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.
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.
