To Contrive Spies (By St. Thiruvalluvar) Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

581.A king must know well that the spies
And the learned books on laws are his two eyes.
582.It is the duty of a king to know swiftly the actions
Take place in the life of all every day.
583.The king who doesn’t weigh the news and probe the truths
about the foes don’t know the ways of getting victories.
584.It is the spy who watches all those in king’s employment,
Kin and foes and all others and searches out for secrets.
585.A spy maintains his disguise, has no scares for the foes,
And divulges not secrets in any place in and out.
586.Disguising as an ascetic or devotee, he gets over hurdles,
Finds out truths, bears the torture and betrays not
587.A detective is capable of probing the hidden secrets
And has no doubt in whatever heard and known.
588.A king must accept the message of the second spy
If it corroborates the report of the first spy.
589.A king contrives that one spy sees not another.
If the reports of three spies confirm, the truth is clear.
590.Let not others know the place and excellence of a spy.
Otherwise, he himself betrays the secrets of his own.