Chanakya Neeti

Chanakya Neeti

As soon as the fear approaches near
Attack and destroy it - Chanakya says

Chanakya was an epoch-making personality. His was the time when India was emerging out of the 'Dark Age'. The old values were losing their relevance and the new were yet to be established. It was an age of confusion which permeated every walk of the society. The Dharma, so far a guiding and uniting force, was being subjected to the contradictory interpretations. The factionalism and fundamentalism were raising their ugly head and entering into the vitality of the social and religious norms. Taking the advantage of this confusion. Alexander of Macedon invaded India with the help of the selfish rulers of some border states. Chanakya witnessed and felt the severe trauma of this major invasion by a real foreigner. This shattering jolt helped efface the prevailing confusion in India and expedited the emergence of a new system which was in essence authored by Chanakya.

Chanakya was the first thinker of the ancient times who nurtured the sense of nationalism and inculcated in the minds of the people that they owed their basic allegiance to the Rajya (State of Nation) and not to the Dharma. In contradistinction to the earlier concept he made the State paramount.

He had seen that in the absence of any omnipotent religious authority the misconstrued faiths were shattering the very structure of society and morality. What was the needed was the total change or renovation of the system. But there were no guiding beacons to enlighten the people about this new system. Then he wrote two significant books the Arthashastra (known as Kautily's Arthashastra) and a collection of his observation on various practical aspects of life entitled 'Chanakya-Niti'.

'Chanakya Neeti' is, in fact, this great thinker's pithy observation to impart the practical wisdom to the people of his time. But these teachings are so fundamental relevance is almost ever lasting. Enshrined in the simple sense. Written in simple lucid language with clear thoughts. At times even some of the immoral teaching are part of this book. But they appear immoral only at the prima facie viewing. While telling what we should learn from the other beings, Chanakya says: i.e. "Learn from the cock the following four things: getting up at the right time, fighting bitterly, making your brothers flee and usurping their share also!"

There might be certain aphorisms which might appear objectionable to some persons, especially those who discuss the role of women in our society. Chanakya shares the same thoughts as these were prevalent during his time or are still prevalent in certain sections of our society. The entire Hindu thought gives only two positions to women: either they are adorable or they are like any other pleasure source, enjoyable. The sense of companionship, which is clearly an occidental concept is missing for obvious reasons. Well, nobody can be perfect in the world. Even the greatest thinkers of the world had some kind of achilles heel. A man is a product of the social set up. No doubt Chanakya tried to effect a change but even he could not rid himself of some diehard idiosyncrasies. Chanakya believed not only in imparting instructions but in also seeing their practical implementation.

History records that Chanakya not only carved out a massive empire for his pet disciple Chandragupta but also created such an awareness in the general masses that they began to talk about a 'Rashtra' or a 'Nation' instead of a 'State or a 'Rajya'. And the social, civil and political norms that he established had the concept of democracy in its embryonic form. Chanakya is one of those few great persons whose greatness enhances with the passage of time.

The basic purpose of Chanakya-Niti is to impart knowledge on every practical aspect of life. And in this context he has touched upon various factors dealing with faith and culture, from the individual's point of view.

Chanakya Neeti's and Sutras:

• Riches, Vitality, Life, Body-all are fickle and fey; only Dharma is constant and everlasting.
• God's abode is not the idols of wood stone or earth. He dwells only in feeling.
• Poverty, disease, grief, bondage and all the infatuation addictions are the fruits of the tree of sin of the person.
• If you want to overpower the entire world merely by just one action, then put restraint upon your tongue speaking ill of others.
• One well blossomed and sweet smelling flower is enough to turn the whole garden fragrant. Similarly, one worthy son is enough to bring glory to the whole family.
• That man who fails to achieve even one of the four aims of life, viz. Dharm (faith in his belief), Artha (riches which provide meaning to life), Karam (fulfilment of the desires), and Moksha ( satiation of all wants) is verily born only for dying (as his life is just a waste).
• Manners betray one's family, and the language country. Hospitality betrays one's love and the physique betray's one's food intake.
• Virtues enhances the beauty of the form; good manners enhances the glory of the family; perfection enhances the value of education and enjoyment enhances the pleasures of wealth.
• An impatient person gets ruined on enjoying luxuries in excess.
• Fools want to reveal the secret things told by their master.
• No advice should be given to a bad person.
• Keep your enemy engaged in artificial behavior till you find his weakness.
• Silver becomes gold when mixed with gold.
• A person who excels in a particular field should be given that work only.
• A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first!