हितोपदेश - विग्रह - चारः

भवेत्स्व परराष्ट्राणां कार्यकार्यविलोकने |
चारचक्षुर्महीभर्तुर्यस्य नास्त्यांध एव सः ||

- हितोपदेश, विग्रह

"What is going on?" and "What must go on?" in his country and in his neighbouring country are the questions that a king must know. To do this he must have a good network of spies.

- Hitopadesha, Vigraha

यशस्तिलक - धूर्त मंत्रि

चारो यस्य विचारश्च राज्ञो नास्तीक्षणद्वयम् |
तस्यांधदुग्धवद्राज्यं मंत्रिमार्जालगोचरम् ||

- यशस्तिलक

A king who does not have an elaborate spy network and a sane logical mind (for analysis) will lose his kingdom to the minister. This is the same fate that happens to milk kept in front of a blind man. The cat will silently drink it all.

- Yashastilaka

रामायणमंजरी - अरण्य - चराः

कवीनां प्रतिभा चक्षुः शास्त्रं चक्षुर्विपश्चिताम् |
ज्ञानं चक्षुर्महर्षीणां चराश्चक्षुर्महीक्षिताम् ||

- रामायणमंजरी, अरण्य

For poets - their talent is their eyes. Scriptures are the eyes of a wise man. Knowledge (about the universe) is the eye of a sage. A king has his spies as his eyes.

- Ramayanamanjari, Aranya

रामायण - अरण्य - राज

अयुक्तचारं दुर्दर्शनमस्वाधीनं नराधिपम् |
वर्जयन्ति नरा दूरान्नदीपङ्कमिव द्विपाः ||

- रामायण, अरण्य

If a king does not have spies, offers ill advice to the subjects, not in control of himself - then his subjects will abandon him just like elephants stays clear of the mire in the river.

- Ramayana, Aranya