Sri Chanakya Niti-Shastra
Sri Chanakya Niti-Shastra
Chapter Two
1. Untruthfulness, rashness, guile, stupidity, avarice, uncleanliness and cruelty are a women's seven natural flaws.
2. To have ability for eating when dishes
are ready at hand, to be robust and virile in the company of one's
religiously wedded wife, and to have a mind for making charity when one
is prosperous are the fruits of no ordinary austerities.
3. He whose son is obedient to him, whose
wife's conduct is in accordance with his wishes, and who is content
with his riches, has his heaven here on earth.
4. They alone are sons who are devoted to
their father. He is a father who supports his sons. He is a friend in
whom we can confide, and she only is a wife in whose company the
husband feels contented and peaceful.
5. Avoid him who talks sweetly before you
but tries to ruin you behind your back, for he is like a pitcher of
poison with milk on top.
6. Do not put your trust in a bad companion
nor even trust an ordinary friend, for if he should get angry with you,
he may bring all your secrets to light.
7. Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise council keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution.
8. Foolishness is indeed painful, and
verily so is youth, but more painful by far than either is being
obliged in another person's house.
9. There does not exist a ruby in every
mountain, nor a pearl in the head of every elephant; neither are the
sadhus to be found everywhere, nor sandal trees in every forest.
10. Wise men should always bring up their
sons in various moral ways, for children who have knowledge of
niti-sastra and are well-behaved become a glory to their family.
11. Those parents who do not educate their
sons are their enemies; for as is a crane among swans, so are ignorant
so are ignorant sons in a public assembly.
12. Many a bad habit is developed through
overindulgence, and many a good one by chastisement, therefore beat
your son as well as your pupil; never indulge them. ("Spare the rod and
spoil the child.")
13. Let not a single day pass without your
learning a verse, half a verse, or a fourth of it, or even one letter
of it; nor without attending to charity, study and other pious activity.
14. Separation from the wife, disgrace from
one's own people, an enemy saved in battle, service to a wicked king,
poverty, and a mismanaged assembly: these six kinds of evils, if
afflicting a person, burn him even without fire.
15. Trees on a river bank, a woman in another man's house, and kings without counsellors go without doubt to swift destruction.
16. A brahmana's strength is in his
learning, a king's strength is in his army, a vaishya's strength is in
his wealth and a shudra's strength is in his attitude of service.
17. The prostitute has to forsake a man who
has no money, the subject a king that cannot defend him, the birds a
tree that bears no fruit, and the guests a house after they have
finished their meals.
18. Brahmanas quit their patrons after
receiving alms from them, scholars leave their teachers after receiving
education from them, and animals desert a forest that has been burnt
down.
19. He who befriends a man whose conduct is vicious, whose vision impure, and who is notoriously crooked, is rapidly ruined.
20. Friendship between equals flourishes,
service under a king is respectable, it is good to be business-minded
in public dealings, and a handsome lady is safe in her own home.
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