Chapter 138

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hast, O bull of Bharata’s race, said that thatintelligence which provides against the future, as well as that which canmeet present emergencies, is everywhere superior, while procrastinationbrings about destruction. I desire, O grandsire, to hear of that superiorintelligence aided by which a king, conversant with the scriptures andwell versed with morality and profit, may not be stupefied even whensurrounded by many foes. I ask thee this, O chief of Kuru’s race! Itbehoveth thee to discourse to me on I his. I desire to hear everything,comfortable to what has been laid down in the scriptures, about themanner in which a king should conduct himself when he is assailed by manyfoes. When a king falls into distress, a large number of foes, provokedby his past acts, range themselves against him and seek to vanquish him.How may, a king, weak and alone, succeed in holding up his head when heis challenged on all sides by many powerful kings leagued together? Howdoes a king at such times make friends and foes? How should he, O bull ofBharata’s race, behave at such a time towards both friends and foes? Whenthose that have indications of friends really become his foes, whatshould the king then do if he is to obtain happiness? With whom should hemake war and with whom should he make peace? Even if he be strong, howshould he behave in the midst of foes? O scorcher of foes, this I regardto be the highest of all questions connected with the discharge of kinglyduties. There are few men for listening to the answer of this questionand none to answer it save Santanu’s son, Bhishma, firmly wedded to truthand having all his senses under control. O thou that art highly blessedreflect upon it and discourse to me on it!’

“Bhishma said, ‘O Yudhishthira, this question is certainly worthy ofthee. Its answer is fraught with great happiness. Listen to me, O son, asI declare to thee, O Bharata, all the duties generally known that shouldbe practised in seasons of distress. A foe becomes a friend and a friendalso becomes a foe. The course of human actions, through the combinationof circumstances, becomes very uncertain. As regards, therefore, whatshould be done and what should not, it is necessary that paying heed tothe requirements of time and place, one should either trust one’s foes ormake war. One should, even exerting, one’s self to one’s best, makefriends with men of intelligence and knowledge that desire one’s welfare.One should make peace with even one’s foes, when, O Bharata, one’s lifecannot otherwise be saved. That foolish man who never makes peace withfoes, never succeeds in winning any gain or acquiring any of those fruitsfor which others endeavour. He again who makes peace with foes andquarrels with even friends after a full consideration of circumstances,succeeds in obtaining great fruits. In this connection is cited the oldstory of the discourse between a cat and a mouse at the foot of a banian.’

“Bhishma continued, ‘There was a large banian in the midst of anextensive forest. Covered with many kinds of creepers, it was the resortof diverse kinds of birds. It had a large trunk from which numerousbranches extended in all directions. Delightful to look at, the shade itafforded was very refreshing. It stood in the midst of the forest, andanimals of diverse species lived on it. A mouse of great wisdom, namedPalita, lived at the foot of that tree, having made a hole there with ahundred outlets. On the branches of the tree there lived a cat, of thename of Lomasa, in great happiness, daily devouring a large number ofbirds. Some time after, a Chandala came into the forest and built a hutfor himself. Every evening after sunset he spread his traps. Indeed,spreading his nets made of leathern strings he went back to his hut, andhappily passing the night in sleep, returned to the spot at the dawn ofday. Diverse kinds of animals fell into his traps every night. And it sohappened that one day the cat, in a moment of heedlessness, was caught inthe snare. O thou of great wisdom, when his foe the cat who was at alltimes an enemy of the mouse species was thus caught in the net, the mousePalita came out of his hole and began to rove about fearlessly. Whiletrustfully roving through the forest in search of food, the mouse after alittle while saw the meat (that the Chandala had spread there as lure).Getting upon the trap, the little animal began to eat the flesh. Laughingmentally, he even got upon his enemy entangled helplessly in the net.Intent on eating the flesh, he did not mark his own danger, for as hesuddenly cast his eyes he saw a terrible foe of his arrived at that spot.That foe was none else than a restless mongoose of coppery eyes, of thename of Harita. Living in underground holes, its body resembled theflower of a reed. Allured to that spot by the scent of the mouse, theanimal came there with great speed for devouring his prey. And he stoodon his haunches, with head upraised, licking the