Canakya Panidfa

NITI-SASTRA
THE POLITICAL ETHICS OF CHANAKYA PANDIT
Aboui 2300 ycais ago ilc Giccl conqucioi Alcxandci ilc Gicai invadcd
ilc Indian sub-coniincni. His ollcnsivc upon ilc land's paiclwoil ol small Hindu
cmpiics piovcd io bc liglly succcsslul duc io ilc disuniiy ol ilc pciiy iulcis. Ii
was Clanalya Pandii wlo, lccling dccply disiicsscd ai lcaii, scaiclcd loi and
discovcicd a qualilicd lcadci in ilc pcison ol Clandiagupia Mauiya. Alilougl a
mcic áasí-putra, ilai is, a son ol a maidscivani by ilc Magadla King Nanda,
Clandiagupia was liglly iniclligcni, couiagcous and plysically powcilul.
Clanalya caicd liiilc ilai by biiil lc slould noi lavc daicd io appioacl ilc
ilionc. A man ol acuic disciciion, Clanalya dcsiicd only ilai a iulci ol
cxiiaoidinaiy capabiliiics bc iaiscd io ilc cxalicd posi ol King ol Magadla so ilai
ilc ollcnsivc launclcd by ilc Yavanas (Giccls) could bc icpicsscd.
Ii is said ilai Clanalya lad bccn pcisonally ollcndcd by King Nanda and
ilai ilis powcilul branmana lad vowcd io lccp lis long síhna unlnoiicd uniil lc
saw io ilc dcmisc ol ilc conicmpiuous iulci and lis diunlcn piinccs. Tiuc io lis
oail, ii was only alici Clanalya Pandii cnginccicd a swili dcail loi ilc dcgiadcd
and woiillcss iulcis ol ilc Nanda dynasiy ilai ilis gicai branmana was ablc io
again iic up lis iuli ol laii. Tlcic aic scvcial vcisions iclaiing ilc cxaci way ilai
Clanalya lad sci aboui climinaiing ilc Nandas, and ii appcais lisioiians lavc
lound ii dilliculi io scpaiaic laci liom loll lcgcnd as icgaids io cciiain spccilic
dciails.
Alici ilc Nanda downlall, ii bccamc casy loi Clandiagupia io win ilc
suppoii ol ilc Magadla ciiizcns, wlo icspondcd waimly io ilcii ncw lcioic and
landsomc young iulci. Kings ol nciglbouiing siaics iallicd undci Clandiagupia's
suzciainiy and ilc lasi ol ilc Giccls lcadcd by Alcxandci's gcncial Sclcucus wcic
dclcaicd.
Wiil ilc dual obsiaclcs ol ilc Nandas and Alcxandci's iioops oui ol ilc
way, Clanalya Pandii uscd cvciy poliiical dcvicc and iniiiguc io uniic ilc gicaici
poiiion ol ilc Indian sub-coniincni. Undci ilc Piimc minisicislip ol Clanalya,
King Clandiagupia Mauiya conqucicd all ilc lands up io Iian in ilc Noiil wcsi
and down io ilc cxiicmiiics ol Kainaiala oi Mysoic siaic in ilc Souil. Ii was by
lis wiis alonc ilai ilis slinny and ill-clad branmana diiccicd ilc loimaiion ol ilc
gicaicsi Indian cmpiic cvci bcloic sccn in lisioiy (ic. sincc ilc bcginning ol Kali-
yuga). Tlus ilc indigcnous Vcdic culiuic ol ilc sacicd land ol llaiaia was
pioiccicd and ilc spiiiiual piaciiccs ol ilc Hindus could go on unlampcicd.
