The Maxims of Chanakya

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The Maxims of Canakya Pandit

 

Chapter 1

 

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 various shastras.

 

2. That man who by the study of these maxims from the shastras acquires a

knowledge of the most celebrated principles of duty, and understands what ought

and ought not 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 the 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 brahmana well versed in Vedic lore, a king, a river and a

physician.

 

10. Wise man should never go into a country where there are no means of earning

one’s livelihood, where 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 only 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

(smashana).

 

13. He who gives up what is imperishable for that which is perishable loses

that which is imperishable; and doubtlessly loses that which is perishable also.

 

14. A wise man should marry a virgin of a respectable family even if she is

deformed. He should not marry one of a low-class family through a beauty.

Marriage in a family of equal status is preferable.

 

15. Do not put your trust in rivers, men who carry weapons, beasts with claws

or horns, women, and members of a royal family.

 

16. Even from poison extract nectar, wash and take back gold if it has fallen

in filth, receive the highest knowledge (Krishna consciousness) from a lowborn

person; so also accept a girl possessing virtuous qualities (stri-ratna) even if

she be born in a disreputable family.

 

17. Women have hunger two-fold, shyness four-fold, daring six-fold and lust

eight-fold as compared to men.