|| चाणक्य नीति शास्त्र ||
गुरुरग्निर्द्विजातीनाम् वर्णानां ब्रह्मणो गुरुः |
पतिरेव गुरुः स्त्रीणां सर्वस्याभ्यागतो गुरुः ||
Agni is the worshipable person for the twice-born; the brahmana for the
other castes; the husband for the wife; and the guest who comes for food
at the midday meal for all. 5.1
यथा चतुर्भिः कनकं परीक्ष्यते
निगर्षनच्छेदनतापताडनैः |
तथा चतुर्भिः पुरुषः परीक्ष्यते
त्यागेन शीलेन गुणेन कर्मणा ||
निगर्षनच्छेदनतापताडनैः |
तथा चतुर्भिः पुरुषः परीक्ष्यते
त्यागेन शीलेन गुणेन कर्मणा ||
As gold is tested in four ways by rubbing, cutting, heating and beating -
so a man should be tested by these four things: his renunciation, his
conduct, his qualities and his actions. 5.2
तावद्भयेषु भेतव्यं यावद्भयमनागतम् |
आगतं तु भयं वीक्ष्य प्रहर्तव्यमशङ्कया ||
आगतं तु भयं वीक्ष्य प्रहर्तव्यमशङ्कया ||
A thing may be feared as long as it has not come upon you, but once it
has come upon you, try to get rid of it without hesitation. 5.3
एकोदरसमुद्भूता एकनक्षत्रजातकाः |
न भवन्ति समाः शीले यथा बदरकण्टकाः ||
न भवन्ति समाः शीले यथा बदरकण्टकाः ||
Though persons be born from the same womb and under the same stars, they
do not become alike in disposition as the thousand fruits of the badari
tree. 5.4
निःस्पृहो नाधिकारी स्यान् नाकामो मण्डनप्रियः |
नाविदग्धः प्रियं ब्रुयात्स्पष्टवक्ता न वञ्चकः ||
नाविदग्धः प्रियं ब्रुयात्स्पष्टवक्ता न वञ्चकः ||
He whose hands are clean does not like to become administrator; he who
desires nothing does not care for bodily decorations; he who is only
partially educated cannot speak agreeably; and he who speaks in straight
forward manner cannot be a deceiver. 5.5
मूर्खाणां पण्डिता द्वेष्या अधनानां महाधनाः |
परांगना कुलस्त्रिणां सुभगानां च दुर्भगाः ||
परांगना कुलस्त्रिणां सुभगानां च दुर्भगाः ||
The learned are envied by the foolish;
rich men are envied by the poor; chaste women are envied by
adulteresses; and beautiful ladies are envied by ugly ones. 5.6
आलस्योपगता विद्या परहस्तगतं धनम् |
अल्पबीजं हतं क्षेत्रं हतं सैन्यमनायकम् ||
अल्पबीजं हतं क्षेत्रं हतं सैन्यमनायकम् ||
Lazy application ruins study; money is lost when entrusted to others; a
farmer who sows his seed sparsely is ruined; and an army is lost for
want of a commander. 5.7
अभ्यासाद्धार्यते विद्या कुलं शीलेन धार्यते |
गुणेन ज्ञायते त्वार्यः कोपो नेत्रेण गम्यते ||
गुणेन ज्ञायते त्वार्यः कोपो नेत्रेण गम्यते ||
Learning is retained through putting into practice; family prestige is
maintained through good behaviour; a respectable person is recognized by
his excellent qualities; and anger is seen in the eyes. 5.8
वित्तेन रक्ष्यते धर्मो विद्या योगेन रक्ष्यते |
मृदूना रक्ष्यते भूपः सत्स्त्रिया रक्ष्यते गृहम् ||
मृदूना रक्ष्यते भूपः सत्स्त्रिया रक्ष्यते गृहम् ||
Religion is preserved by wealth; knowledge is preserved by diligent
practice; a king is preserved by conciliatory words; and a home is
preserved by a dutiful housewife. 5.9
अन्यथा वेदशास्त्राणि ज्ञानपाण्डित्यमन्यथा |
अन्यथा तत्पदं शान्तं लोकाः क्लिश्यन्ति च अन्यथा ||
अन्यथा तत्पदं शान्तं लोकाः क्लिश्यन्ति च अन्यथा ||
Those who blaspheme Vedic wisdom, who ridicule the life style
recommended in the shatra, and who deride men of peaceful temperament,
come to grief unnecessarily. 5.10
दारिद्र्यनाशनं दानं शीलं दुर्गतिनाशनम् |
अज्ञाननाशिनी प्रज्ञा भावना भयनाशिनी ||
अज्ञाननाशिनी प्रज्ञा भावना भयनाशिनी ||
Charity puts an end to poverty; righteous conduct puts an end to
misery; right judgement with knowledge puts an end to ignorance; and
scrutiny puts ans end to fear. 5.11