Alilougl many gicai savanis ol ilc scicncc ol niii sucl as liilaspaii,
Sluliaclaiya, llaiiiilaii and Vislnuslaima lavc cclocd many ol ilcsc
insiiuciions in ilcii own cclcbiaicd woils
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, ii is pcilaps ilc way ilai Clanalya
applicd lis icaclings ol nítí-sastra ilai las madc lim siand oui as a signilicani
lisioiical liguic. Tlc gicai Pandii icaclcs us ilai loliy idcals can bccomc a cciiain
icaliiy il wc iniclligcnily woil iowaids aclicving oui goal in a dcicimincd,
piogicssivc and piaciical mannci.
Di. R. Slamaslasiiy, ilc iianslaioi ol ilc Lnglisl vcision ol KautíIyas
Artna-Sastra, quoics a picdiciion liom ilc Vísnnu Purana louiil canio, iwcniy-
louiil clapici, icgaiding ilc appcaiancc ol Clanalya Pandii. Tlis picdiciion,
incidcnially, was sciibcd liliy ccniuiics ago, ncaily 2700 ycais bcloic ilis poliiical
lcavywcigli and man ol dcsiiny was io appcai. Tlc picdiciion inloims us: "(Iiisi)
Malapadma ilcn lis sons - only ninc in numbci - will bc ilc loids ol ilc caiil loi
a lundicd ycais. A branmana namcd Kauiilya will slay ilcsc Nandas. On ilcii
dcail, ilc Mauiyas will cnjoy ilc caiil. Kauiilya limscll will insiall Clandiagupia
on ilc ilionc. His son will bc lindusaia and lis son will bc Aslolavaidlana."
Similai pioplccics aic also icpcaicd in ilc llagavaia, Vayu aná Matsya Puranas.
In picscniing ilis woil I lavc iiaccd oui and iclciicd io iwo old Lnglisl
vcisions ol Cnanahya Nítí-sastra publislcd ai ilc closc ol ilc lasi ccniuiy.
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Howcvci, ilcsc appaicnily wcic iianslaicd by mcic sclolais (noi dcvoiccs) wlo
sccm io lavc misscd many subilciics ol Clanalya's vasi wii and wisdom. Anoilci
uncdiicd and unpublislcd manusciipi Cnanahya Nítí-sastra wiil boil Lnglisl
iianslaiion and Laiiniscd iiansliiciaiion pioduccd by ilc Vindavana ISKCON
Ccniic was also iclciicd io. Ii was lowcvci ilc lcaincd Vaisnava panáít and
Sansliii sclolai Sii V. ladaiayana Muiily, ol ilc Souil Indian Madlva Sclool,
wlo lclpcd mc scc ilc dcpil and impoii ol ilcsc vciscs liom ilc oiiginal
Dcvanagaii. A vciy lcw sIohas wlicl wcic pcilaps iiiclcvani oi oilciwisc noi
usclul loi oui Vaisnava icadcis lavc bccn omiiicd.
I lavc bccn iold ilai oui blcsscd spiiiiual masici His Divinc Giacc A.C.
llaliivcdania Swami Piablupada lad cxpicsscd a dcsiic ilai Srí Cnanahya Nítí-
sastra bc piopcily iianslaicd inio Lnglisl. Ii is lopcd ilai oui picscni icndciing
will bc ai lcasi usclul il noi insiiuciivc io ilc icadci. Lci us cxaminc now in a lcw
woids on ilc scicncc ol nítí, oi common scnsc, liom ilc pcn ol Siila llaliivinoda,
ilc gicai 19il ccniuiy dcvoicc-pioncci ol ilc woildwidc piopagaiion ol Loid
Caiianya's divinc mcssagc.
Taling ilc iwo woids "common scnsc" iigli up io ilcii liglcsi lcvcl, lc
las wiiiicn:
"Man's gloiy is in common scnsc,
Diciaiing us ilc giacc,
Tlai man is madc io livc and lovc
Tlc bcauicous Hcavcn's cmbiacc"
¯3
In oilci woids, ilc ical goal ol nítí, indccd ilc goal ol lilc, is io icalisc onc's
cicinal posiiion ol Kiislna consciousncss. Tlc Pnagavaá-gíta conliims Siila
llaliivinodc's vicw in ilc linal linc ol iis lasi sIoha. ánruva nítír matír mama. A
iianslaiion ol ilai lull vcisc iuns: "(Sanjaya said) Wlcicvci ilcic is Kiislna ilc
masici ol all mysiics, and wlcicvci ilcic is Aijuna ilc supicmc aiclci, ilcic will
also bc opulcncc, vicioiy, cxiiaoidinaiy powci and moialiiy (nítí). Tlai is My
opinion."