corners of his mouthwith his tongue. The mouse beheld at the same time another foe living inthe trees, then sitting on the branch of the banian. It was anight-prowling owl of the name of Chandraka of sharp beaks. Having becomean object of sight with both the mongoose and the owl, the mouse, ingreat alarm, began to think in this strain: ‘At such a season of greatdanger, when death itself is staring me in the face, when there is fearon every side, how should one act that wishes for one’s good? Encompassedon all sides by danger, seeing fear in every direction, the mouse, filledwith alarm for his safety, made a high resolution. Warding off eveninnumerable dangers by hundreds of means, one should always save one’slife. Danger, at the present moment, encompasses me on every side. If Iwere to descend from this trap on the ground, without adequateprecautions, the mongoose will surely seize and devour me. If I remain onthis trap, the owl will surely seize me. If, again, that cat succeeds indisentangling himself from the net, he also is certain to devour me. Itis not proper, however, that a person of our intelligence should lose hiswits. I shall, therefore, strive my best to save my life, aided by propermeans and intelligence. A person possessed of intelligence and wisdom andconversant with the science of policy never sinks, however great andterrible the danger that threatens him. At present, however, I do notbehold any other refuge than this cat. He is an enemy. But he is indistress. The service that I can do him is very great. Sought to be madea prey by three foes, how should I now act for saving my life? I shouldnow seek the protection of one of those foes, viz., the cat. Taking theaid of the science of policy, let me counsel the cat for his good, sothat I may, with my intelligence, escape from all the three. The cat ismy great foe, but the distress into which he has fallen is very great.Let me try whether I can succeed in making this foolish creatureunderstand his own interests. Having fallen into such distress, he maymake peace with me. A person when afflicted by a stronger one should makepeace with even an enemy. Professors of the science of policy say thateven this should be the conduct of one who having fallen into distressseeks the safety of his life. It is better to have a learned person foran enemy than a fool for a friend. As regards myself, my life now restsentirely in the hands of my enemy the cat. I shall now address the cat onthe subject of his own liberation. Perhaps, at this moment, it would notbe wrong to take the cat for an intelligent and learned foe.’ Even thusdid that mouse, surrounded by foes, pursue his reflections. Havingreflected in this strain, the mouse, conversant with the science ofProfit and well acquainted with occasions when war should be declared andpeace made, gently addressed the cat, saying, ‘I address thee infriendship, O cat! Art thou alive? I wish thee to live! I desire the goodof us both. O amiable one, thou hast no cause for fear. Thou shalt livein happiness. I shall rescue thee, if, indeed, thou dost not slay me.There is an excellent expedient in this case, which suggests itself tome, and by which you may obtain your escape and I may obtain greatbenefit. By reflecting earnestly I have hit upon that expedient for thysake and for my sake, for it will benefit both of us. There are themongoose and the owl, both waiting with evil intent. Only so long, O cat,as they do not attack me, is my life safe. There that wretched owl withrestless glances and horrid cries is eyeing me from the branch of thattree. I am exceedingly frightened by it. Friendship, as regards the good,is seven-paced.[409] Possessed of wisdom as thou art, thou art my friend.I, shall act towards thee as a friend. Thou needst have no fear now.Without my help, O cat, thou wilt not succeed in tearing the net. I,however, shall cut the net for serving thee, if thou abstain from killingme. Thou hast lived on this tree and I have lived at its foot. Both of ushave dwelt here for many long years. All this is known to thee. He uponwhom nobody places his trust, and he who never trusts another, are neverapplauded by the wise. Both of them are unhappy. For this reason, let ourlove for each other increase, and let there be union amongst us two. Menof wisdom never applaud the endeavour to do an act when its opportunityhas passed away. Know that this is the proper time for such anunderstanding amongst us. I wish that thou shouldst live, and thou alsowishest that I should live. A man crosses a deep and large river by apiece of wood. It is seen that the man takes the piece of wood to theother side, and the piece of wood also takes the man to the other side.Like this, our compact, also will bring happiness to both of us. I willrescue thee, and thou also wilt rescue me.’ Having said these words thatwere beneficial to both of them, that were fraught with reason and onthat account highly acceptable, the mouse Palita waited in expectation ofan answer.

