04 June 2006

Chanakya's quotations- (part 2)



Chanakya
(Indian Politician, strategist and Writer, 350 BC-275 BC)
  • Foolishness is indeed painful, and verily so is youth, but more painful by far than either is being obliged in another person's house.
  • He who befriends a man whose conduct is vicious, whose vision impure, and who is notoriously crooked, is rapidly ruined.
  • In this world, whose family is there without blemish? Who is free from sickness and grief? Who is forever happy?"
  • A man's descent may be discerned by his conduct, his country by his pronunciation of language, his friendship by his warmth and glow, and his capacity to eat by his body.
  • Of a rascal and a serpent, the serpent is the better of the two, for he strikes only at the time he is destined to kill, while the former at every step.
  • 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.
  • The beauty of a cuckoo is in its notes, that of a woman in her unalloyed devotion to her husband, that of an ugly person in his scholarship, and that of an ascetic in his forgiveness.
  • Give up a member to save a family, a family to save a village, a village to save a country, and the country to save yourself.
  • What is too heavy for the strong and what place is too distant for those who put forth effort?
  • What is the use of having many sons if they cause grief and vexation?
  • He who runs away from a fearful calamity, a foreign invasion, a terrible famine, and the companionship of wicked men is safe.
  • Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, comes of Her own accord where fools are not respected, grain is well stored up, and the husband and wife do not quarrel.
  • These five: the life-span, the type of work, wealth, learning and the time of one's death are determined while one is in the womb.
  • As long as your body is healthy and under control and death is distant, try to save your soul; when death is immanent what can you do?
  • A single son endowed with good qualities is far better than a hundred devoid of them.
  • When one is consumed by the sorrows of life, three things give him relief: offspring, a wife, and the company of the Lord's devotees.
  • The house of a childless person is a void, all directions are void to one who has no relatives, the heart of a fool is also void, but to a poverty stricken man all is void.
  • Scriptural lessons not put into practice are poison; a meal is poison to him who suffers from indigestion; a social gathering is poison to a poverty stricken person; and a young wife is poison to an aged man.
  • A thing may be dreaded as long as it has not overtaken you, but once it has come upon you, try to get rid of it without hesitation.
  • The learned are envied by the foolish; rich men by the poor; chaste women by adulteresses; and beautiful ladies by ugly ones.
  • Religion is preserved by wealth; knowledge by diligent practice; a king by conciliatory words; and a home by a dutiful housewife.
  • Charity puts and end to poverty; righteous conduct to misery; discretion to ignorance; and scrutiny to fear.
  • A man is born alone and dies alone; and he experiences the good and bad consequences of his karma alone; and he goes alone to hell or the Supreme abode.
  • Rain which falls upon the sea is useless; so is food for one who is satiated; in vain is a gift for one who is wealthy; and a burning lamp during the daytime is useless.
  • There is no water like rainwater; no strength like one's own; no light like that of the eyes; and no wealth more dear than food grain.
  • The poor wish for wealth; animals for the faculty of speech; men wish for heaven; and godly persons for liberation.
  • The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth that makes the sun shine and the winds blow; indeed all things rest upon truth.
  • The duration of life is uncertain, and the place of habitation is uncertain; but in all this inconsistent world religious merit alone is immovable.
  • Among men the barber is cunning; among birds the crow; among beasts the jackal; and among women, the malin (flower girl)."
  • As is the desire of Providence, so functions one's intellect; one's activities are also controlled by Providence; and by the will of Providence one is surrounded by helpers.
  • Time perfects all living beings as well as kills them; it alone is awake when all others are asleep. Time is insurmountable.
  • He who gives up shyness in monetary dealings, in acquiring knowledge, in eating and in business, becomes happy.
  • The happiness and peace attained by those satisfied by the nectar of spiritual tranquillity is not attained by greedy persons restlessly moving here and there.
  • Conciliate a strong man by submission, a wicked man by opposition, and the one whose power is equal to yours by politeness or force.
  • He who has wealth has friends and relations; he alone survives and is respected as a man.
  • O wise man! Give your wealth only to the worthy and never to others. The water of the sea received by the clouds is always sweet.
  • Perfection can be achieved only through devotion (to the Supreme Lord) for devotion is the basis of all success.
  • here is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy.
  • Moral excellence is an ornament for personal beauty; righteous conduct, for high birth; success for learning; and proper spending for wealth.
  • It is better to be without a kingdom than to rule over a petty one; better to be without a friend than to befriend a rascal; better to be without a disciple than to have a stupid one; and better to be without a wife than to have a bad one.
  • 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.
  • Oil on water, a secret communicated to a base man, a gift given to a worthy receiver, and scriptural instruction given to an intelligent man spread out by virtue of their nature.
  • There are two ways to get rid of thorns and wicked persons; using footwear in the first case and in the second shaming them so that they cannot raise their faces again thus keeping them at a distance.
  • The cuckoos remain silent for a long time (for several seasons) until they are able to sing sweetly (in the Spring ) so as to give joy to all.
  • Friendship between equals flourishes, service under a king is respectable, it is good to be business-minded in public dealings, and a handsome lady is safe in her own home.
  • Fish, tortoises, and birds bring up their young by means of sight, attention and touch; so do saintly men afford

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If the real world were a book, it would never find a publisher.
Over-long, detailed to the point of distraction - and ultimately without a major resolution.
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posted by Chaotic Monk @ 1:00 AM Comments: 0