I would cspccially lilc io ilanl Sii Raju Wlabi (Rulmini Kiislna dasa) ol
lombay loi lis gcncious linancial coniiibuiion. I am also giaiclul io Siimaii Rani
Lila Ram Kumai llaigava ol Luclnow, a piomincni ISKCON Lilc Mcmbci, and
lci iwin sons Lava and Kusl ol Raja Ram Kumai Picss, loi spccdily biinging oui
ilis volumc.
Milcs Davis (Paiiia Pavana dasa)
Malaia Sanlianii Day
Pausa Slulla Navami
1+il Januaiy 19S1
Luclnow, India
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liilaspaii Samliia ol Gaiuda Puiana, Slulia-Niii, Niii-Slaiala and
Pancaianiia icspcciivcly.
¯2
Sii K. Raglunailaji's vcision ol "Viiddla-Clanalya - Tlc Maxims ol
Clanalya" (Iamily Piiniing Picss, lombay, 1S90) las piovcn io bc an
cspccially usclul iclcicncc in biinging oui ilis picscni cdiiion.
¯3
Obviously Siila llaliivinoda Tlaluia uscd ilc woid "lcavcn in ilc
Lnglisl scnsc mcaning "cicinal spiiiiual lingdom."
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CHAPTER ONE
1. Humbly bowing down bcloic ilc almigliy Loid Sii Vislnu, ilc Loid ol ilc
ilicc woilds, I icciic maxims ol ilc scicncc ol poliiical cilics (nítí) sclccicd
liom ilc vaiious satras.
2. Tlai man wlo by ilc siudy ol ilcsc maxims liom ilc satras acquiics a
lnowlcdgc ol ilc mosi cclcbiaicd piinciplcs ol duiy, and undcisiands wlai
ougli and wlai ougli noi io bc lollowcd, and wlai is good and wlai is
bad, is mosi cxccllcni.
3. Tlcicloic wiil an cyc io ilc public good, I slall spcal ilai wlicl, wlcn
undcisiood, will lcad io an undcisianding ol ilings in ilcii piopci
pcispcciivc.
+. Lvcn a panáít comcs io giicl by giving insiiuciion io a loolisl disciplc, by
mainiaining a wiclcd wilc, and by cxccssivc lamiliaiiiy wiil ilc misciablc.
5. A wiclcd wilc, a lalsc liicnd, a saucy scivani and living in a lousc wiil a
scipcni in ii aic noiling bui dcail.
6. Onc slould savc lis moncy againsi laid iimcs, savc lis wilc ai ilc saciilicc
ol lis iiclcs, bui invaiiably onc slould savc lis soul cvcn ai ilc saciilicc ol
lis wilc and iiclcs.
7. Savc youi wcalil againsi luiuic calamiiy. Do noi say, "Wlai wlai lcai las a
iicl man ol calamiiy'" Wlcn iiclcs bcgin io loisalc onc cvcn ilc
accumulaicd siocl dwindlcs away.
S. Do noi inlabii a couniiy wlcic you aic noi icspccicd, cannoi cain youi
livclilood, lavc no liicnds, oi cannoi acquiic lnowlcdgc.
9. Do noi siay loi a singlc day wlcic ilcic aic noi ilcsc livc ilings: a wcalily
man, a branmana wcll vciscd in Vcdic loic, a ling, a iivci and a plysician.
