Chanakya Niti
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Chanakya Niti SRI CHANAKYA NITI-SASTRA THE POLITICAL ETHICS OF CHANAKYA PANDIT CHAPTER ONE 1. Humbly bowing down before the almighty Lord Sri Vishnu, the Lord of the three worlds, I recite maxims of the science of political ethics (niti) selected from the various satras (scriptures). 2. That man who by the study of these maxims from the sastras acquires a knowledge of the most celebrated principles of duty, and understands what ought and what ought not to be followed, and what is good and what is bad, is most excellent. 3. Therefore with an eye to the public good, I shall speak that which, when understood, will lead to an understanding of things in their proper perspective. 4. Even a pandit comes to grief by giving instruction to a foolish disciple, by maintaining a wicked wife, and by excessive familiarity with the miserable. 5. A wicked wife, a false friend, a saucy servant and living in a house with a serpent in it are nothing but death. 6. One should save his money against hard times, save his wife at the sacrifice of his riches, but invariably one should save his soul even at the sacrifice of his wife and riches. 7. Save your wealth against future calamity. Do not say, "What fear has a rich man, of calamity?" When riches begin to forsake one even the accumulated stock dwindles away. 8. Do not inhabit a country where you are not respected, cannot earn your livelihood, have no friends, or cannot acquire knowledge. 9. Do not stay for a single day where there are not these five persons: a wealthy man, a brahmin well versed in Vedic lore, a king, a river and a physician. 10. Wise men should never go into a country where there are no means of earning one's livelihood, where the people have no dread of anybody, have no sense of shame, no intelligence, or a charitable disposition. 11. Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune. 12. He is a true friend who does not forsake us in time of need, misfortune, famine, or war, in a king's court, or at the crematorium (smasana).
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The Political Ethics of the Great Scholar Chanakya
Transcript of Chanakya Niti
