Complete Chanakya Neeti

by R.P. Jain

1.4 By preaching foolish pupils, looking after a wicked woman or keeping company of worried persons, even scholars will suffer. Therefore, foolish persons should never be encouraged to undertake any good deed. One must stay away from a characterless woman, otherwise his image will be tarnished. Similarly, an unhappy person can never give happiness, so stay away from him.

1.6 Any person, who saves for hard times or crisis, is an intelligent person. All efforts must be made to protect such savings. A woman is also like your wealth, so she must also be protected. But before this, he must ensure his own security, for only if he is secure he will be capable to secure his wealth and woman.

1.8 Any place, where man does not have respect-honour, no sources of income/employment, suitable well wishing friends/ relations, facilities for learning-education, such a place is most unsuitable. It should be left without any delay.

1.11 Servants are tested by fulfilment of their responsibilities, friends are tested in times of crisis, relations are tested in times of sorrow or incurable sickness and a woman is tested when you have no money.

1.13 People, who stray from their planned and feasible tasks and jump to unplanned and unachievable tasks, never succeed. They should, therefore, attempt only those tasks, which they are confident of achieving.

1.17 About women, Chanakya says that, as compared to men, their diet is twice as much, modesty is four times, courage is six times and desire for sex is eight times.

2.7 While planning out or implementing any desired work, if you disclose it, its successful conclusion becomes doubtful. So, take care not to disclose it to anyone till its successful conclusion.

Life's every moment, hour and day is important. So, man must use it purposefully. For this, it is necessary that everyday he does self-study of a ved mantra, half a shloka, shlokansh or a word. If for any reason he is unable to do so, then he must donate. If it is not possible to donate, then he should perform an act of kindness or do a good deed during the day. People, who do not follow this, are wasting every moment of their life.

3.2 A man's behaviour, his thought process is the introduction to his family. From his speech, we can know about his motherland, from his behavior, we can learn about his attitude towards affection and respect and seeing his body, we can know about his food. In other words, his personality reflects his complete attitude. By observing a man's personality, an intelligent person can judge his good and bad qualities.

3.12 Chanakya says that the excess of anything or act is harmful. According to him, Sita was kidnapped by Ravan because she was extraordinarily beautiful. Having excessive arrogance and ego caused the great scholar Ravan's death. On account of his excessive generosity, the demon king Bali lost everything and was sent to hell. It can, therefore, be said without any doubt that excesses lead to the end of man. So, avoid it.

3.18 On the responsibilities of a father towards his child, Chanakya says that for the first five years, he must be brought up with love and affection. For the next ten years, he must be brought up with strict discipline, because this is the period for the development of his personality. This period is like the foundation on which will rest the rest of his life. From the age of sixteen, he should be treated like a friend; guide him like a friend; settle his problems like a friend.

4.5 Sage Vashishtha had a cow named Kamdhenu, who could fulfil all his desires immediately. Chanakya has compared education to Kamdhenu. He says that like a person possessing Kamdhenu will never die of hunger, similarly, after attaining education, a man becomes capable to face any crisis. In a foreign place, education is like your mother, who will protect you at every step. Education is a hidden treasure, which no one can steal; on the contrary, the more you use it, the more it develops.

4.12 Chanakya has defined the number of people that must be involved in doing different types of tasks. Meditation, prayerofferings and learning of lesson should be done alone. Involvement of more persons will create obstacles. Contrarily, studies are better done by two persons together. More than two persons will indulge in wasteful talk. For singing, three persons are adequate, whereas for travel, four persons are appropriate. For farming, five persons and for war, the largest number of persons are required.

5.5 On the character of a person, Chanakya says that a person, who demands his rights, is greedy. A person, who places importance on beauty and make-up, is lustful. Foolish people by nature are not soft-spoken. Contrarily, persons who are frank and truthful do not have even an iota of cunning, deceit and craftiness.

5.20 On religion, Chanakya says that even though this world is destructible, religion can never be destroyed. Wealth, youth life can be destroyed one by one. However, religion is indestructible, immortal and eternal; nobody can destroy it. Even though in his lifetime, man amasses invaluable things/wealth and is surrounded by relations, after death, he loses everything except religion. So, he must follow the path of religion. The allurements of the worldly destructible things distract him and try to divert him from the path of religion, so he must sacrifice them. As the darkness is dispelled by Sun's rays, similarly, practice of religion dispels all the sorrows of man, in this as well as in the other world.