“‘Hearing these well-chosen words, fraught with reason and highlyacceptable, that the mouse said, the mouse’s foe possessed of judgmentand forethought, viz., the cat spoke in reply. Endued with greatintelligence, and possessed of eloquence, the cat, reflecting upon hisown state, praised the Words of the speaker and honoured him by gentlewords in return. Possessed of sharp foreteeth and having eyes thatresembled the stones called lapis lazuli, the cat called Lomasa, gentleeyeing the mouse, answered as follows: I am delighted with thee, Oamiable one! Blessed be thou that wishest me to live! Do that, withouthesitation, which thou thinkest to be of beneficial consequences. I amcertainly in great distress. Thou art, if possible, in greater distressstill. Let there be a compact between us without delay. I will do thatwhich is opportune and necessary for the accomplishment of our business,O Puissant one! If thou rescuest me, the service will go for nothing Iplace myself in thy hands. I am devoted to thee. I shall wait upon andserve thee like a disciple. I seek thy protection and shall always obeythy behests,’ Thus addressed, the mouse Palita, addressing in return thecat who was completely under his control, said these words of graveimport and high wisdom: ‘Thou hast spoken most magnanimously. It couldscarcely be unexpected from one like thee. Listen to me as I disclose theexpedient I have hit upon for benefiting both of us. I will crouch myselfbeneath thy body. I am exceedingly frightened at the mongoose. Do thousave me. Kill me not. I am competent to rescue thee. Protect me also fromthe owl, for that wretch too wishes to seize me for his prey. I shall cutthe noose that entangles thee. I swear by Truth, O friend!’ Hearing thesejudicious words fraught with reason, Lomasa, filled with delight, casthis eyes upon Palita and applauded him with exclamations of welcome.Having applauded Palita, the cat, disposed to friendliness, reflected fora moment, and gladly said without losing any time, ‘Come quickly to me!Blessed be thou, thou art, indeed, a friend dear to me as life. O thou ofgreat I wisdom, through thy grace I have almost got back my life.Whatever it is in my power to do for thee now, tell me and I shall do it.Let there be peace between us, O friend! Liberated from this danger, Ishall, with all my friends and relatives, do all that may be agreeableand beneficial to thee. O amiable one, freed from this distress, I shallcertainly seek to gladden thee, and worship and honour thee on everyoccasion in return for thy services. A person by doing even abundantservices in return never becomes equal to the person that did him good inthe first instance. The former does those services for the sake ofservices received. The latter, however, should be held to have actedwithout any such motive.’

“Bhishma continued, ‘The mouse, having thus made the cat understand hisown interests, trustfully crouched beneath his enemy’s body. Possessed oflearning, and thus assured by the cat, the mouse trustfully laid himselfthus under the breast of the cat as if it were the lap of his father ormother. Beholding him thus ensconced within the body of the cat, themongoose and the owl both became hopeless of seizing their prey. Indeed,seeing that close intimacy between the mouse and the cat, both Harita andChandraka became alarmed and filled with wonder. Both of them hadstrength and intelligence. Clever in seizing their prey, though near, themongoose and the owl felt unable to wean the mouse and the cat from thatcompact. Indeed, beholding the cat and the mouse make that covenant foraccomplishing their mutual ends, the mongoose and the owl both left thatspot and went away to their respective abodes. After this, the mousePalita, conversant with the requirements of time and place, began, as helay under the body of the cat, to cut strings of the noose slowly,waiting for the proper time to finish his work. Distressed by the stringsthat entangled him, the cat became impatient upon seeing the mouse slowlycutting away the noose. Beholding the mouse employed so slowly in thework, the cat wishing to expedite him in the task, said: ‘How is it, Oamiable one, that thou dost not proceed with haste in thy work? Dost thoudisregard me now, having thyself succeeded in thy object? O slayer offoes, do thou cut these strings quickly. The hunter will soon come here.’Thus addressed by the cat who had become impatient, the mouse possessedof intelligence said these beneficial words fraught with his own goodunto the cat who did not seem to possess much wisdom: ‘Wait in silence, Oamiable one! Expedition is not necessary. Drive all thy fears. We knowthe requirements of time. We are not wasting time. When an act is begunat an improper time, it never becomes profitable when accomplished. Thatact, on the other hand, which is begun at the proper time, alwaysproduces splendid fruits. If thou be freed at an improper time, I shallhave to stand in great fear of thee. Therefore, do thou wait for theproper time. Do not be impatient, O friend! When I shall see the hunterapproach towards this spot armed with weapons, I shall cut the strings atthat moment of fear to both of us. Freed then, thou wilt ascend the tree.At that time thou wilt not think of anything else save the safety of thylife. And when thou, O Lomasa, wilt fly away in fear, I shall enter myhole and thou wilt get upon the tree.’ Thus addressed by the mouse inwords that were beneficial to him, the cat, possessed of intelligence andeloquence, and impatient of saving his life, replied unto the mouse inthe following words. Indeed, the cat, who had quickly and properly donehis own part of the covenant, addressing the mouse who was notexpeditious in discharging his part, said, ‘I rescued thee from a greatdanger with considerable promptness. Alas! honest persons never do thebusiness of their friends in this way. Filled with delight while doingit, they do it otherwise. Thou shouldst do what is for my good withgreater expedition. O thou of great wisdom, do thou exert a little sothat good may be done to both of us. If, on the other hand, rememberingour former hostility thou art only suffering the time to slip away, know,O wicked wight, that the consequence of this act of thine will surely beto lessen the duration of thy own life![410] If I have ever, before this,unconsciously done thee any wrong, thou shouldst not bear it inremembrance. I beg thy forgiveness. Be gratified with me.’ After the cathad said these words, the mouse, possessed of intelligence and wisdom andknowledge of the scriptures, said these excellent words unto him: ‘Ihave, O cat, heard what thou hast said in furtherance of thy own object.Listen, however, to me as I tell thee what is consistent with my ownobjects. That friendship in which there is fear and which cannot be keptup without fear, should be maintained with great caution like the hand(of the snake-charmer) from the snake’s fangs. The person that does notprotect himself after having made a covenant with a stronger individual,finds that covenant to be productive of injury instead of benefit. Nobodyis anybody’s friend; nobody is anybody’s well-wisher; persons becomefriends or foes only from motives of interest. Interest enlists interesteven as tame elephants catch wild individuals of their species. After,again, an act has been accomplished, the doer is scarcely regarded. Forthis reason, all acts should be so done that something may remain to bedone. When I shall set thee free, thou wilt, afflicted by the fear of thehunter, fly away for thy life without ever thinking of seizing me.Behold, all the strings of this net have been cut by me. Only one remainsto be cut. I will cut that also with haste. Be comforted, O Lomasa!’While the mouse and the cat were thus talking with each other, both inserious danger, the night gradually wore away. A great fear, however,penetrated the heart of the cat. When at last morning came, the Chandala,whose name was Parigha, appeared on the scene. His visage was frightful.His hair was black and tawny. His hips were very, large and his aspectwas very fierce. Of a large mouth that extended from car to car, andexceedingly filthy, his ears were very long. Armed with weapons andaccompanied by a pack of dogs, the grim-looking man appeared on thescene. Beholding the individual who resembled a messenger of Yama, thecat became filled with fear. Penetrated with fright, he addressed Palitaand said, ‘What shalt thou do now?’ The mouse very quickly cut theremaining string that held fast the cat. Freed from the noose, the catran with speed and got upon the banian. Palita also, freed from thatsituation of danger and from the presence of a terrible foe, quickly fledand entered his hole. Lomasa meanwhile had climbed the high tree. Thehunter, seeing everything, took tip his net. His hopes frustrated, healso quickly left that spot. Indeed, O bull of Bharata’s race, theChandala returned to his abode. Liberated from that great peril, andhaving obtained back his life which is so very valuable, the cat from thebranches of that tree addressed the mouse Palita then staying within thehole, and said, ‘Without having conversed with me, thou hast suddenly runaway. I hope thou dost not suspect me of any evil intent. I am certainlygrateful and thou hast done me a great service. Having inspired me withtrustfulness and having given me my life, why dost thou not approach meat a time when friends should enjoy the sweetness of friendship? Havingmade friends, he that forgets them afterwards, is regarded a wickedperson and never succeeds in obtaining friends at times of danger andneed. I have been, O friend, honoured and served by thee to the best ofthy power. It behoveth thee to enjoy the company of my poor self who hasbecome thy friend. Like disciples worshipping their preceptor, all thefriends I have, all my relatives and kinsmen, will honour and worshipthee. I myself too shall worship thee with all thy friends and kinsmen.What grateful person is there that will not worship the giver of hislife? Be thou the lord of both my body and home. Be thou the disposer ofall my wealth and possessions. Be thou my honoured counsellor and do thourule me like a father. I swear by my life that thou hast no fear from us.In intelligence thou art Usanas himself. By the power of thyunderstanding thou hast conquered us. Possessed of the strength ofpolicy, thou hast given us our life.’ Addressed in such soothing words bythe cat, the mouse, conversant with all that is productive of the highestgood, replied in these sweet words that were beneficial to himself: ‘Ihave heard, O Lomasa, all that thou hast said. Listen now as I say whatappears to me. Friends should be well examined. Foes also should be wellstudied. In this world, a task like this is regarded by even the learnedas a difficult one depending upon acute intelligence. Friends assume theguise of foes, and foes assume the guise of friends. When compacts offriendship are formed, it is difficult for the parties to understandwhether the other parties are really moved by lust and wrath. There is nosuch thing as a foe. There is no such thing in existence as a friend. Itis force of circumstances that creates friends and foes. He who regardshis own interests ensured as long as another person lives and thinks themendangered when that other person will cease to live, takes that otherperson for a friend and considers him so as long as those interests ofhis are not clashed against. There is no condition that deservespermanently the name either of friendship or hostility. Both friends andfoes arise from considerations of interest and gain. Friendship becomeschanged into enmity in the course of time. A foe also becomes a friend.Self-interest is very powerful. He who reposes blind trust on friends andalways behaves with mistrust towards foes without paying any regard toconsiderations of policy, finds his life to be unsafe. He who,disregarding all considerations of policy, sets his heart upon anaffectionate union with either friends or foes, comes to be regarded as aperson whose understanding has been unhinged. One should not repose trustupon a person undeserving of trust, nor should one trust too much aperson deserving of trust. The danger that arises from blind reposing ofconfidence is such that it cuts the very roots (of the person thatreposes such confidence). The father, the mother, the son, the maternaluncle, the sister’s son, other relatives and kinsmen, are all guided byconsiderations of interest and profit. Father and mother may be seen todiscard the dear son if fallen.[411] People take care of their ownselves. Behold the efficacy of self-interest. O thou that art possessedof great wisdom, his escape is very difficult who immediately after he isfreed from danger seeks the means of his enemy’s happiness. Thou camestdown from the tree-top to this very spot. Thou couldst not, from levityof understanding, ascertain that a net had been spread here. A person,possessed of levity of understanding, fails to protect his own self. Howcan he protect others? Such a person, without doubt, ruins all his acts.Thou tellest me in sweet words that I am very dear to thee. Hear me,however, O friend, the reasons that exist on my side. One becomes dearfrom an adequate cause. One becomes a foe from an adequate cause. Thiswhole world of creatures is moved by the desire of gain (in some form orother). One never becomes dear to another (without cause). The friendshipbetween two uterine brothers, the love between husband and wife, dependsupon interest. I do not know any kind of affection between any personsthat does not rest upon some motive of self-interest. If, as is sometimesseen, uterine brothers or husband and wife having quarrelled reunitetogether from a natural affection, such a thing is not to be seen inpersons unconnected with one another. One becomes dear for one’sliberality. Another becomes dear for his sweet words. A third becomes soin consequence of his religious acts. Generally, a person becomes dearfor the purpose he serves. The affection between us arose from asufficient cause. That cause exists no longer. On the other hand, fromadequate reason, that affection between us has come to an end. What isthat reason, I ask, for which I have become so dear to thee, besides thydesire of making me thy prey? Thou shouldst know that I am not forgetfulof this. Time spoils reasons. Thou seekest thy own interests. Others,however, Possessed of wisdom, understand their own interests. The worldrests upon the example of the wise. Thou shouldst not address such wordsto a person possessed of learning and competent to understand his owninterests. Thou art powerful. The reason of this affection that thoushowest for me now is ill-timed. Guided, however, by my own interests, Imyself am firm in peace and war that are themselves very unstable. Thecircumstances under which peace is to be made or war declared are changedas quickly as the clouds change their form. This very day thou wert myfoe. This very day, again, thou wert my friend. This very day thou hastonce more become my enemy. Behold the levity of the considerations thatmove living creatures. There was friendship between us as long as therewas reason for its existence. That reason, dependant upon time, haspassed away. Without it, that friendship also has passed away. Thou artby nature my foe. From circumstances thou becomest my friend. That stateof things has passed away. The old state of enmity that is natural hascome back. Thoroughly conversant as I am with the dictates of policy thathave been thus laid down, tell me, why I should enter today, for thysake, the net that is spread for me. Through thy power I was freed from agreat danger. Through my power thou hast been freed from a similardanger. Each of us has served the other. There is no need of unitingourselves again in friendly intercourse. O amiable one, the object thouhadst hath been accomplished. The object I had has also beenaccomplished. Thou hast now no use for me except to make me your meal. Iam thy food. Thou art the eater. I am weak. Thou art strong. There cannotbe a friendly union between us when we are situated so unequally. Iunderstand thy wisdom. Having been rescued from the net, thou applaudestme so that thou mayst succeed in easily making a meal of me. Thou wertentangled in the net for the sake of food. Thou hast been freed from it.Thou feelest now the pangs of hunger. Having recourse to that wisdomwhich arises from a