Chapter 72 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 72

Valmiki Ramayana — Aranya Kanda

Verse 72.5

शृणु राघव तत्त्वेन यथा सीतामवाप्स्यसि॥ राम षड् युक्तयो लोके याभिः सर्वं विमृश्यते। परिमृष्टो दशान्तेन दशाभागेन सेव्यते॥

śṛṇu rāghava tattvena yathā sītāmavāpsyasi|| rāma ṣaḍ yuktayo loke yābhiḥ sarvaṃ vimṛśyate| parimṛṣṭo daśāntena daśābhāgena sevyate||

English Meaning

Do you hear truly, O Rāghava, of the means by which you shall come by Sīta. There are six expedients. O Rāma, by virtue of which kings acquire all objects. He, in whom misfortune has culminated, should seek the company of one such+. The six expedients are as follow—(1) Sandhi, peace. (2) Vigraha war-fare. (3) Yāna, military expedition against an enemy. (4) Asana-halting. (5) Daidhibhava-sowing dissension. (6) Samaşraya seeking protection. This is a moral law referring to the sixth to or expedient, to be resorted by the kings-namely Samasrarya seeking protection.

— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)