8.7 On drinking water, Chanakya says that the stomach is an important organ. It is the stomach which controls your fitness. It is, therefore, essential that a man should keep his digestion in order. In case of indigestion, water acts as a medicine. So, drink a lot of water, but do so before taking food or after digestion of the food. If water is taken immediately after taking food, it acts like slow poison and deteriorates the body.

8.9 Old age has been described as the man's most pathetic and difficult stage of life. At this age, the wife's death, usurping of one's wealth by close relations and being dependent for food- these three things are extremely painful. He says that wife is a true companion in old age and her absence makes a man completely helpless. If a man has wealth in old age, he does not have to be dependent on others for food. So, to avert this pathetic state, a man should save wealth.

8.12 Believing in the idols of God made from wood, stone and metal to be the true form of God and praying before them results in God's blessings. In other words, God does not exist in inanimate objects but in your faith. That is why, it is said that you cannot get salvation without dedication and faith.

9.1 In this shloka, Chanakya preaches willing persons, the ways to attain salvation. He says that if a man wants release from the cycle of life-death and attain salvation, then he should completely abandon perversions like sex, anger, greed, allurement and arrogance.

9.4 In this shloka, Chanakya clarifies that there is no medicine as pure and life bestower as nectar.

9.9 Any person, whose anger has no impact and his happiness does not benefit anyone, such a person's behaviour cannot influence anyone. You should not expect any sympathy or favour from such a person. This person only exists for himself and he is not concerned with anyone else.

9.14 Chanakya says that you must be satisfied with whatever you have.

10.11 Through this shloka, Chanakya has called that a wise person, who on becoming poor, instead of staying with his relations, prefers to stay in the forest amidst wild animals like lion, elephant, tiger, etc. in a tree house, eats fruits and roots, drinks water, sleeps on a grass mattress and covers himself with leaves. Explaining this, Chanakya says that on becoming poor, a person may be mocked on several occasions. Such a situation is extremely stressful and can cause mental tension. Nobody supports him when he becomes poor. So, it is wise to leave and stay in the forest.

10.14 Chanakya has explained the concept of life and death in a very simplistic manner. He says that a crow, pigeon, sparrow and parrot-even though being of different species and colour, sleep on the same tree in the night. But at the crack of dawn, they all fly away to their own destinations. Similarly, the human souls also settle for some time in families, in the form of trees. Then at the appointed hour, they fly away from that tree. So, one should not grieve or feel sorrow on their departure. This is the law of the nature and the entire universe is guided by it. Even the creator of this world, Lord Brahma cannot change it.

God will fulfil his wishes, only if he also makes the effort.

11.1 Chanakya has included charitable nature, sweet talk, patience and the knowledge of right-wrong amongst the superior traits. But he says that man is born with these traits. When a child is born, these traits are present in him instinctively. It is impossible for a person to develop them by practice.

11.2 Man's relations are truly his supporters. If he leaves them and rushes towards others, he is ruined very soon, like a king is ruined on account of his unholy behaviour. He clarifies that like the king, who turns away from his religion, is definitely ruined, any person, who gives up his religion and is attracted towards another religion, inspite of being affluent, is ruined. So, a man should never be indifferent to his religion.

11.13 Vedas specify four classes of people. They have been classified based on their profession rather than on their descent or caste. Chanakya says that 'Vaishya' (trader) is a person, who is involved in conventional activities like husbandry, farming and business, etc. If a person born in a Brahmin family undertakes these activities, then he should also be considered a 'Vaishya'.

12.1 In this shloka, Chanakya describes a happy family man. He says that a man can be said to be happy, if he and his family members are filled with happiness.

12.3 On public dealings, Chanakya says that man should be expert in public dealings. This will ensure that he is always happy. Public dealings cover polite dealing with servants, affectionate dealing with relations and a tough stand with evil persons.

12.5 Chanakya says that it is impossible to change what God has destined in one's fate. In his lifetime, a man acts and reaps accordingly.

12.8 A stranger asked a Brahmin, "who is great in this city?" The Brahmin replied "The cluster of palm trees." The stranger asked again, "Who is the most benevolent person?" The Brahmin replied, "Washer man who collects the clothes in the morning and returns them in the evening." He again questioned, "Who is the most able person?" The Brahmin replied, "Everyone is able in stealing other's wives and wealth." The stranger again asked, "How can you live in such a city?" The Brahmin replied, "like a worm lives in filth." In this shloka, Chanakya has highlighted the rampant faults in the society.