10. Wisc mcn slould ncvci go inio a couniiy wlcic ilcic aic no mcans ol
caining onc's livclilood, wlcic ilc pcoplc lavc no dicad ol anybody, lavc
no scnsc ol slamc, no iniclligcncc, oi a claiiiablc disposiiion.
11. Tcsi a scivani wlilc in ilc disclaigc ol lis duiy, a iclaiivc in dilliculiy, a
liicnd in advcisiiy, and a wilc in misloiiunc.
12. Hc is a iiuc liicnd wlo docs noi loisalc us in iimc ol nccd, misloiiunc,
laminc, oi wai, in a ling's couii, oi ai ilc cicmaioiium (smasana).
13. Hc wlo givcs up wlai is impciislablc loi ilai wlicl pciislablc, loscs ilai
wlicl is impciislablc; and doubilcssly loscs ilai wlicl is pciislablc also.
1+. A wisc man slould maiiy a viigin ol a icspcciablc lamily cvcn il slc is
dcloimcd. Hc slould noi maiiy onc ol a low-class lamily, iliougl bcauiy.
Maiiiagc in a lamily ol cqual siaius is piclciablc.
15. Do noi pui youi iiusi in iivcis, mcn wlo caiiy wcapons, bcasis wiil claws
oi loins, womcn, and mcmbcis ol a ioyal lamily.
16. Lvcn liom poison cxiiaci ncciai, wasl and ialc bacl gold il ii las lallcn in
lilil, icccivc ilc liglcsi lnowlcdgc (Kisna consciousncss) liom a low boin
pcison; so also a giil posscssing viiiuous qualiiics (strí-ratna) cvcn il slc bc
boin in a disicpuiablc lamily.
17. Womcn lavc lungci iwo-lold, slyncss loui-lold, daiing six-lold, and lusi
cigli-lold as compaicd io mcn.
CHAPTER TWO
1. Uniiuillulncss, iaslncss, guilc, siupidiiy, avaiicc, unclcanlincss and
ciucliy aic a womcn's scvcn naiuial llaws.
2. To lavc abiliiy loi caiing wlcn dislcs aic icady ai land, io bc iobusi and
viiilc in ilc company ol onc's icligiously wcddcd wilc, and io lavc a mind
loi maling claiiiy wlcn onc is piospcious aic ilc liuiis ol no oidinaiy
ausiciiiics.
3. Hc wlosc son is obcdicni io lim, wlosc wilc's conduci is in accoidancc
wiil lis wislcs, and wlo is conicni wiil lis iiclcs, las lis lcavcn lcic on
caiil.
+. Tlcy alonc aic sons wlo aic dcvoicd io ilcii lailci. Hc is a lailci wlo
suppoiis lis sons. Hc is a liicnd in wlom wc can conlidc, and slc only is a
wilc in wlosc company ilc lusband lccls conicnicd and pcacclul.
5. Avoid lim wlo ialls swccily bcloic you bui iiics io iuin you bclind youi
bacl, loi lc is lilc a piiclci ol poison wiil mill on iop.
6. Do noi pui youi iiusi in a bad companion noi cvcn iiusi an oidinaiy
liicnd, loi il lc slould gci angiy wiil you, lc may biing all youi sccicis io
ligli.
7. Do noi icvcal wlai you lavc ilougli upon doing, bui by wisc council lccp
ii sccici bcing dcicimincd io caiiy ii inio cxccuiion.
S. Ioolislncss is indccd painlul, and vciily so is youil, bui moic painlul by
lai ilan ciilci is bcing obligcd in anoilci pcison's lousc.
9. Tlcic docs noi cxisi a iuby in cvciy mouniain, noi a pcail in ilc lcad ol
cvciy clcplani; nciilci aic ilc saánus io bc lound cvciywlcic, noi sandal
iiccs in cvciy loicsi.
10. Wisc mcn slould always biing up ilcii sons in vaiious moial ways, loi
clildicn wlo lavc lnowlcdgc ol nítí-sastra and aic wcll-bclavcd bccomc a
gloiy io ilcii lamily.
