Here are some Chanakya quotes from Chanakyaniti which never fail to teach us. He was the man who helped establish the Mauryan Empire and served two of its emperors as chief political advisor. Chanakya, also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta, authored the book named Arthasastra and he is considered as the pioneer of political science. Let’s take a look on my collection of the quotes delivered by the great Chanakya : There is no wealth equal to food Food is the foremost necessary item for life. Money, property, gold ,silver , jewels and pearls cannot satisfy human hunger. That is why food grains are called synonym of richness. An individual arranges food for family while the ruler may manage for the whole state. For food, it is necessary to give importance to agriculture and farmer. Also the means of irrigation like canal and dams may be constructed . In modern age, using the best of the technique more and more food should be grown so that nobody may shortage of food. In the absence of proper distribution also, supply of food appears to be short. It is the administrator’s duty to manage it properly. There is no enemy equal to hunger Hunger is the greatest enemy. Chanakya Nitishastra say ‘ A hungry man can do any evil action’. If the country faces scarcity of food because of normal circumstance or because of dreadful famine or drought, the enemy in the form of hunger makes people fight with each other. They start snatching and plucking one another.This disturbs peace. A ruler’s foremost duty becomes to help. The people as far as possible in growing more and more food. One who is lazy is sure to suffer (pangs of) hunger To die with hunger is a curse. It is matter of shame and slur for the country. Even then in this 21st century also somewhere in the country somebody, sometimes dies with hunger. Such news find place in the newspaper. Generally a common active man earns for himself and his family hi bread. But there are some very inactive and lazy persons who have to die of starvation. Here also lies the duty of the administrator to manage the problem of unemployment. Everybody should have a job, everybody should have something to do , so that he may be earning money. Nobody should remain hungry in a properly managed state. There is nothing uneatable for a hungry one A starving person is ready to eat anything like weed and straw, clay or flesh etc. it is the hunger that destroys all the relations. With an empty stomach one cannot repeat the name of the god. The development of civilization, culture and art, all depend upon the satisfaction of this basic need i.e. hunger. An ideal ruler should always be prepared to face the scarcity of food in emergency. Food storage should be managed in such a way that such crisis may be easily handled. In no case such circumstance may be allowed to happen, That man had to eat the non eatables. Over indulge in sensual objects is the cause of aging When one does not control his sense organs and overindulges in eating, drinking , behavior and conduct, he becomes aged quickly, in young age one possesses energy and enthusiasm to work but overindulgence in sensual objects destroys it. By self control one can surely increase vigour of youth and push back old age. One should earn one’s livelihood, serving a compassionate master One should serve such a master (or head of the institution ) only who is compassionate and respects the humanness of his employees. One who treat his employees as beasts and disrespects them, should be discarded. One who serves a miserly master is like one who fans the firefly to get fire Serving a miserly master is futile because he cannot look after the needs of his employees. Just as fire does not burn by fanning a firefly, in the same way a merciless, miser person does not serve any purpose. One should serve a Good master Chanakya asks people to take resort to a learned master who respects virtues. The recognition and respect of qualities of the employes is necessary for good relations between the master and the servants. The service of such a master fulfills the desires. There can be no marriage between the high and the low While discussing polity to raise the question of marriage seems to be absurd. But in English the word ‘marriage’ does not mean union of male and female, but friendship between the two people of same sex is also designated by the word 'marriage'. This Chanakya Quote is the same sense can mean friendship between high and low is not desirable. In case of marriages it can be said that bride and bridegroom should belong to the same status. One good and self-controlled and the other low minded and self indulgent cannot form a good pair. The institution of marriage keeps peace and balance in the society. In the absence of his institution the society becomes palace of debauchery or adultery. For a well organized state family life also should be the same. Chanakya want to suggest that a man’s nature, character etc. depend upon his family life. In an assembly , an enemy should not be angered (or criticized). In an assembly if there is an enemy, one should not express feeling of enmity towards him. It can harm in two way. Firstly, the agenda for which the assembly has bed called, gets obstructed. Adversaries start fighting and the main purpose is defeated. Moreover, even if enemy does not react to the adverse remarks at that time, will surely take revenge on afterwords. chankaya seems to stress maintaining the grace of the assembly by proper conduct.In Indian parliament ( foreign also ) many a time, disgraceful scenes occur which mar the grace of the house. An enemy’s trouble is pleasant to hear This is very natural tendency that he feels happiness after listening to new of calamity of the enemy. But an ideal truthful person dies not depend for his happiness upon the destruction of enemy. When two group fight, both want destruction of each other. But truthful person feels happiness when the truth wins.
