Cāṇakya Niti, or Cāṇakya Neeti-sāstra, is an anthology of aphorisms compiled from various Hindu sāstras (treatises) attributed to the first millennium BCE Indian kingmaker, statesman, tactician, and philosopher Cāṇakya.
According to legend, Cāṇakya, also called Viṣṇugupta and Kauṭilya, was born a Brahmin dāsi-putra (“son of a maidservant”) in Takhkhasilā, near Peshawar in present-day Pakistan. He journeyed to Pāṭaliputra (modern-day Patna, in present-day India,) capital of the Nanda Empire, in pursuit of learning. Insulted by the Nanda rulers, he avowed in vengeance to destroy the Nanda lineage.
Cāṇakya discovered a young, spirited, astute companion in Chandragupta Maurya and groomed him for many years. Through him, Cāṇakya masterminded the overthrow of the powerful Nanda sovereigns and installed Chandragupta as the monarch. With Cāṇakya as his counselor, Chandragupta Maurya established the mighty Mauryan Empire and reigned c.321–c.297 BCE. The Mauryan empire hit its zenith during the régime of Chandragupta’s grandson, Emperor Aśoka.
Cāṇakya has been compared to Niccolò Machiavelli in the breadth of his statecraft. And Cāṇakya has been criticized for his ruthlessness and trickery and praised for his profound political wisdom.
Cāṇakya is celebrated for his magnum opus Arthaśāstra (Sanskrit: “The Science of Material Gain,”) a treatise on Indian statecraft, military strategy, and economic policy. Cāṇakya’s nationalist attitudes continue to influence modern India’s sociopolitical philosophy even today.
Cāṇakya’s Neeti-sāstra, a discourse on the ideal way of life, shows his in-depth study of the Indian way of life and the role of every individual in society.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Chanakya Neeti
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.
—Chanakya Neeti
When you are suffering from a rare disease (or addiction), when in times of natural calamity, when you are afraid of your enemy, when you are at the doorstep of the king (to discuss your problems) or in a graveyard (when someone close to you dies), whoever stands by you is a true kinsman.
—Chanakya Neeti
Teaching one who has no understanding is of no use.
Just as a bamboo does not become fragrant
even though it lives with the sandal wood trees.
—Chanakya Neeti
Like a single tree laden with fragrant flowers is enough to make the whole forest aromatic, a single good son is enough to bring love and unity to the whole family.
—Chanakya Neeti
The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind.
But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.
—Chanakya Neeti
Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.
—Chanakya Neeti
Foolishness is indeed painful, and verily so is youth, but more painful by far than either is being obliged in another person’s house.
—Chanakya Neeti
He who has no material wealth is not poor, if he has wisdom and learning. But he who has no learning is really fallen in all aspects.
—Chanakya Neeti
Do not keep company with a fool for as we can see he is a two-legged beast. Like an unseen thorn he pierces the heart with his sharp words.
—Chanakya Neeti
Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.
—Chanakya Neeti
He who neither rouses fear by his anger, nor confers a favor when he is pleased can neither control nor protect.
—Chanakya Neeti
Sinfully acquired wealth may remain for ten years;
in the eleventh year it disappears with even the original stock.
—Chanakya Neeti
The elephant has a huge body but is controlled by the ankusha (goad):
yet, is the goad as large as the elephant?
A lighted candle banishes darkness:
is the candle as vast as the darkness.
A mountain is broken even by a thunderbolt:
is the thunderbolt therefore as big as the mountain?
No, he whose power prevails is really mighty; what is there in bulk?
—Chanakya Neeti
Truthfulness is my mother. Knowledge is my father. Righteousness is my brother. Mercy is my friend. Calmness is my wife. Forgiveness is my son. These are all my kith and kin.
—Chanakya Neeti
Topics: Virtues
Swans inhabit water bodies and desert the place
when the lake dries up. Man should not do the same, for
he may have to seek the shelter of those whom he deserts.
—Chanakya Neeti
Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune.
—Chanakya Neeti
Topics: Difficulty
God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple.
—Chanakya Neeti
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.
—Chanakya Neeti
The student, the servant, the traveler, the hungry person,
the frightened man, the treasury guard, and the steward,
these seven ought to be awakened if they fall asleep.
—Chanakya Neeti
We should not feel pride in our charity, austerity,
valor, scriptural knowledge, modesty and morality
for the world is full of the rarest gems.
—Chanakya Neeti
Although tired, he continues to carry his burden; he is unmindful of cold and heat; and he is always contented; these three things should be learned from the donkey.
—Chanakya Neeti
There are only three gems on earth –
water, food and sweet speech.
They are fools who dig out stones and call them gems.
—Chanakya Neeti
Those that are empty-minded cannot be benefited by instruction. Bamboo
does not acquire the quality of sandalwood by being associated with it.
—Chanakya Neeti
The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end, nor protects it from the bites of insects.
—Chanakya Neeti
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.
—Chanakya Neeti
One should feel satisfied with the following three things;
his own wife, food given by Providence and
wealth acquired by honest effort;
but one should never feel satisfied with the following three;
study, chanting the holy names of the Lord and charity.
—Chanakya Neeti
Moral excellence is an ornament for personal beauty; righteous conduct, for high birth; success for learning; and proper spending for wealth.
—Chanakya Neeti
The snake has poison in its fangs,
the mosquito in its forehead,
the scorpion’s poison is in its tail, but the
evil person has poison spread all through his being.
—Chanakya Neeti
Many a bad habit is developed through over indulgence, and many a good one by chastisement.
—Chanakya Neeti
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.
—Chanakya Neeti
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