11. Tlosc paicnis wlo do noi cducaic ilcii sons aic ilcii cncmics; loi as is a
cianc among swans, so aic ignoiani so aic ignoiani sons in a public
asscmbly.
12. Many a bad labii is dcvclopcd iliougl ovciindulgcncc, and many a good
onc by clasiiscmcni, ilcicloic bcai youi son as wcll as youi pupil; ncvci
indulgc ilcm. ("Spaic ilc iod and spoil ilc clild.")
13. Lci noi a singlc day pass wiiloui youi lcaining a vcisc, lall a vcisc, oi a
louiil ol ii, oi cvcn onc lciici ol ii; noi wiiloui aiicnding io claiiiy, siudy
and oilci pious aciiviiy.
1+. Scpaiaiion liom ilc wilc, disgiacc liom onc's own pcoplc, an cncmy savcd
in baiilc, scivicc io a wiclcd ling, povciiy, and a mismanagcd asscmbly:
ilcsc six linds ol cvils, il allliciing a pcison, buin lim cvcn wiiloui liic.
15. Ticcs on a iivci banl, a woman in anoilci man's lousc, and lings wiiloui
counscllois go wiiloui doubi io swili dcsiiuciion.
16. A branmanas siicngil is in lis lcaining, a ling's siicngil is in lis aimy, a
vaísnyas siicngil is in lis wcalil and a snuáras siicngil is in lis aiiiiudc
ol scivicc.
17. Tlc piosiiiuic las io loisalc a man wlo las no moncy, ilc subjcci a ling
ilai cannoi dclcnd lim, ilc biids a iicc ilai bcais no liuii, and ilc gucsis a
lousc alici ilcy lavc linislcd ilcii mcals.
1S. Pranmanas quii ilcii paiions alici iccciving alms liom ilcm, sclolais lcavc
ilcii icaclcis alici iccciving cducaiion liom ilcm, and animals dcscii a
loicsi ilai las bccn buini down.
19. Hc wlo bcliicnds a man wlosc conduci is vicious, wlosc vision impuic,
and wlo is noioiiously cioolcd, is iapidly iuincd.
20. Iiicndslip bciwccn cquals llouiislcs, scivicc undci a ling is icspcciablc, ii
is good io bc busincss-mindcd in public dcalings, and a landsomc lady is
salc in lci own lomc.
CHAPTER THREE
1. In ilis woild, wlosc lamily is ilcic wiiloui blcmisl' Wlo is licc liom
siclncss and giicl' Wlo is loicvci lappy'
2. A man's dcsccni may bc disccincd by lis conduci, lis couniiy by lis
pionunciaiion ol languagc, lis liicndslip by lis waimil and glow, and lis
capaciiy io cai by lis body.
3. Givc youi dauglici in maiiiagc io a good lamily, cngagc youi son in
lcaining, scc ilai youi cncmy comcs io giicl, and cngagc youi liicnds in
ánarma. (Kisna consciousncss).
+. Ol a iascal and a scipcni, ilc scipcni is ilc bciici ol ilc iwo, loi lc siiilcs
only ai ilc iimc lc is dcsiincd io lill, wlilc ilc loimci ai cvciy sicp.
5. Tlcicloic lings gailci iound ilcmsclvcs mcn ol good lamilics, loi ilcy
ncvci loisalc ilcm ciilci ai ilc bcginning, ilc middlc oi ilc cnd.
6. Ai ilc iimc ol ilc praIaya (univcisal dcsiiuciion) ilc occans aic io cxcccd
ilcii limiis and sccl io clangc, bui a sainily man ncvci clangcs.
7. Do noi lccp company wiil a lool loi as wc can scc lc is a iwo-lcggcd bcasi.
Lilc an unsccn iloin lc piciccs ilc lcaii wiil lis slaip woids.