study of the scriptures, thou seekest verily to eatme up today. I know that thou art hungry. I know that this is thy hourfor taking food. Thou art seeking for thy prey, with thy eyes directedtowards me. Thou hast sons and wives. Thou seekest still friendly unionwith me and wishest to treat me with affection and do me services. Ofriend, I am incapable of acceding to this proposal. Seeing me with thee,why will not thy dear spouse and thy loving children cheerfully eat meup? I shall not, therefore, unite with thee in friendship. The reason nolonger exists for such a union. If, indeed, thou dost not forget my goodoffices, think of what will be beneficial to me and be comfortable. Whatperson is there possessed of any wisdom that will place himself under thepower of a foe that is not distinguished for righteousness, that is inpangs of hunger, and that is on the look-out for a prey? Be happy then, Iwill presently leave thee. I am filled with alarm even if I behold theefrom a distance. I shall not mingle with thee, cease in thy attempts, OLomasa! If thou thinkest that I have done thee a service, follow then thedictates of friendship when I may happen to rove trustfully orheedlessly. Even that will be gratitude in thee. A residence near aperson possessed of strength and power is never applauded, even if thedanger that existed be regarded to have passed away. I should alwaysstand in fear of one more powerful than myself. If thou dost not seek thyown interests (of the kind indicated), tell me then what is there that Ishould do for thee. I shall certainly give thee everything except mylife. For protecting one’s own self one should give up one’s verychildren, and kingdom, and jewels, and wealth. One should sacrifice one’sall for protecting one’s own self. If a person lives he can recover allthe affluence that he may have to give unto foes for protecting his life.It is not desirable to give up life like one’s wealth. Indeed, one’s ownself should always be protected by, as I have already said, giving upone’s wives and wealth. Persons who are mindful of protecting their ownselves and who do all their acts after a proper consideration and survey,never incur danger as the consequence of their acts. They that are weakalways know him for a foe who is possessed of greater strength. Theirunderstanding, firm in the truths of the scriptures, never loses itssteadiness.’

“Thus rebuked soundly by the mouse Palita, the cat, blushing with shame,addressed the mouse and said the following words.”

“Lomasa said, ‘Truly I swear by thee that to injure a friend is in myestimation very censurable. I know thy wisdom. I know also that thou artdevoted to my good. Guided by the science of Profit, thou said that thereis cause for a breach between thee and me. It doth not behove thee,however, O good friend, to take me for what I am not. I cherish a greatfriendship for thee in consequence of thy having granted me my life. Iam, again, acquainted with duties. I am all appreciator of other people’smerits. I am very grateful for services received. I am devoted to theservice of friends. I am, again, especially devoted to thee. For thesereasons, O good friend, it behoveth thee to reunite thyself with me. If Iam commanded by thee, I can, with all my kinsmen and relatives, lay downmy very life. They that are possessed of learning and wisdom see amplereason for placing their trust in persons of such mental disposition asourselves. O thou that art acquainted with the truths of morality, itbehoveth thee not to cherish any suspicion in respect of me.’ Thusaddressed by the cat, the mouse reflecting a little, said these words ofgrave import unto the former, ‘Thou art exceedingly good. I have heardall that thou hast said and am glad to hear thee. For all that, however,I cannot trust thee. It is impossible for thee, by such eulogies or bygifts of great wealth, to induce me to unite with thee again. I tellthee, O friend, that they who are possessed of wisdom never placethemselves, when there is not sufficient reason, under the power of afoe. A weak person having made a compact with a stronger one when bothare threatened by foes, should (when that common danger passes away)conduct himself heedfully and by considerations of policy. Having gainedhis object, the weaker of the two parties should not again reposeconfidence on the stronger. One, should never trust a person who does notdeserve to be trusted. Nor should one repose blind confidence upon aperson deserving of trust. One should always endeavour to inspire otherswith confidence in himself-. One should not, however, himself reposeconfidence in foes. For these reasons one should, under allcircumstances, protect his own self. One’s possessions and children andeverything are so long valuable as one is alive. In brief, the highesttruth of all treatises on policy is mistrust. For this reason, mistrustof all is productive of the greatest good. However weak people may be, ifthey mistrust their foes, the latter, even if strong, never succeed ingetting them under power. O cat, one like myself should always guard oneslife from persons like thee. Do thou also protect thy own life from theChandala whose rage has been excited.'[412] While the mouse thus spake,the cat, frightened at the mention of the hunter, hastily leaving thebranch of the tree, ran away with great speed. Having thus displayed hispower of understanding, the mouse Palita also, conversant with the truthsof scripture and possessed of wisdom, entered another hole.’

