Counsel is the state’s ignition key; secrecy is the lock—without it, deliberation becomes a weapon for the enemy. Mantra begins every enterprise; disclosure destroys advantage. Power rests on asymmetry: hide your plans and uncover others’. Secure the venue by deliberating only in closed/covered places. Secure the people by admitting only appointed participants and enforcing access control. Secure the signals by managing iṅgita (behavioral cues) and ākāra (appearance) of envoys, ministers, and the king. Proactively counter mantrabheda to preserve initiative, legitimacy, and administrative effectiveness.
Sutra 1
कृतस्वपक्षपरपक्षोपग्रहः कार्यारम्भांश्चिन्तयेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०१ ॥
After securing support for his own side and undermining or neutralizing the opposing side, he should deliberate on initiating undertakings.
Sutra 2
मन्त्रपूर्वाः सर्वारम्भाः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०२ ॥
All undertakings must be preceded by counsel (deliberation).
Sutra 3
तदुद्देशः संवृतः कथानामनिह्श्रावी पक्षिभिरप्यनालोक्यः स्यात् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०३ ॥
The place for that counsel should be enclosed, not allowing sound to carry; it should be such that even birds cannot observe it.
Sutra 4
श्रूयते हि शुकसारिकाभिर्मन्त्रो भिन्नः श्वभिरप्यन्यैश्च तिर्यग्योनिभिरिति ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०४ ॥
For it is said that counsel has been leaked by parrots and mynas—and even by dogs and other animals.
Sutra 5
तस्मान्मन्त्रोद्देशमनायुक्तो नोपगच्छेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०५ ॥
Therefore, no unauthorized person should approach the place of counsel.
Sutra 6
उच्छिद्येत मन्त्रभेदी ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०६ ॥
A betrayer of counsel should be eliminated (removed decisively).
Sutra 7
मन्त्रभेदो हि दूतामात्यस्वामिनामिङ्गिताकाराभ्याम् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०७ ॥
For the leakage of counsel occurs through the gestures and outward expressions of envoys, ministers, and the ruler.
Sutra 8
इङ्गितमन्यथावृत्तिः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०८ ॥
‘Gesture/indication’ is a deviation in one’s usual behavior.
Sutra 9
आकृतिग्रहणमाकारः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.०९ ॥
‘Outward expression/appearance’ is the apprehension (reading) of one’s form and presentation.
Sutra 19
प्रत्यक्षपरोक्षानुमेया हि राजवृत्तिः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.१९ ॥
Royal conduct (state policy and action) is to be determined through direct observation, indirect reports, and inference.
Sutra 20
अनुपलब्धस्य ज्ञानमुपलब्धस्य निश्चितबलाधानमर्थद्वैधस्य संशयच्छेदनमेकदेशदृष्टस्य शेषोपलब्धिरिति मन्त्रिसाध्यमेतत् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.२० ॥
This is what ministers can achieve: gaining knowledge of what is not yet known; strengthening with certainty what is already known; cutting doubt where matters appear double/ambiguous; and completing the remainder when only a part has been seen.
Sutra 21
तस्माद्बुद्धिवृद्धैः सार्धमध्यासीत मन्त्रम् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.२१ ॥
Therefore, he should deliberate in council together with those advanced in judgement.
Sutra 22
बालस्याप्यर्थवद्वाक्यमुपयुञ्जीत पण्डितः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.२२च्द् ॥
A wise person should make use of meaningful counsel even if it comes from a child.
Sutra 23
एतन्मन्त्रज्ञानं नैतन्मन्त्ररक्षणमिति पाराशराः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.२३ ॥
The Parāśaras say: “This is knowledge of counsel; this is not protection of counsel (i.e., secrecy).”
Sutra 24
यदस्य कार्यमभिप्रेतं तत्प्रतिरूपकं मन्त्रिणः पृच्छेत्कार्यमिदमेवमासीत् एवं वा यदि भवेत्तत्कथं कर्तव्यमिति ॥ कZ_०१.१५.२४ ॥
Whatever action he intends, he should ask ministers about a comparable hypothetical: “A matter like this has occurred (or might occur in this way); how should it be handled?”
Sutra 25
ते यथा ब्रूयुस्तत्कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.२५ ॥
He should act in accordance with what they advise.