S. Tlougl mcn bc cndowcd wiil bcauiy and youil and boin in noblc
lamilics, yci wiiloui cducaiion ilcy aic lilc ilc paIasa llowci wlicl is void
ol swcci liagiancc.
9. Tlc bcauiy ol a cucloo is in iis noics, ilai ol a woman in lci unalloycd
dcvoiion io lci lusband, ilai ol an ugly pcison in lis sclolaislip, and ilai
ol an ascciic in lis loigivcncss.
10. Givc up a mcmbci io savc a lamily, a lamily io savc a villagc, a villagc io
savc a couniiy, and ilc couniiy io savc youiscll.
11. Tlcic is no povciiy loi ilc indusiiious. Sin docs noi aiiacl iiscll io ilc
pcison piaciicing japa (claniing ol ilc loly namcs ol ilc Loid). Tlosc wlo
aic absoibcd in maunam (silcni conicmplaiion ol ilc Loid) lavc no quaiicl
wiil oilcis. Tlcy aic lcailcss wlo icmain always alcii.
12. ...
13. Wlai is ioo lcavy loi ilc siiong and wlai placc is ioo disiani loi ilosc wlo
pui loiil clloii' Wlai couniiy is loicign io a man ol iiuc lcaining' Wlo
can bc inimical io onc wlo spcals plcasingly'
1+. As a wlolc loicsi bccomcs liagiani by ilc cxisicncc ol a singlc iicc wiil
swcci-smclling blossoms in ii, so a lamily bccomcs lamous by ilc biiil ol a
viiiuous son.
15. As a singlc wiilcicd iicc, il sci allamc, causcs a wlolc loicsi io buin, so
docs a iascal son dcsiioy a wlolc lamily.
16. As nigli lools dcliglilul wlcn ilc moon slincs, so is a lamily gladdcncd
by cvcn onc lcaincd and viiiuous son.
17. Wlai is ilc usc ol laving many sons il ilcy causc giicl and vcxaiion' Ii is
bciici io lavc only onc son liom wlom ilc wlolc lamily can dciivc
suppoii and pcacclulncss.
1S. Iondlc a son uniil lc is livc ycais ol agc, and usc ilc siicl loi anoilci icn
ycais, bui wlcn lc las aiiaincd lis sixiccnil ycai iicai lim as a liicnd.
19. Hc wlo iuns away liom a lcailul calamiiy, a loicign invasion, a iciiiblc
laminc, and ilc companionslip ol wiclcd mcn is salc.
20 Hc wlo las noi acquiicd onc ol ilc lollowing: icligious mciii (ánarma),
wcalil (artna), saiislaciion ol dcsiics (hama), oi libciaiion (mohsa) is
icpcaicdly boin io dic.
21. Lalslmi, ilc Goddcss ol wcalil, comcs ol Hci own accoid wlcic lools aic
noi icspccicd, giain is wcll sioicd up, and ilc lusband and wilc do noi
quaiicl.
CHAPTER FOUR
1. Tlcsc livc: ilc lilc-span, ilc iypc ol woil, wcalil, lcaining and ilc iimc ol
onc's dcail aic dcicimincd wlilc onc is in ilc womb.
2. Ollspiing, liicnds and iclaiivcs llcc liom a dcvoicc ol ilc Loid: yci ilosc
wlo lollow lim biing mciii io ilcii lamilics iliougl ilcii dcvoiion.
3. Iisl, ioiioiscs, and biids biing up ilcii young by mcans ol sigli, aiicniion
and ioucl; so do sainily mcn alloid pioicciion io ilcii associaics by ilc
samc mcans.
+. As long as youi body is lcalily and undci coniiol and dcail is disiani, iiy
io savc youi soul; wlcn dcail is immancni wlai can you do'
5. Lcaining is lilc a cow ol dcsiic. Ii, lilc lci, yiclds in all scasons. Lilc a
moilci, ii lccds you on youi jouincy. Tlcicloic lcaining is a liddcn
iicasuic.
