शून्यमूलास्वामिसंहतयोः शून्यमूलं कृतपौरजानपदारक्षं सर्वसंदोहेन युध्येत नास्वामिसंहतं राजसेनापतिहीनम् ॥ कZ_०८.५.१७ ॥
śūnyamūlāsvāmisaṃhatayoḥ śūnyamūlaṃ kṛtapaurajānapadārakṣaṃ sarvasaṃdohena yudhyeta nāsvāmisaṃhataṃ rājasenāpatihīnam
Between a polity that is rootless and one that is consolidated but without a master, one should fight the rootless one—after securing the city and countryside and by assembling all forces; one should not fight a consolidated force that is leaderless, lacking the king and commander (since it can behave unpredictably and is hard to settle through a single decision-point).
Secure internal order—protect the urban center and countryside—so war does not create openings for revolt, crime, or enemy agents.