Thursday, April 18, 2013

Chanakya Neeti - Chapter 2

Chanakya Neeti (The Book) - Chapter 2


Have a look over the Ideas of Chanakya included in the second chapter of his famous writing (Chanakya Neeti). The original verses are in Sanskrit and to spread the message I have a attempted a translation to extract the basic ideas included in them. What a great brain he was …

** Readers discretion is advised ***

By working hard you get:
Good food to eat
Capability to digest it
A beautiful wife and happiness with her
Wealth that can be utilized for the good cause

As per chanakya neeti, the person experiences heavenly joy:
Whose son is obedient
Whose wife is faithful
Who is satisfied with his possessions

A true son is obedient to his father and a true father takes care of his son. The quality of a true friend is that he/she must be honest.

Acharya Chanakya suggests that a person must stay away from the people who talk flattery in front of you but tries to harm at your back. Such friendship is like a vial of poison with milk at its top. Simply stay away !

A friend who is no good shall not be trusted, nor trust a friend who has not proven bad. They may reveal your secrets to others when not in good terms with you. Chanakya neeti also advises you not to act foolish under peer pressure.

Don’t speak about your plans as others will try to hinder your regime. The simple suggestion is that you continue with the task without grabbing much attention.

Stupidity is woe and the days of youth are very woeful. Anyhow, living on mercy of others is woe extreme.

Every hill does not contain gems
Every elephant does not possess mani (Gajamukta)
Every place is not a home of some noble
Every forest does not has sandalwood trees

* The moral is that one must act as per demand of situation instead of continuing over assumptions. Also, don’t trust everyone.

A wise person grooms his child carefully because only an educated person with high morale is given true respect in society.

* Throughout Chanakya neeti you will see that Kautilya emphasized a lot over education.

The parents who do not care for the education of their children are their worst enemies. On growing up such children find themselves isolated from the society, Just like a crane in a flock of swans.

Chanakya advises not to overindulge with your child, pupil and students. It will spoil them.

Do not allows a single day of your life to pass away without learning something good/useful.

The following are on self-destruction mode:
The tree on a bank of a river
A woman in house of stranger
A king with stupid/bad/cunning counselors

The powers of :
A scholar is in his knowledge
A king is in his army
A trader is in his money
A servant is in his service.
Chanakya neeti tells you to understand your role and act accordingly.

As people desert a weak king, a prostitute desert's improvised customer and birds leave a withered tree. In same manner the guests must leave the house of host after having food.

One who befriends a person of bad character or lives in company of an evil fellow, undergoes a quick destruction.

The friendship between people of equal status is considered to be best, serving under a king is one of the best employment a person can get, trading is the best occupation and It is best for a lady to stay in the conform's of one's home.