नास्ति कामसमो व्याधिर्नास्ति मोहसमो रिपुः |
नास्ति कोपसमो वन्हिर्नास्ति ज्ञानात्परं सुखम् ||
नास्ति कोपसमो वन्हिर्नास्ति ज्ञानात्परं सुखम् ||
There is no disease as destructive as lust; no enemy like infatuation;
no fire like wrath; and no happiness like spiritual knowledge. 5.12
जन्ममृत्यू हि यात्येको भुनत्येकः शुभाशुभम् |
नरकेषु पतत्येक एको याति परां गतिम् ||
नरकेषु पतत्येक एको याति परां गतिम् ||
A man is born alone and dies alone; and he experiences the good and bad
consequences of his karma alone; and he goes to hell or the Supreme
abode alone only. 5.13
तृणं ब्रह्मविदः स्वर्गस्तृणं शूरस्य जीवितम् |
जिताशस्य तृणं नारी निःस्पृहस्य तृणं जगत् ||
For a person having spiritual realization, heaven is not important. For a
great worrier, life is not important. For a person who has gained
complete control over his senses, women are not attractive and for a
person who is detached, this world does not hold any value. 5.14
विद्या मित्रं प्रवासे च भार्या मित्रं गृहेषु च |
व्यादितस्यौषधं मित्रं धर्मो मित्रं मृतस्य च ||
Learning is a friend on the journey; a wife in the house; medicine in
sickness; and religious merit is the only friend after death. 5.15
वृथा वृष्टिः समुद्रेषु वृथा तृप्तस्य भोजनम् |
वृथा दानं समर्थस्य वृथा दीपो दिवापि च ||
Rain which falls upon the sea is useless. For one who is already
satisfied, food is useless. For one who is wealthy, a gift is useless.
And burning lamp during the daytime is useless. 5.16
नास्ति मेघसमं तोयं नास्ति चात्मसमं बलम् |
नास्ति चक्षुः समं तेजो नास्ति धान्यसमं प्रियम् ||
There is no water like rainwater; no strength like one's own; no light
like that of the eyes; and no wealth more dear than food grain. 5.17
अधना धनमिच्छन्ति वाचं चैव चतुष्पदाः |
मानवाः स्वर्गमिच्छन्ति मोक्षमिच्छन्ति देवताः ||
मानवाः स्वर्गमिच्छन्ति मोक्षमिच्छन्ति देवताः ||
The poor wish for wealth; animals for the faculty of speech; men wish for heaven; and godly persons for liberation. 5.18
सत्येन धार्यते पृथ्वी सत्येन तपते रविः |
सत्येन वाति वायुश्र्च सर्वं सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् ||
सत्येन वाति वायुश्र्च सर्वं सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् ||
The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth
that makes the sun shine and the winds blow; indeed all things rest upon
the truth. 5.19
चला लक्ष्मीश्चलाः प्राणाश्र्चले जीवितमन्दिरे |
चलाचले च संसारे धर्मो एको हि निश्र्चलः ||
चलाचले च संसारे धर्मो एको हि निश्र्चलः ||
The Goddess of wealth is unsteady , and so is the life breath. The
duration of life is uncertain, and the place of habitation is uncertain;
but in all this inconsistent world religious merit alone is immovable.
5.20
नराणां नापितो धूर्तः पक्षिणां चैव वायसः |
चतुष्पादं शृगालस्तु स्त्रीणां धूर्ता च मालिनी ||
चतुष्पादं शृगालस्तु स्त्रीणां धूर्ता च मालिनी ||
Among men the barber is cunning; among birds the crow; among beasts the jackal; and among women, the malini (flower girl). 5.21
जनिता चोपनेता च यस्तु विद्यां प्रयच्छति |
अन्नदाता भयत्राता पञ्चैते पितरः स्मृतः ||
अन्नदाता भयत्राता पञ्चैते पितरः स्मृतः ||
These five are your fathers; he who gave you birth, girdled you with
sacred thread, teaches you, provides you with food, and protects you
from fearful situations. 5.22
राजपत्नी गुरोः पत्नी मित्रपत्नी तथैव च |
पत्नीमाता स्वमाता च पञ्चैता मातरः स्मृतः ||
पत्नीमाता स्वमाता च पञ्चैता मातरः स्मृतः ||
These five should be considered as mothers; the king's wife, the
preceptor's wife, the friend's wife, your wife's mother, and your own
mother. 5.23