Sutra 26
एवं मन्त्रोपलब्धिः संवृतिश्च भवति इति ॥ कZ_०१.१५.२६ ॥
Thus, both effective acquisition of counsel and confidentiality are achieved.
Sutra 27
नेति पिशुनः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.२७ ॥
Piśuna says: “No.”
Sutra 28
मन्त्रिणो हि व्यवहितमर्थं वृत्तमवृत्तं वा पृष्टा अनादरेण ब्रुवन्ति प्रकाशयन्ति वा ॥ कZ_०१.१५.२८ ॥
For ministers, when questioned about a matter kept at a distance (i.e., confidential/indirectly handled)—whether it has occurred or not—may, out of carelessness, speak of it or even disclose it.
Sutra 29
स दोषः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.२९ ॥
That is the fault.
Sutra 30
तस्मात्कर्मसु ये येष्वभिप्रेतास्तैः सह मन्त्रयेत ॥ कZ_०१.१५.३० ॥
Therefore, in each undertaking, he should deliberate only with those who are intended (i.e., directly concerned/assigned) for those tasks.
Sutra 31
तैर्मन्त्रयमाणो हि मन्त्रसिद्धिं गुप्तिं च लभते इति ॥ कZ_०१.१५.३१ ॥
For, by deliberating with them, he attains both successful counsel (effective decision) and secrecy—so it is said.
Sutra 32
नेति कौटिल्यः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.३२ ॥
No, says Kautilya.
Sutra 33
अनवस्था ह्येषा ॥ कZ_०१.१५.३३ ॥
For this leads to indeterminacy/instability (no settled procedure).
Sutra 34
मन्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिश्चतुर्भिर्वा सह मन्त्रयेत ॥ कZ_०१.१५.३४ ॥
He should deliberate with three or four ministers.
Sutra 35
मन्त्रयमाणो ह्येकेनार्थकृच्छ्रेषु निश्चयं नाधिगच्छेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.३५ ॥
For, when deliberating with only one person, he would not reach firm determination in difficult affairs.
Sutra 36
एकश्च मन्त्री यथेष्टमनवग्रहश्चरति ॥ कZ_०१.१५.३६ ॥
And a lone minister acts as he pleases, unchecked.
Sutra 37
द्वाभ्यां मन्त्रयमाणो द्वाभ्यां संहताभ्यामवगृह्यते विगृहीताभ्यां विनाश्यते ॥ कZ_०१.१५.३७ ॥
When deliberating with two, if the two are united they can dominate or hold him in check; if they are divided, he is ruined (through faction, sabotage, or contradictory counsel).
Sutra 38
तत्त्रिषु चतुषु वा कृच्छ्रेणोपपद्यते ॥ कZ_०१.१५.३८ ॥
That (effective counsel/decision) is attainable only with difficulty when conducted with three or four (persons).
Sutra 39
महादोषमुपपन्नं तु भवति ॥ कZ_०१.१५.३९ ॥
But it results in a grave defect (i.e., a serious fault/weakness).
Sutra 40
ततः परेषु कृच्छ्रेणार्थनिश्चयो गम्यते मन्त्रो वा रक्ष्यते ॥ कZ_०१.१५.४० ॥
Therefore, among others (i.e., with additional persons), either a firm determination of the objective is reached with difficulty, or the counsel itself is (only with difficulty) kept protected.
Sutra 41
देशकालकार्यवशेन त्वेकेन सह द्वाभ्यामेको वा यथासामर्थ्यं मन्त्रयेत ॥ कZ_०१.१५.४१ ॥
But depending on place, time, and the nature of the task, he should deliberate according to capacity either with one person, or with two; or even alone.
Sutra 42
कर्मणामारम्भोपायः पुरुषद्रव्यसम्पद्देशकालविभागो विनिपातप्रतीकारः कार्यसिद्धिरिति पञ्चाङ्गो मन्त्रः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.४२ ॥
Counsel is five-limbed: (1) the means to commence actions, (2) adequacy of personnel and resources, (3) allocation by place and time, (4) countermeasures against mishaps, and (5) accomplishment of the objective.
