Chanakya Neeti

[vadapav]

5. He who loses his money is forsaken by his friends, his wife, his
servants and his relations; yet when he regains his riches those who
have forsaken him come back to him. Hence wealth is certainly the best
of relations.

[vadapav]

6. Sinfully acquired wealth may remain for ten years; in the eleventh year
it disappears with even the original stock.

[vadapav]

7. A bad action committed by a great man is not censured (as there is none
that can reproach him), and a good action performed by a low-class
man comes to be condemned (because none respects him). Just see: the
drinking of nectar is excellent, but it became the cause of Rahu's
demise; and the drinking of poison is harmful, but when Lord Shiva
(who is exalted) drank it, it became an ornament to his neck (nilakanta).

[vadapav]

8. A true meal is that which consists of the remnants left after a
brahmana's meal. Love which is shown to others is true love, not that
which is cherished for one's own self. to abstain from sin is true
wisdom. That is an act of charity which is performed without
ostentation.

[vadapav]

9. For want of discernment the most precious jewels lie in the dust at the
feet of men while bits of glass are worn on their heads. But we should
not imagine that the gems have sunk in value, and the bits of glass have
risen in importance. When a person of critical judgement shall appear,
each will be given its right position.

[vadapav]

10. Sastric knowledge is unlimited, and the arts to be learned are many; the
time we have is short, and our opportunities to learn are beset with
obstacles. Therefore select for learning that which is most important,
just as the swan drinks only the milk in water.

[vadapav]

11. He is a chandala who eats his dinner without entertaining the stranger
who has come to his house quite accidentally, having travelled from a
long distance and is wearied.

[vadapav]

12. One may know the four Vedas and the Dharma-sastras, yet if he has no
realisation of his own spiritual self, he can be said to be like the ladle
which stirs all kinds of foods but knows not the taste of any.

[vadapav]

13. Those blessed souls are certainly elevated who, while crossing the
ocean of life, take shelter of a genuine brahmana, who is likened unto a
boat. They are unlike passengers aboard an ordinary ship which runs
the risk of sinking.

[vadapav]

14. The moon, who is the abode of nectar and the presiding deity of all
medicines, although immortal like amrta and resplendent in form, loses
the brilliance of his rays when he repairs to the abode of the sun (day
time). Therefore will not an ordinary man be made to feel inferior by
going to live at the house of another.

[vadapav]

15. This humble bee, who always resides among the soft petals of the lotus
and drinks abundantly its sweet nectar, is now feasting on the flower of
the ordinary kutaja. Being in a strange country where the lotuses do not
exist, he is considering the pollen of the kutaja to be nice.

[vadapav]

16. (Lord Visnu asked His spouse Lakshmi why She did not care to live in
the house of a brahmana, when She replied) " O Lord a rishi named
Agastya drank up My father (the ocean) in anger; Brighu Muni kicked
You; brahmanas pride themselves on their learning having sought the
favour of My competitor Sarasvati; and lastly they pluck each day the
lotus which is My abode, and therewith worship Lord Shiva. Therefore,
O Lord, I fear to dwell with a brahmana and that properly.

[vadapav]

17. There are many ways of binding by which one can be dominated and
controlled in this world, but the bond of affection is the strongest. For
example, take the case of the humble bee which, although expert at
piercing hardened wood, becomes caught in the embrace of its beloved
flowers (as the petals close at dusk).

[vadapav]

18. Although sandalwood be cut, it does not forsake its natural quality of
fragrance; so also the elephant does not give up sportiveness though he
should grow old. The sugarcane does not cease to be sweet though
squeezed in a mill; so the man of noble extraction does not lose his
lofty qualities, no matter how pinched he is by poverty.
19. ...

[vadapav]

CHAPTER SIXTEEN