बार्हस्पत्य सूत्र / अर्थशास्त्र (महर्षि बृहस्पति - प्राचीन दण्डनीति, राजधर्म एवं कूटनीति सटीक)

( 30 ) 17 Kinsmen, crocodiles among the lotuses of sec- rets of mantras and sciences; not to act without good omens; and disasters (?). 18 It must be told with avoidance of the bad : though possessed of knowledge, he is like a snake in the house. 19 An adherent from the enemy's side one should not trust. 20 According to merit let him entertain (people) in his service. 21 Let him test by their sentiments. 22 A hero is not quickly known by the weak : intelligence let him promptly test in an unknown matter. 23 He may be known by his gestures : 24 A composed person not. 25 One whose mind is without apprehension is calm. 26 And without anger : for even children and so forth conceal that. 27 Upon learning the fall of his family a wise man under these circumstances would have recourse even to an enemy's side, if possessed of wisdom. 28 Unfailingly in the heart the [ effects of ] for- mer good and evil arise ; [ so ] the bad man would not on all occasions act as such. 29 The fickle are not to be highly honoured. 30 So says the Preceptor Brihaspati. So in the Brihaspati Sūtra the Fifth Chapter.

17 The text is here corrupt, some proverbial expression apparently being involved. The import seems to be that counsel, study, and secrets, also misfortunes, should not be incautiously spoken of. 19 Accusative after vi-shvas, as in I. 38. 22 Reading viro' sharaih sahasa na jnayate. 26 ‘Conceal’: vi-vri may, it appears, sometimes have this sense. 27 Reading nayayuktam. The meaning is, however, not clear.