Explaining this, he says that the 'Kalpavriksha' fulfills all the desires of a man, but it is only wood. The 'Sumeruparvat' has deposits of vast treasurers, but it is only stone. The Sun's rays are illuminating but are intense, whereas the Moon illuminates and cools but is spotted. The sea inspite of being vast contains salty water and 'Kamdeva' is without a body. Even though 'Bali' is considered a great donor, he belongs to the demon race. Similarly, 'Kamdhenu' who fulfills all the desires of man, is a cow. Oh Lord! None of these unlike you are blemishless, radiant, tolerant, generous and devotee loving; no one can compare with you.

12.16 A man can definitely learn something or the other from the living things around him. Chanakya has established this saying in this shloka. He says that one must imbibe knowledge from wherever he can. Princes have politeness and courtesy. Imbibing these qualities makes man kind hearted. We can learn the art of affectionate-cum-sweet speech from scholars and lying from gamblers. Also we must imbibe the traits of deception/cunning from women.

13.2 In this shloka, Chanakya, advising persons who reminisce the past and repeatedly feel sorrow or disappointment, says that the past never returns, the events which have happened cannot be changed. So, remembering them repeatedly does not help. Similarly, a man is totally ignorant of what is going to happen in the future. So, worrying about it is also a waste. A man should only focus on the present. If he improves his present, then his future will also be bright.

13.9 Religious scriptures list four valours-religion, economics, sex and salvation. Of these, economics and sex have been called the valours of this world and religion and salvation have been called the valours for the other world. All four provide purpose to human life. Without these valours, the life is a waste. So, a man should try to achieve at least one valour.

13.18 In the 'Vedas' and 'Puranas', the single letter 'Om' has been called the creation 'Mantra' (hymn).

Here Chanakya clarifies that it is the man's point of view which enhances or depreciates the value of a thing. It appears as if he wishes to see it.

15.5 Explaining the wonders of wealth, Chanakya says that if a man becomes rich, then even strangers become familiar; wife, son, friends, relations also express affection and become personal. But if some rich person turns poor, even near the ones distance themselves. Wife, son, friends, near ones, relations leave him one after another. This shows that wealth is a true well-wisher of a man. Anyone, who has wealth, also controls happiness.

16.2 In this shloka, Chanakya has described the playful tendency of women. He says that they have a restless nature. They talk to someone but look lustfully at someone else. They worry about someone in the mind and yearn for someone else in the heart. A woman's love is not for one only. So their affection should not be taken as attachment.

16.3 Any man who thinks that the beautiful woman who shows affection and acts playfully towards him, is in love with him, soon loses everything. He behaves like a puppet and dances on the tune of that woman.

16.18 Considering the world to be a bitter tree, Chanakya says that two sweet and nectar-bearing fruits representing cultured language and company of saints grow on this tree. On the one hand, by using cultured language, it is possible to win over everyone's heart, on the other hand, the company of saints/sages converts even evil persons to gentlemen. So, a man should definitely eat these two fruits.

17.2 'Tit for Tat'-Chanakya supported this saying. He believed there should be a reaction for every action. In other words, a man should retaliate in the same manner as he has been treated. Explaining in detail, Chanakya says that if a man behaves with you like a gentleman, then you must also reciprocate accordingly. However, if a person intends to harm you, then he should also be paid back in the same coin.

Following the religious scriptures, Chanakya also accepts the importance of dwadashi (the twelfth day of each half of a lunar month).

17.18 King, prostitute, 'Yum' (God of death), fire, smuggler, child, beggar and the villages nuisance creator- these eight do not understand the sorrows and distress of others. Their nature is to act as per their whims. So, a man should not expect any kindness from them.

17.19 A man should never mock any helpless and afflicted person, because tomorrow he may also be in the same situation. Chanakya has clarified it further in this shloka. An impertinent boy laughing, asked an old woman "Oh young girl! What are you searching?" Hearing his mocking tone, the old woman said, "Due to my old age, my youth in the avatar of a pearl has fallen down, I am searching it." In this context, Chanakya says that sooner or later, a man has to definitely face old age. So, a man should refrain from the tendency to mock others.