Sutra 43
तानेकैकशः पृच्छेत्समस्तांश्च ॥ कZ_०१.१५.४३ ॥
He should question them individually and also collectively.
Sutra 44
हेतुभिश्चैषां मतिप्रविवेकान्विद्यात् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.४४ ॥
And by their reasons, he should discern the soundness and discrimination of their judgment.
Sutra 45
अवाप्तार्थः कालं नातिक्रामयेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.४५ ॥
Having secured the objective, he should not let time be exceeded (i.e., should act without delay).
Sutra 46
न दीर्घकालं मन्त्रयेत न तेषां पक्षीयैर्येषामपकुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.४६ ॥
He should not deliberate for a long time; and he should not deliberate with partisans of those whom he intends to harm (or act against).
Sutra 47
मन्त्रिपरिषदं द्वादशामात्यान् कुर्वीत इति मानवाः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.४७ ॥
The Mānavas say: one should constitute a council of ministers consisting of twelve officials.
Sutra 48
षोडश इति बार्हस्पत्याः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.४८ ॥
The followers of Bṛhaspati say: the council should be sixteen (members).
Sutra 49
विंशतिमित्यौशनसाः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.४९ ॥
The followers of Uśanas say: it should be twenty (members).
Sutra 50
यथासामर्थ्यमिति कौटिल्यः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५० ॥
Kauṭilya says: (appoint) according to capability and practical capacity.
Sutra 51
ते ह्यस्य स्वपक्षं परपक्षं च चिन्तयेयुः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५१ ॥
For they should deliberate on his own side and the opposing side (i.e., strengths, weaknesses, and intentions).
Sutra 52
अकृतारम्भमारब्धानुष्ठानमनुष्ठितविशेषं नियोगसम्पदं च कर्मणां कुर्युः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५२ ॥
They should manage state tasks by: (i) initiating what has not been started, (ii) carrying through what has been undertaken, (iii) completing what remains unfinished in detail, and (iv) ensuring the fitness and adequacy of assignments (right person, right mandate, right resources).
Sutra 53
आसन्नैः सह कर्माणि पश्येत् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५३ ॥
With those who are nearby (close advisers), he should review and inspect affairs directly.
Sutra 54
अनासन्नैः सह पत्त्रसम्प्रेषणेन मन्त्रयेत ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५४ ॥
With those not nearby (distant officials), he should deliberate through the dispatch of written messages.
Sutra 55
इन्द्रस्य हि मन्त्रिपरिषदृषीणां सहस्रम् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५५ ॥
For Indra is said to have a thousand seer-councillors in his ministerial council.
Sutra 56
स तच्चक्षुः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५६ ॥
That (council) is his eye.
Sutra 57
तस्मादिमं द्व्यक्षं सहस्राक्षमाहुः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५७ ॥
Therefore, though he has two eyes, they call him ‘thousand‑eyed’.
Sutra 58
आत्ययिके कार्ये मन्त्रिणो मन्त्रिपरिषदं चाहूय ब्रूयात् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५८ ॥
In an emergency matter, he should summon the ministers and the council of ministers and lay the issue before them.
Sutra 59
तत्र यद्भूयिष्ठा ब्रूयुः कार्यसिद्धिकरं वा तत्कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०१.१५.५९ ॥
There, he should do what the majority recommend—or (alternatively) what is most conducive to accomplishing the task.
Sutra 60
गूहेत्कूर्मेवाङ्गानि यत्स्याद्विवृतमात्मनः ॥ कZ_०१.१५.६०च्द् ॥
He should conceal, like a tortoise its limbs, whatever of himself stands exposed.
Sutra 61
एवमश्रुतशास्त्रार्थो न मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति ॥ कZ_०१.१५.६१च्द् ॥
Likewise, one who has not learned the meaning of the treatises is not fit to hear the state counsel (mantra).
Stable execution of state undertakings: enemies cannot preempt plans, factions cannot sabotage policy, and the king’s initiatives mature from counsel to action without panic or opportunistic resistance—thus protecting both security and prosperity.
Ucchidyeta mantrabhedī— the leaker is to be eliminated/removed (severe punishment), alongside preventative sanctions: exclusion from counsel, tight access control, and protective custody/guarding of appointed personnel to stop recurrence.