Chanakya NitiSRI CHANAKYA NITI-SASTRATHE POLITICAL ETHICS OF CHANAKYA PANDITCHAPTER ONE1. Humbly bowing down b!o" #$ %lmig$#y Lo"d S"i &i'$nu( #$ Lo"d o! #$ #$" wo"ld'( I")i#m%*im'o! #$')in)o! +oli#i)%l #$i)',ni#i-'l)#d!"om#$.%"iou''%#"%',')"i+#u"'-.2. T$%# m%n w$o by #$ '#udy o! #$' m%*im' !"om #$ '%'#"%' %)/ui"' % 0nowldg o!#$ mo'# )lb"%#d +"in)i+l' o! du#y( %nd und"'#%nd' w$%# oug$# %nd w$%# oug$# no# #ob !ollowd( %nd w$%# i' good %nd w$%# i' b%d( i' mo'# *)lln#.3. T$"!o" wi#$ %n y #o #$ +ubli) good( I '$%ll '+%0 #$%# w$i)$( w$n und"'#ood( willl%d #o %n und"'#%nding o! #$ing' in #$i" +"o+" +"'+)#i..4. E.n % +%ndi# )om' #o g"i! by gi.ing in'#"u)#ion #o % !ooli'$ di')i+l( by m%in#%ining %wi)0d wi!( %nd by *)''i. !%mili%"i#y wi#$ #$ mi'"%bl.5. A wi)0d wi!( % !%l' !"ind( % '%u)y '".%n# %nd li.ing in % $ou' wi#$ % '"+n# in i# %"no#$ing bu# d%#$.6. On'$ould'%.$i'mony%g%in'# $%"d#im'( '%.$i'wi!%# #$'%)"i!i)o! $i'"i)$'( bu# in.%"i%bly on '$ould '%. $i' 'oul .n %# #$ '%)"i!i) o! $i' wi! %nd "i)$'.7. S%.you"w%l#$%g%in'# !u#u")%l%mi#y.Dono# '%y(12$%# !%"$%'%"i)$m%n( o!)%l%mi#y31 2$n "i)$' bgin #o !o"'%0 on .n #$ %))umul%#d '#o)0 dwindl' %w%y.8. Do no# in$%bi# % )oun#"y w$" you %" no# "'+)#d( )%nno# %"n you" li.li$ood( $%.no !"ind'( o" )%nno# %)/ui" 0nowldg.9. Do no# '#%y !o" % 'ingl d%y w$" #$" %" no# #$' !i. +"'on'4 % w%l#$y m%n( %b"%$min wll ."'d in &di) lo"( % 0ing( % "i." %nd % +$y'i)i%n.10. 2i' mn '$ould n." go in#o % )oun#"y w$" #$" %" no m%n' o! %"ningon5' li.li$ood( w$" #$ +o+l $%. no d"%d o! %nybody( $%. no 'n' o! '$%m(no in#llign)( o" % )$%"i#%bl di'+o'i#ion.11. T'# % '".%n# w$il in #$ di')$%"g o! $i' du#y( % "l%#i. in di!!i)ul#y( % !"ind in%d."'i#y( %nd % wi! in mi'!o"#un.12. H i' % #"u !"ind w$o do' no# !o"'%0 u' in #im o! nd( mi'!o"#un( !%min(o" w%"( in % 0ing5' )ou"#( o" %# #$ )"m%#o"ium ,'m%'%n%-.13. H w$ogi.' u+w$%#i'im+"i'$%bl!o"#$%# w$i)$ i'+"i'$%bl(lo''#$%#w$i)$ i' im+"i'$%bl6 %nd doub#l''ly lo'' #$%# w$i)$ i' +"i'$%bl %l'o.14. A wi' m%n '$ould m%""y % .i"gin o! % "'+)#%bl !%mily .n i! '$ i' d!o"md.H '$ould no# m%""y on o! % low-)l%'' !%mily( #$"oug$ b%u#y. 7%""i%g in % !%mily o!/u%l '#%#u' i' +"!"%bl.15. Do no# +u# you" #"u'# in "i."'( mn w$o )%""y w%+on'( b%'#' wi#$ )l%w' o"$o"n'( womn( %nd mmb"' o! % "oy%l !%mily.16. E.n !"om +oi'on *#"%)# n)#%"( w%'$ %nd #%0 b%)0 gold i! i# $%' !%lln in !il#$(")i. #$ $ig$'# 0nowldg ,K"'n% )on')iou'n''- !"om % low bo"n +"'on6 'o %l'o %gi"l +o''''ing.i"#uou'/u%li#i','#"i-"%#n%- .ni! '$w"bo"nin%di'"+u#%bl!%mily.17. 2omn $%. $ung" #wo-!old( '$yn'' !ou"-!old( d%"ing 'i*-!old( %nd lu'# ig$#-!old %' )om+%"d #o mn.CHAPTER TWO1. 8n#"u#$!uln''( "%'$n''( guil( '#u+idi#y( %.%"i)( un)l%nlin'' %nd )"ul#y %" %wom%n5' '.n n%#u"%l !l%w'.2. To $%. %bili#y !o" %#ing w$n di'$' %" "%dy %# $%nd( #o b "obu'# %nd .i"il in #$)om+%ny o! on5' "ligiou'ly wddd wi!