The Royal Expedition of Varahamihira with Utpala's Commentary

Perform the rituals for the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn The seven traditional planets to achieve the destruction of division and the resolution of subjects. When these planets are endowed with strength, occupying the houses of increase Upacaya: the 3rd, 6th, 10th, and 11th houses, where planets grow in strength, or situated in the angles Kendra: the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses, they generate success in one's endeavors. During their periods the Sun's or in their specific divisions of the zodiac, Jupiter original: "Jīva" provides life and vitality. Mars, the son of the Earth, along with Venus, governs the lords of conciliation Sāma: the first of the four Upāyas, or diplomatic negotiation. Mars original: "Kuja" also rules over the agents of division. The Moon and Mercury are the lords of gifts and bribery Dāna: the second Upāya. Saturn and the nodes Rahu/Ketu govern the lord of punishment Daṇḍa: the final resort of force. When these planets are strong and favorably placed in transit, or when the lord of the auspicious period is similarly empowered, success is born. This is what is meant: when the lords of the various political expedients are in their own signs and strong, or in the angles of the current ascendant, they bring the desired goal to fruition. On the day of a specific planet, or in its hour Horā, or its specific zodiacal division, success is achieved. If it is Jupiter's day, for instance, conciliation succeeds.

Now, he explains the essence of the six-fold policy Ṣaḍguṇya: the six measures of statecraft. The six-fold policy consists of: Peace Sandhi, War Vigraha, Marching Yāna, Halting Āsana, Dual Policy Dvaidhībhāva, and Seeking Shelter Saṃśraya. If one does not harm the enemy but remains still, that is Halting. Marching is the movement of the entire army toward the enemy. Seeking shelter is defined as joining with another for protection. the These six qualities should not be neglected. Among them, Peace is defined as a binding agreement made between two parties. When a treaty is made to maintain harmony or to restore what was lost, it is called Peace. by

This means "reconciliation." As the merchant-sage likely referring to an authority like Cāṇakya or a specific Nīti text says: "Equal peace is reconciliation; it is a state of agreement." Wise men say that Peace and Reconciliation carry the same meaning. This Peace is said to be of two kinds. Peace and Shelter are distinct, yet Peace itself has sixteen varieties. War is defined as doing injury to the enemy. War War is the opposite of Peace. The term War is used when one intends to cause harm. If one does not march against the enemy but remains in place, that quality is called Halting Āsana. The teachers say that "Staying," "Indifference," and "Halting" are synonymous terms; these three words are used by those of steady intellect to mean the same thing. Marching Yāna is the movement of the entire army toward the enemy; it is said to be of five kinds. As Kāmandaka Author of the Nītisāra, a famous text on statecraft says: "Marching is five-fold: for expedition, for gain, through association, out of indifference, or for a specific purpose." When one employs both War and Peace simultaneously—making peace with one and war with another—that is called the Dual Policy Dvaidhībhāva. In short, it is acting with a "split nature." Seeking Shelter Saṃśraya is when a king places himself under the protection of another. The word "indeed" is used here as a rhetorical ornament. In short, it means surrendering oneself to another. The merchant-sage says: "Shelter is the act of surrendering to a superior." When one is seized by a powerful enemy, the strength found in seeking refuge is called Shelter. To explain the positions of the planets in this context, he says this verse: The planet joined with the Sun is called "The Shouter" Ākrandasajña; the one in front is the "Citizen" Paura, and the one behind is the "Traveler" Yāyī.