'
"Bhishma said, 'Between the aristocracy on the one side and the kings on
the other, avarice and wrath, O monarch, are the causes that produce
enmity.[328] One of these parties (viz., the king,) yields to avarice. As
a consequence, wrath takes possession of the other (the aristocracy).
Each intent upon weakening and wasting the other, they both meet with
destruction. By employing spies, contrivances of policy, and physical
force, and adopting the arts of conciliation, gifts, and disunion and
applying other methods for producing weakness, waste, and fear, the
parties assail each other. The aristocracy of a kingdom, having the
characteristics of a compact body, become dissociated from the king if
the latter seeks to take too much from them. Dissociated from the king,
all of them become dissatisfied, and acting from fear, side with the
enemies of their ruler. If again the aristocracy of a kingdom be
disunited amongst themselves, they meet with destruction. Disunited, they
fall an easy prey to foes. The nobles, therefore, should always act in
concert. If they be united together, they may earn acquisitions of value
by means of their strength and prowess. Indeed, when they are thus
united, many outsiders seek their alliance. Men of knowledge applaud
those nobles that art united with one another in bonds of love. If united
in purpose, all of them can be happy. They can (by their example)
establish righteous courses of conduct. By behaving properly, they
advance in prosperity.
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