( %nd #o $%. % mind !o" m%0ing )$%"i#y w$non i' +"o'+"ou' %" #$ !"ui#' o! no o"din%"y %u'#"i#i'.3. H w$o' 'on i' obdin# #o $im( w$o' wi!5' )ondu)# i' in %))o"d%n) wi#$ $i' wi'$'(%nd w$o i' )on#n# wi#$ $i' "i)$'( $%' $i' $%.n $" on %"#$.4. T$y %lon %" 'on' w$o %" d.o#d #o #$i" !%#$". H i' % !%#$" w$o 'u++o"#' $i''on'. H i' % !"ind in w$om w )%n )on!id( %nd '$ only i' % wi! in w$o' )om+%ny#$ $u'b%nd !l' )on#n#d %nd +%)!ul.5. A.oid $im w$o #%l0' 'w#ly b!o" you bu# #"i' #o "uin you b$ind you" b%)0( !o" $ i'li0 % +i#)$" o! +oi'on wi#$ mil0 on #o+.6. Dono# +u#you"#"u'# in%b%d)om+%nionno".n#"u'# %no"din%"y!"ind( !o"i! $'$ould g# %ng"y wi#$ you( $ m%y b"ing %ll you" ')"#' #o lig$#.7. Do no# ".%lw$%# you $%. #$oug$# u+on doing( bu# by wi' )oun'l0+ i# ')"#(bing d#"mind #o )%""y i# in#o *)u#ion.8. Fooli'$n'' i' indd +%in!ul( %nd ."ily 'o i' you#$( bu# mo" +%in!ul by !%" #$%n i#$" i'bing obligd in %no#$" +"'on5' $ou'.9. T$" do' no# *i'# % +%"l in ."y moun#%in( no" % +%"l in #$ $%d o! ."y l+$%n#6ni#$" %" #$ '%d$u' #o b !ound ."yw$"( no" '%nd%l#"' in ."y !o"'#.9No#4Only l+$%n#' in "oy%l +%l%)' %" 'n d)o"%#d wi#$ +%"l' ,+")iou' '#on'- on #$i"$%d':.10. 2i' mn '$ould %lw%y' b"ing u+ #$i" 'on' in .%"iou' mo"%l w%y'( !o" )$ild"nw$o $%. 0nowldg o! ni#i-'%'#"% %nd %" wll b$%.d b)om % glo"y #o #$i" !%mily.11. T$o' +%"n#' w$o do no# du)%# #$i" 'on' %" #$i" nmi'6 !o" %' i' % )"%n%mong 'w%n'( 'o %" igno"%n# 'on' in % +ubli) %''mbly.12. 7%ny % b%d $%bi# i' d.lo+d #$"oug$ o." indulgn)( %nd m%ny % good onby)$%'#i'mn#( #$"!o"b%# you" 'on%'wll %'you" +u+il6 n." indulg#$m.,1S+%" #$ "od %nd '+oil #$ )$ild.1-13. L# no# % 'ingl d%y +%'' wi#$ou# you" l%"ning % ."'( $%l! % ."'( o" % !ou"#$o! i#( o" .n on l##" o! i#6 no" wi#$ou# %##nding #o )$%"i#y( '#udy %nd o#$" +iou' %)#i.i#y.14. S+%"%#ion !"om #$ wi!( di'g"%) !"om on5' own +o+l( %n nmy '%.d inb%##l( '".i) #o % wi)0d 0ing( +o."#y( %nd % mi'm%n%gd %''mbly4 #$' 'i* 0ind' o!.il'( i! %!!li)#ing % +"'on( bu"n $im .n wi#$ou# !i".15. T"'on%"i."b%n0( %wom%nin%no#$" m%n5'$ou'( %nd0ing'wi#$ou#)oun'llo"' go wi#$ou# doub# #o 'wi!# d'#"u)#ion.16. A b"%$min5' '#"ng#$ i' in $i' l%"ning( % 0ing5' '#"ng#$ i' in $i' %"my( % .%i'$y%5''#"ng#$ i' in $i' w%l#$ %nd % '$ud"%5' '#"ng#$ i' in $i' %##i#ud o! '".i).17. T$ +"o'#i#u# $%' #o !o"'%0 % m%n w$o $%' no mony( #$ 'ub;)# % 0ing #$%#)%nno# d!nd $im( #$ bi"d' % #" #$%# b%"' no !"ui#( %nd #$ gu'#' % $ou' %!#" #$y$%. !ini'$d #$i" m%l'.18. od. T$Su+"mLo"d"'id'in#$$%"# o! Hi'd.o#'. T$o'o! %."