When the statement of a reason is equally applicable to two cases of circumstances, it is termed doubt; for example: "Which of the two should a conqueror march against: one whose subjects are impoverished and greedy, or one whose subjects are oppressed?"
Kautilya's Arthashastra When the nature of procedure to be specified in connection with a thing is said to be equal to what has already been specified in connection with another, it is termed reference to similar procedure; for example: "On the lands allotted to him for the purpose of carrying on agricultural operations, he should do as before."
The inference of a reverse statement from a positive statement is termed contrariety; for example: "The reverse will be the appearance of a king who is not pleased with the messenger."
That portion of a sentence which is omitted, though necessary to convey a complete sense, is ellipsis; for example: "With his feathers plucked off, he will lose his power to move." Here 'like a bird' is omitted.
When the opinion of another person is stated but not refuted, it is acceptance of that opinion; for example: "Wings, front, and reserve, is the form of an array of the army according to the school of UsanasT Description in detail is explanation; for example: "Especially amongst assemblies and confederacies of kings possessing the characteristics of assemblies, quarrel is due to gambling; and destruction of persons due to the quarrel. Hence, among evil propensities, gambling is the worst evil, since it renders the king powerless for activity."
Stating the derivative sense of a word, is derivation; for example: "That which throws off (yyasyati) a king from his prosperous career is propensity (yyasana).
The mentioning of a fact to illustrate a statement, is illustration; for example: "In war with a superior, the inferior will be reduced to the same condition as that of a foot-soldier fighting Kautilya's Arthashastra with an elephant."
Removal of an undesired implication from a statement is exception; for example: "A king may allow his enemy's army to be present close to his territory, unless he suspects of the existence of any internal trouble."
Words which are not used by others in the special sense in which they are used by the author are his own technical terms; for example: "He who is close to the conqueror's territory is the first member; next to him comes the second member; and next to the second comes the third."
The citation of another's opinion to be refuted, is prima facie view; for example: "Of the two evils, the distress of the king and that of his minister, the latter is worse."
Settled opinion is rejoinder; for example: "The distress of the king is worse, since everything depends upon him; for the king is the central pivot, as it were."
That which is universal in its application is conclusion or an established fact: for example: "A king should ever be ready for manly effort."
Drawing attention to a later chapter is reference to a subsequent portion; for example: "We shall explain balance and weights in the chapter, 'The Superintendent of Weights and Measures'."
The statement that it has been already spoken of is reference to a previous portion: for example, "The qualifications of a minister have already been described."
'Thus and not otherwise' is command; for example: "Hence Kautilya's Arthashastra he should be taught the laws of righteousness and wealth, but not unrighteousness and non- wealth."
'This or that' is alternative; for example: "or daughters born of approved marriage (dharmavivdha)."
'Both with this and that' is compounding together; for example: "Whoever is begotten by a man on his wife is agnatic both to the father and the father's relatives."
That which is to be determined after consideration is determinable fact; for example: "Experts shall determine the validity or invalidity of gifts so that neither the giver nor the receiver is likely to be hurt thereby."
* Thus this Sdstra, conforming to these paragraphic divisions is composed as a guide to acquire and secure this and the other world.
* In the light of this Sdstra one cannot only set on foot righteous, economical, and aesthetical acts and maintain them, but also put down unrighteous, uneconomical and displeasing acts.
* This Sdstra has been made by him who from intolerance (of misrule) quickly rescued the scriptures and the science of weapons and the earth which had passed to the Nanda king.
[Thus ends the Chapter I, 'Paragraphic divisions of the Treatise' in the fifteenth Book, 'Plan of Treatise.' This is the one hundred and fiftieth chapter from the first chapter of the entire work. The fifteenth book, 'Plan of Treatise, of the Arthasdstra of Kautilya is thus brought to a close.]
* Having seen discrepancies in many ways on the part of the writers of commentaries on the Sdstras, Vishnu Gupta himself has made (this) Sutra and commentary.
From: Kautilya. Arthashastra. Translated by R. Shamasastry. Bangalore: Government Press, 1915, 515-520.
Kautilya's Arthashastra