Here is my cllection of Chanakya Quotes Dharma is at root of Happiness Sukha Mula Dharma By happiness , Chanakya Means to happiness of the people and by dharma is meant the dutifulness of the rulers. As long as the the ruler or the administrator is conscious of his duties towards the people , they will be happy and contended. Wealth is at root of Dharma ( Dutifulness) Dharmasya Mulartha In order to govern the state well and to keep his people happy and contented , wealth is essential welfare of the people is not possible without money. Prosperity or wealth depends on ( Good governance ) of the state Arthasya Mula Rajyam In order to promote prosperity of the people and stability of the state. It is essential that the state is run efficiently. Victory over the senses ( self control ) is the root of ( stability of ) state. Rajyamoolmindrajaya One who is able to control and conquer his desires , is alone , competent to rule the state in a just , impartial and benovolent manner. Humbleness is at the root of sense control. Indriajayasya Moola vinaya In order to control over one's senses, one has to be humble and modest. It is the learning that makes man humble. A ruler with an inflated ego and arrogance cannot be a good ruler. If he gets down to solving the people's Problems , He has to become humble to succeed. Attending the elders is the root of humbleness. Vinayasya Moola vradhopsewa Irrespective of their status in the society , the ruler has to begin by looking after the needs of the aged. True Knowledge ( or wisdom ) results from the service of elders. Vradhasewya Vigyanam Methods and Techniques of governance can be learnt from the texts but the wisdom of the aged and experienced provides accurate practical knowledge.When the theory and practice come together. It is called Wisdom. With wisdom one becomes capable. Vigyanenatmanam sampadyet Wisdom raises the quality of governance the wisdom is the combination of theory and practice. It makes the ruler more capable and more efficient. A capable king only become victorious. Sampaditatma Jitatma Bhavati Once the ruler has conquered his desires, He becomes wise and strong enough to conquer others. The Victorious ( King) happens to attain all the riches. Jitatma Sarvarth sanyujayat It is necessary for a good and successful ruler to keep his desires under control. If he succeeds in doing so. He cannot only get his wishes fulfilled but also gain prosperity. Economic Prosperity of the state create prosperity for the people Arthasampat Prakratisampada karoti A prosperous ruler will govern the state well , take up welfare activities for the people and promote commercial activities with the result that soon the people also become prosperous.
Quotes by Chanakya A poor one has no intellect. (as he does not get opportunities for its development) Lack of money and worry of livelihood make the intellect, dull. Poverty puts man in depression by which thinking faculty of a man is effected adversely. If some how one happiness to come out of depression, the opportunity for development of intellect not available to him. The ruler’s duty is to keep the state free of poverty so that people get chance of developing intellect. By fully-developed intellect only, The prosperity of the state can be achieved. A poor man’s word even if apt is not heard. This world is worshiper of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. These worshipers are merciless. In this world man is judged by the wealth he possesses and not by his knowledge or any other quality. A poor person's word even if proper, is not listened. As a good manager, the ruler , should respect the abilities of poor persons and inspire them to use their beneficial intellect t in the development of the society. The poor is despised by his own wife. One who cannot arrange the basic amenities for the family is insulted by one’s own wife. Family life cannot he led without money. When poor man cannot hold this responsibility his own family member including the wife are not able to give him the expected respect. It is easy to speak of high ideals that a wife should stand with husband in pleasure and in pain, but what is to be done by money will be done by money only. According to chanakya, administrator's duty is to provide for all . Ruler fails if state’s people remain poor. Also, before marriage, one should try to collect money for needs of growing family. Bees do not go to a flowerless mango tree. What to say of a man, even animals birds and insects have selfish attitude. Bees hover around the blossomed mango tree. As soon as the blossom fell of, bees leave the tree. In the same way when a wealthy person loose money, the mendicant go leaving him. Indirectly it becomes the duty of the ruler that he may help to maintain the wealth of the wealthy. Learning is wealth to the poor. A person who possesses learning cannot be called poor though he may not be having money., That leaning is the wealth of poor by which he can earn livelihood the government should provide opportunity to all to educate themselves. The wealth of learning cannot be stolen by thieves. Worldly wealth like money, gold silver or diamond and pearls can be stolen by thieves but knowledge or learning is that inner wealth which can never by stolen by anybody. The administrator should himself be learned and lover of knowledge and try to make his people also the same. Fame is glorified by leaning. The desire to be famous is but natural . It is the learning which spreads one’s fame to far place fame attained through other actions can be erased or become extinct but fame attained through learning is far reaching. Fame is immortal. The present body is perished after death, but fame remains immortal The glory of a ruler is spread by many fold actions.His bravery valour and ventures of public –welfare, all proclaim his fame. If he gives due respect o the learned ones and scholars, he himself attains glory. The appreciation by the unlearned is not the test of ruler’s fame. If the learned sings songs of his fame, then he will be truly called famous. The institutions of governance is expected to be impressed by scholars. He is good man who moves forward to help others. While defining a good person Great Chankaya says that one who is foremost in helping others, can only be called a good person. it is really true that people first do their own good and hardly think for others. But a true human being is he who is engrossed in helping others. Chanakya expects that the ruler, the ministers and the officials, all should do good to others. Not only this in good government even the subject is also busy doing well for others. Such a state will surely be wealthy and prosperous. To keep the senses calm is the true learning. Though Chankaya has stressfully established the importance of learning and knowledge but he believes that if there is no self-control, all goes waste. The true learning makes a man self-controlled. It suggests that persons related with governance of the state should not only be learned but they should possess self-control also. The mind and the organs of sense are always attracted towards worldly luxuries. When one is not able to control them, he misuses the resource of the state for his enjoyment. Control over sense organs drive away man from wrong things.
For me Chanakya was one of the leader in political related issues. His principles are worth reading even today. It was his principles only that created a world class ruler from a simple boy.
I love Inpirational quotes. I collect them. Here are some of mine favorite quotes by the Chankya The Great that have inspired me , helped me and influenced my life : The secrecy of counsel is of supreme importance. Chanakya enunciated the principle of ministerial secrecy 2300 years ago which has been adopted by the governments all over the world now. In order to make the state strong and secure, it is vital that all governments’ plans relating to defense and foreign affairs be kept secret. Though ministerial eyes the weakness of the enemy are seen It is only through consultation with his ministers and advisers that the ruler comes to know the weaknesses of his enemies and exploit them to his advantage. While counseling (with the ministers) there should not be quarrels. During consultations with his ministers, the ruler should maintain a cordial and friendly atmosphere. He should not degrade or humiliate them. He should treat them with respect and listen to them with an open mind. When a problem does not seem to have a solution, it is the counsel that acts as a beacon. On a dark night, nothing is visible. But a small lamp shows the way. Similarly when no solution to a problem is in sight consultation with and advice of is ministers can show the right path to the ruler.