%gin#llign),%l+%-budd$i o"0%ni'#%-%d$i0%"i- ' >od only in Hi' '"i-mu"#i( bu# #$o' o! b"o%d .i'ion ' #$ Su+"mLo"d ."yw$".CHAPTER FIVE1. Agni i' #$ wo"'$i+%bl +"'on !o" #$ #wi) bo"n6 #$ b"%$m%n% !o" #$ o#$" )%'#'6 #$$u'b%nd !o" #$ wi!6 %nd #$ gu'# w$o )om' !o" !ood %# #$ midd%y m%l !o" %ll.2. A' gold i' #'#d in !ou" w%y' by "ubbing( )u##ing( $%#ing %nd b%#ing -- 'o % m%n '$ouldb #'#d by #$' !ou" #$ing'4 $i' "nun)i%#ion( $i' )ondu)#( $i' /u%li#i' %nd $i' %)#ion'.3. A #$ing m%y b d"%dd %' long %' i# $%' no# o."#%0n you( bu# on) i# $%' )om u+onyou( #"y #o g# "id o! i# wi#$ou# $'i#%#ion.4. T$oug$ +"'on' b bo"n !"om #$ '%m womb %nd und" #$ '%m '#%"'( #$y do no#b)om %li0 in di'+o'i#ion %' #$ #$ou'%nd !"ui#' o! #$ b%d%"i #".5. H w$o' $%nd' %" )l%n do' no# li0 #o $old %n o!!i)6 $ w$o d'i"' no#$ing )%"'no# !o" bodily d)o"%#ion'6 $ w$o i' only +%"#i%lly du)%#d )%nno# '+%0 %g"%bly6 %nd$ w$o '+%0' ou# +l%inly )%nno# b % d)i.".6. T$ l%"nd %" n.id by #$ !ooli'$6 "i)$ mn by #$ +oo"6 )$%'# womn by%dul#"'''6 %nd b%u#i!ul l%di' by ugly on'.7. Indoln# %++li)%#ion "uin' '#udy6 mony i' lo'# w$n n#"u'#d #o o#$"'6 % !%"m" w$o'ow' $i' 'd '+%"'ly i' "uind6 %nd %n %"my i' lo'# !o" w%n# o! % )omm%nd".8. L%"ning i' "#%ind #$"oug$ +u##ing in#o +"%)#i)6 !%mily +"'#ig i' m%in#%ind #$"oug$good b$%.iou"6 % "'+)#%bl +"'on i' ")ogni'd by $i' *)lln# /u%li#i'6 %nd %ng"i' 'n in #$ y'.9. Rligion i' +"'".dby w%l#$6 0nowldg by dilign#+"%)#i)6 %0ing by )on)ili%#o"ywo"d'6 %nd % $om by % du#i!ul $ou'wi!.10. T$o' w$o bl%'+$m &di) wi'dom( w$o "idi)ul #$ li! '#yl ")ommndd in#$ '%#"%'( %nd w$o d"id mn o! +%)!ul #m+"%mn#( )om #o g"i! unn)''%"ily.11. C$%"i#y+u#'%ndnd#o+o."#y6 "ig$#ou')ondu)# #omi'"y6 di')"#ion#oigno"%n)6 %nd ')"u#iny #o !%".12. T$" i' no di'%' ,'o d'#"u)#i.- %' lu'#6 no nmy li0 in!%#u%#ion6 no !i" li0w"%#$6 %nd no $%++in'' li0 '+i"i#u%l 0nowldg.13. A m%ni'bo"n%lon%nddi'%lon6 %nd$*+"in)'#$good%ndb%d)on'/un)' o! $i' 0%"m% %lon6 %nd $ go' %lon #o $ll o" #$ Su+"m %bod.14. H%.n i' bu# % '#"%w #o $im w$o 0now' '+i"i#u%l li! ,K"'n% )on')iou'n''-6 'oi' li! #o % .%li%n# m%n6 % wom%n #o $im w$o $%' 'ubdud $i' 'n''6 %nd #$ uni."' #o$im w$o i' wi#$ou# %##%)$mn# !o" #$ wo"ld.15. L%"ning i' % !"ind on #$ ;ou"ny6 % wi! in #$ $ou'6 mdi)in in 'i)0n''6 %nd"ligiou' m"i# i' #$ only !"ind %!#" d%#$.16. R%in w$i)$ !%ll' u+on #$ '% i' u'l''6 'o i' !ood !o" on w$o i' '%#i%#d6 in.%in i' % gi!# !o" on w$o i' w%l#$y6 %nd % bu"ning l%m+ du"ing #$ d%y#im i' u'l''.17. T$" i' no w%#" li0 "%inw%#"6 no '#"ng#$ li0 on5' own6 no lig$# li0 #$%# o!#$ y'6 %nd no w%l#$ mo" d%" #$%n !ood g"%in.18. T$ +oo" wi'$ !o" w%l#$6 %nim%l' !o" #$ !