detain them (i.e., place them under control).

Sutra 11

कापटिकश्चात्र पूर्वावरुद्धस्तेषामर्थमानावक्षिप्तमेकैकममात्यमुपजपेत् असत्प्रवृत्तो अयं राजा साध्वेनं हत्वान्यं प्रतिपादयामः सर्वेषामेतद् रोचते कथं वा तव इति ॥ कZ_०१.१०.११ ॥

Here, a provocateur (feigning loyalty) who has already been placed under restraint should secretly sound out each minister individually, saying: “This king acts unrighteously; let us rightly kill him and install another. This pleases everyone—what say you?”

Sutra 12

प्रत्याख्याने शुचिः । इति भयोपधा ॥ कZ_०१.१०.१२ ॥

If he rejects (the incitement), he is ‘pure’—this is the test by fear.

Sutra 13

तत्र धर्मोपधाशुद्धान्धर्मस्थीयकण्टकशोधनेषु कर्मसु स्थापयेत् अर्थोपधाशुद्धान् समाहर्तृसम्निधातृनिचयकर्मसु कामोपधा शुद्धान्बाह्याभ्यन्तरविहाररक्षासु भयोपधाशुद्धानासन्नकार्येषु राज्ञः ॥ कZ_०१.१०.१३ ॥

There, those found pure in the dharma-test should be placed in offices of justice and in removing ‘thorns’ (public nuisances/criminals). Those pure in the artha-test should be placed in revenue collection, treasury custody, and storehouse/accumulation functions. Those pure in the kāma-test should be employed in guarding the king’s external and internal pleasures and movements. Those pure in the fear-test should be assigned to the king’s close and urgent duties.

Sutra 14

सर्वोपधाशुद्धान्मन्त्रिणः कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०१.१०.१४ ॥

He should appoint as councillors only those who are pure in all the tests.

Sutra 15

सर्वत्राशुचीन् खनिद्रव्यहस्तिवनकर्मान्तेषु उपयोजयेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१०.१५ ॥

Those found impure should be employed in mines, material-handling work, elephant establishments, forests, and industrial/workshop operations.

Sutra 16

अधिकुर्याद् यथा शौचमित्याचार्या व्यवस्थिताः ॥ कZ_०१.१०.१६च्द् ॥

The teachers hold that authority should be advanced/entrusted in proportion to purity (tested integrity).

Sutra 17

शौचहेतोरमात्यानामेतत्कौटिल्यदर्शनम् ॥ कZ_०१.१०.१७च्द् ॥

This, in Kauṭilya’s view, is for the sake of ensuring the integrity of officials.

Sutra 18

कदाचिद्द् हि प्रदुष्टस्य नाधिगम्येत भेषजम् ॥ कZ_०१.१०.१८च्द् ॥

For one who has become corrupted, a remedy may sometimes not be obtainable (i.e., reform may no longer be possible).

Sutra 19

नागत्वान्तं निवर्तेत स्थिता सत्त्ववतां धृतौ ॥ कZ_०१.१०.१९च्द् ॥

One does not turn back from the end-state one has reached; the steadfastness of the courageous/virtuous remains firm.

Sutra 20

शौचाशौचममात्यानां राजा मार्गेत सत्त्रिभिः ॥ कZ_०१.१०.२०च्द् ॥

The king should ascertain the purity or impurity (integrity or corruption) of ministers by means of secret agents (sattra/sattrin).