Chanakya Neeti

by B.K. Chaturvedi

king must punish the culprit judiciously.

A frivolous scholar doesn’t command respect of the people.

तिभार: पुरुषमवसादय​ति। Extra burden of work make the man unhappy and worried.

य: संसदि परदोषं शंस​ति स स्वदोषं प्रख्यापय​ति। He who points out other’s flaw in the people’s court or parliament, draws people’s attention to his own inefficiency. [In the people’s court the topic of discussion should be confined to the flaws in the system of governance rather than on the individual’s inefficiency. He who does so, in fact lowers the stature of that august court.]

आत्मनमेव नाशयत्यनात्मवातां कोप:। The anger of those who are not aware of their own capabilities eventually goes to destroy themselves. [The anger of fools eventually damages their own interest].

नास्त्यप्राप्यं सत्यवताम्। Nothing is inaccessible or unachieveable for those who are endowed with the wealth of truth. [It is an indirect way of asserting that truth makes you achieve all that you want to; for sticking to truth is the greatest wealth in this fey world.]

Alone courage is not enough to achieve success in one’s mission. [Courage is necessary but unless one has knowledge and resources, one is not likely to achieve one’s objective.]

व्यसानार्तो विरमत्यप्रवेशन। He who is addicted to vices fails to achieve his objective.

नास्त्यनन्तराय: कालविक्षेपे। One must finish one’s job at due time because any delay may not let one complete it at all!

असंशयविनाशात् संशयविनाश: श्रेयान्। The destruction in present is better than destruction in future.

Defeat as many times as one can during practice than being defeated directly in the examination hall

Discrimination towards other’s wealth (or property) is selfishness. [If you have other’s wealth in your possession, guard it as if it is your own.

यो धर्मार्थो न विवर्धयति स काम:। That resource which doesn’t add to one’s religious faith, is purely an endeavour to satiate one’s carnal desires.

तद्विपरीतोऽर्थाभास:। (In continuation of the previous Sutra) The money that one may get through wrong means is actually no money in reality. [The money earned through illegal means gives one no financial strength as the ill earned money gets spent in the wrong ways only.

ऋजुस्वभावपरो जनेषु दुर्लभ:। A man of simple nature is a rare commodity among men.

बहून​पि गुणानेक दोषो ग्रस​ति। Even if one has a single bad quality, it shall nullify all his other good qualities. [A rotten apple injures all its companions.]

महात्मना परेण साहसं न कर्तव्यम्। A great man never relies on other’s help while doing a courageous act.

प्राणद​पि प्रत्ययो रक्षितव्य:। One must protect one’s faith even at the cost of one’s life.

​पिशुन: श्रोता पुत्रदारैर​पि त्यज्यते। He who is given to back-biting is eventually forsaken by one’s own wife and son. [Back-biting or criticizing someone at one’s back is a vile habit. Even one’s close ones can’t tolerate it for long.]

3Cs: do not complain, criticize, condemn

बालादप्यर्थजातं श्रुणुयात्। Even children should be fed on meaningful information. [Chanakya says that even the children should be reared on meaningful talks and not on flimsy or fantastical stories. Tell them only such stories as have some useful information.]

सत्यमप्यश्रद्धेयं न वदेत्। If truth be unpalatable or disturbing one’s faith, it should not be said. [If any revelation of truth may create disturbance in the listener’s faith, it shouldn’t be told before that person.]

नाल्पदोषाद् बहुगुणस्त्यज्यन्ते। If a virtuous person has a few bad qualities, discard him owing to those flaws. [Existence of the minor flaws do not make a virtuous person discardable. Neglect his flaws but embrace his virtues.]

Even the most precious gem can have some flaws.

Never rely on a person known to transgress the limit of virtues. [Never rely on a person who violates the rules of law or social norms.]

Never violate the opinion of the gentlemen. [Gentlemen’s opinion conveys their life-long experience truthfully. Hence it should never to violated.]

गुणवदाश्रयन्निर्गुणोऽपि गुणी भवति। Staying with the virtuous makes even the virtue-less person virtuous. [A good company has its indelible impact.]

Aristotle,s remark on slavery,s positivity and benefits

उपकर्तर्यपकर्तुमिछत्यबुध:। A fool acts foul with even those who do him/her good.

न पापकर्मणामाक्रोशभयम्। A sinful person is not afraid of ill-fame.

निरुत्साहाद् दैवं पत​ति। Absence of enthusiasm ruins even his own fortune (bestowed by God).

मत्स्यार्थीव जलमुपयुज्यार्थ गृह्णीयात्। Dire into water and draw out benefits like a fisher. [Enter unto troubles fearlessly if one wants to convert a problem into an opportunity.]

Prepare for the best but be ready for the worst

Never rely on someone who is a known betrayer.

विषं विषमेव सर्वकालम्। Poison is poison in all circumstances.

All the vices

अर्थसिद्धौ वैरिणं न विश्वसेत्। Never trust your adversaries while endeavouring to achieve your target.

अर्थाधीन एव नियतसम्बन्ध:। Every relationship is linked with some common advantage (to be achieved).

शत्रुरिप सुत: सखा रक्षितव्य:। Protect the son of even enemy if he becomes your friend. [Since you and your enemy-king’s son’s objective is common – removing that king from the throne – treat his son as your friend.]

यावच्छत्रोश्छिद्रं तावद् बद्धहस्तेन वा स्कन्धेन वा बाह्य:। Keep your enemy deceived by your artificial behaviour till you find his weaknesses.

शत्रुछिद्रे प्रहरेत्। Attack on the weakness of your enemy. [That is, your strategy should be to first find your enemy’s weaknesses and attack on them.]

आत्मछिद्रं न प्रकाशयेत। Never disclose your weakness to anyone.

हस्तगतम​पि शत्रुं न विश्वसेद्। Never rely on enemy even when you have captured him/her.

स्वजनस्य दुर्वृवृत्तं निवारयेत्। Try to remove the flaws in your close one’s character. [Because these flaws make your defence penetrable.]

Indeed the utmost priority

Strong-willed (or character) persons get saddened when their close ones are insulted.

शत्रुंजयति सुवृत्तता। Only good or noble habits win the enemies.

मिकृतिप्रिया नीचा:। A mean fellow is ever troublesome for a noble man.

नीचस्य म​तिर्न दातव्या। No advice should be given to the vile persons. [For they’ll never heed to it.]

कदा​ऽपि पुरुषं नावमन्येत्। Never insult a noble man.

Only fools reveal the secrets told to them by their masters in privacy.

अनुरागस्तु फलेन सूच्यते। Affection is revealed not by words but by action.

महदैश्वर्यं प्राप्याप्यधृतिमान् विनश्यति:। The impatient persons perish even when coming in great wealth and opulence.

The impatient persons have no present or future. [No present because he would be too reckless in ruining his health and no future for he may not survive for long.]

न दुर्जनै: सह संसर्ग: कर्तव्य:। Always avoid company of the rogues.

Even milk is unacceptable if given by a drunkard. [Be wary of the apparently noble gesture of a bad person.]