%)ul#y o! '+)$6 mn wi'$ !o" $%.n6%nd godly +"'on' !o" lib"%#ion.19. T$ %"#$ i' 'u++o"#d by #$ +ow" o! #"u#$6 i# i' #$ +ow" o! #"u#$ #$%# m%0'#$ 'un'$in %nd #$ wind' blow6 indd %ll #$ing' "'# u+on #"u#$.20. T$ >odd'' o! w%l#$ i' un'#%dy ,)$%n)$%l%-( %nd 'o i' #$ li! b"%#$. T$du"%#iono! li!i'un)"#%in( %nd#$+l%)o! $%bi#%#ioni'un)"#%in6 bu# in%ll #$i'in)on'i'#n# wo"ld "ligiou' m"i# %lon i' immo.%bl.21. Amongmn#$b%"b"i')unning6 %mongbi"d'#$)"ow6 %mongb%'#'#$;%)0%l6 %nd %mong womn( #$ m%lin ,!low" gi"l-.22. T$'!i.%"you" !%#$"'6 $w$og%.youbi"#$( gi"dldyouwi#$'%)"d#$"%d( #%)$' you( +"o.id' you wi#$ !ood( %nd +"o#)#' you !"om !%"!ul 'i#u%#ion'.23. T$' !i. '$ould b )on'id"d %' mo#$"'6 #$ 0ing5' wi!( #$ +")+#o"5' wi!(#$ !"ind5' wi!( you" wi!5' mo#$"( %nd you" own mo#$".CHAPTER SIX1. i. you" w%l#$ only #o #$ wo"#$y %nd n." #o o#$"'. T$ w%#" o! #$'% ")i.d by #$ )loud' i' %lw%y' 'w#. T$ "%inw%#" nli.n' %ll li.ing bing' o! #$%"#$ bo#$ mo.%bl ,in')#'( %nim%l'( $um%n'( #).- %nd immo.%bl ,+l%n#'( #"'( #).-(%nd #$n "#u"n' #o #$ o)%n w$" i#' .%lu i' mul#i+lid % million !old.4. T$ wi' w$o di')"n #$ ''n) o! #$ing' $%. d)l%"d #$%# #$ y%.%n% ,m%# %#"-i' /u%l in b%'n'' #o % #$ou'%nd )$%nd%l%' ,#$ low'# )l%''-( %nd $n) % y%.%n% i'#$ b%''# o! mn6 indd #$" i' no on mo" b%'.5. A!#" $%.ing "ubbd oil on #$ body( %!#" n)oun#"ing #$ 'mo0 !"om % !un"%l +y"(%!#" '*u%l in#")ou"'( %nd %!#" bing '$%.d( on "m%in' % )$%nd%l% un#il $ b%#$'.6. 2%#" i' #$ mdi)in !o" indig'#ion6 i# i' in.igo"%#ing w$n #$ !ood #$%# i' %#n i' wlldig'#d6 i# i' li0 n)#%" w$n d"un0 in #$ middl o! % dinn"6 %nd i# i' li0 +oi'on w$n#%0n %# #$ nd o! % m%l.7. Knowldg i' lo'# wi#$ou# +u##ing i# in#o +"%)#i)6 % m%n i' lo'# du #o igno"%n)6 %n %"myi' lo'# wi#$ou# % )omm%nd"6 %nd % wom%n i' lo'# wi#$ou# % $u'b%nd.8. A m%n w$o n)oun#"' #$ !ollowing #$" i' un!o"#un%#6 #$ d%#$ o! $i' wi! in $i' old%g( #$ n#"u'#ing o! mony in#o #$ $%nd' o! "l%#i.'( %nd d+nding u+on o#$"' !o"!ood.9. C$%n#ing o! #$ &d%' wi#$ou# m%0ing "i#u%li'#i) '%)"i!i)' #o #$ Su+"m Lo"d #$"oug$#$ mdium o! Agni( %nd '%)"i!i)' no# !ollowd by boun#i!ul gi!#' %" !u#il. P"!)#ion )%nb %)$i.d only #$"oug$ d.o#ion ,#o #$ Su+"m Lo"d- !o" d.o#ion i' #$ b%'i' o! %ll'u))''.10. T$" i' no %u'#"i#y /u%l #o % b%l%n)d mind( %nd #$" i' no $%++in'' /u%l#o )on#n#mn#6 #$" i' no di'%' li0 )o.#ou'n''( %nd no .i"#u li0 m")y.11. Ang" i' % +"'oni!i)%#ion o! Y%m% ,#$ dmigod o! d%#$-6 #$i"'# i' li0 #$ $lli'$"i." &%i#%"%ni6 0nowldg i' li0 % 0%m%d$nu ,#$ )ow o! +ln#y-6 %nd )on#n#mn# i'li0 N%nd%n%.%n% ,#$ g%"dn o! Ind"%-.12. 7o"%l *)lln) i' %n o"n%mn# !o" +"'on%l b%u#y6 "ig$#ou' )ondu)#( !o" $ig$bi"#$6 'u))'' !o" l%"ning6 %nd +"o+" '+nding !o" w%l#$.13.
