Yudhishthira said What, besides this, should be done by a king, who is weak and procrastinating, who does not engage in battle from anxiety for the lives of his friends, who is always stricken with fear, and who cannot keep his counsels close?

What, indeed, should that king do whose cities and kingdoms have been divided and appropriated by enemies, who is divested of wealth, who cannot honour his friends and win them over to himself, whose ministers are disunited or brought over by his enemies, who is obliged to stand in the face of enemies, whose army has been diminished, and whose heart has been agitated by some strong enemy?

If the attacking enemy be of pure heart and if he be a master of both virtue and profit, a king of the sort you have pointed out, should forthwith, make peace with the invader and secure the restoration of those parts of the kingdom which have already been conquered.

If, again, the invader be powerful and iniquitious and seek to acquire victory by unfair means, the king should inake peace with him, too, by leaving off a portion of his kingdom.

If the invader be reluctant to make peace, the king should then leave his very capital and all his properties for escaping from danger. If he can save his life he may expect to make similar acquisitions in future.

What man who knows virtue is there, who would sacrifice his own self, which is a more valuable property, for meeting that danger from which he can escape by abandoning his treasury and army?

A king should protect the ladies of his seraglio. If these fall into the hands to the enemy, he should not show any mercy. As long as he can, he should never surrender his own self to the enemy.

What should a king do when his own people are dissatisfied with him, when he is oppressed by invaders, when his treasury is exhausted and when his counsels are given out?

Bhishma said: A king, under such circumstances, should (if his enemy be righteous) try to make peace with him. If the enemy be vicious, he should then display his courage. He should by such means, try to cause the enemy to retire from his kingdom; or, fighting bravely, he should sacrifice his life and ascend to heaven.

A king can conquer the whole Earth with the help of even a small army if that army be loyal, contented, and devoted to his well-being.

If killed in battle, he is sure to ascend to heaven. If he succeed in killing (his enemies), he is sure to enjoy the Earth. By sacrificing one's life in battle, one lives with Indra himself.'

Pleasing all people of opposition taking them in trust with humble, king should search other means to regain previous ones.

Or by the sweetest words he should please them by means of conciliation and again by the consultation with wise men he should act to regain it.