“Bhishma continued, ‘Even thus the mouse Palita, possessed of wisdom,though weak and alone, succeeded in baffling many powerful foes. Onepossessed of intelligence and learning should make peace with a powerfulfoe. The mouse and the cat owed their escape to their reliance upon eachother’s services. I have thus pointed out to thee the course of Kshatriyaduties at great length. Listen now to me in brief. When two persons whowere once engaged in hostilities make peace with each other, it iscertain that each of them has it in his heart to over-reach the other. Insuch a case he that is possessed of wisdom succeeds by the power of hisunderstanding in over-reaching the other. He, on the other hand, who isdestitute of wisdom suffers himself, in consequence of his heedlessness,to be over-reached by the wise. It is necessary, therefore, that, in fearone should seem to be fearless, and while really mistrusting others oneshould seem to be trustful. One who acts with such heedfulness nevertrips, or tripping, is never ruined. When the time comes for it, oneshould make peace with an enemy; and when the time comes, one should wagewar with even a friend. Even thus should one conduct oneself, O king, asthey have said that are conversant with the considerations of peace (andwar). Knowing this, O monarch, and bearing the truths of scripture inmind, one should, with all his senses about one and without heedfulness,act like a person in fear before the cause of fear actually presentsitself. One should, before the cause of fear has actually come, act likea person in fear, and make peace with foes. Such fear and heedfulnesslead to keenness of understanding. If one acts like a man in fear beforethe cause of fear is at hand, one is never filled with fear when thatcause is actually present. From the fear, however, of a person who alwaysacts with fearlessness, very great fear is seen to arise.[413] ‘Nevercherish fear’–such a counsel should never be given to any one. Theperson that cherishes fear moved by a consciousness of his weakness,always seeks ‘the counsel of wise and experienced men. For these reasons,one should, when in fear, seem to be fearless, and when mistrusting(others) should seem to be trustful. One should not, in view of even thegravest acts, behave towards others with falsehood. Thus have I recitedto thee, O Yudhishthira, the old story (of the mouse and the cat). Havinglistened to it, do thou act duly in the midst of thy friends and kinsmen.Deriving from that story a high understanding, and learning thedifference between friend and foe and the proper time for war and peace,thou wilt discover means of escape when overwhelmed with danger. Makingpeace, at a time of common danger, with one that is powerful, thoushouldst act with proper consideration in the matter of uniting thyselfwith the foe (when the common danger has passed away). Indeed, havinggained thy object, thou shouldst not trust the foe again. This path ofpolicy is consistent with the aggregate of three (viz., Virtue, Profit,and Pleasure), O king! Guided by this Sruti, do thou win prosperity byonce more protecting thy subjects. O son of Pandu, always seek thecompanionship of Brahmanas in all thy acts. Brahmans constitute the greatsource of benefit both in this world and the next. They are teachers ofduty and morality. They are always grateful, O puissant one! Ifworshipped, they are sure to do thee good. Therefore, O king, thoushouldst always worship them. Thou wilt then, O king, duly obtainkingdom, great good, fame, achievement’s and progeny in their properorder. With eyes directed to this history of peace and war between themouse and the cat, this history couched in excellent words and capable ofsharpening the intelligence, a king should always conduct himself in themidst of his foes.'”