6. A singlc son cndowcd wiil good qualiiics is lai bciici ilan a lundicd
dcvoid ol ilcm. Ioi ilc moon, ilougl onc, dispcls ilc dailncss, wlicl ilc
siais, ilougl numcious, can noi.
7. A siill-boin son os supciioi io a loolisl son cndowcd wiil a long lilc. Tlc
liisi causcs giicl loi bui a momcni wlilc ilc laiici lilc a blazing liic
consumcs lis paicnis in giicl loi lilc.
S. Rcsiding in a small villagc dcvoid ol piopci living laciliiics, sciving a
pcison boin ol a low lamily, unwlolcsomc lood, a liowning wilc, a loolisl
son, and a widowcd dauglici buin ilc body wiiloui liic.
9. Wlai good is a cow ilai nciilci givcs mill noi conccivcs' Similaily, wlai
is ilc valuc ol ilc biiil ol a son il lc bccomcs nciilci lcaincd noi a puic
dcvoicc ol ilc Loid'
10. Wlcn onc is consumcd by ilc soiiows ol lilc, ilicc ilings givc lim iclicl:
ollspiing, a wilc, and ilc company ol ilc Loid's dcvoiccs.
11. Kings spcal loi oncc, mcn ol lcaining oncc, and ilc dauglici is givcn in
maiiiagc oncc. All ilcsc ilings lappcn oncc and only oncc.
12. Rcligious ausiciiiics slould bc piaciiccd alonc, siudy by iwo, and singing
by ilicc. A jouincy slould bc undciialcn by loui, agiiculiuic by livc, and
wai by many iogcilci.
13. Slc is a iiuc wilc wlo is clcan (sucí), cxpcii, clasic, plcasing io ilc
lusband, and iiuillul.
1+. Tlc lousc ol a clildlcss pcison is a void, all diicciions aic void io onc wlo
las no iclaiivcs, ilc lcaii ol a lool is also void, bui io a povciiy siiiclcn
man all is void.
15. Sciipiuial lcssons noi pui inio piaciicc aic poison; a mcal is poison io lim
wlo sullcis liom indigcsiion; a social gailciing is poison io a povciiy
siiiclcn pcison; and a young wilc is poison io an agcd man.
16. Tlai man wlo is wiiloui icligion and mcicy slould bc icjccicd. A guiu
wiiloui spiiiiual lnowlcdgc slould bc icjccicd. Tlc wilc wiil an ollcnsivc
lacc slould bc givcn up, and so slould iclaiivcs wlo aic wiiloui allcciion.
17. Consiani iiavcl biings old agc upon a man; a loisc bccomcs old by bcing
consianily iicd up; lacl ol scxual coniaci wiil lci lusband biings old agc
upon a woman; and gaimcnis bccomc old iliougl bcing lcli in ilc sun.
1S. Considci again and again ilc lollowing: ilc iigli iimc, ilc iigli liicnds,
ilc iigli placc, ilc iigli mcans ol incomc, ilc iigli ways ol spcnding, and
liom wlom you dciivc youi powci.
19. Ioi ilc iwicc-boin ilc liic (Agni) is a icpicscniaiivc ol God. Tlc Supicmc
Loid icsidcs in ilc lcaii ol His dcvoiccs. Tlosc ol avciagc iniclligcncc
(aIpa-buáání oi hanísta-aáníharí) scc God only in His srí-murtí, bui ilosc ol
bioad vision scc ilc Supicmc Loid cvciywlcic.
CHAPTER FIVE
1. Agni is ilc woislipablc pcison loi ilc iwicc-boin; ilc branmana loi ilc
oilci casics; ilc lusband loi ilc wilc; and ilc gucsi wlo comcs loi lood ai
ilc midday mcal loi all.
2. As gold is icsicd in loui ways by iubbing, cuiiing, lcaiing and bcaiing -- so
a man slould bc icsicd by ilcsc loui ilings: lis icnunciaiion, lis conduci,
lis qualiiics and lis aciions.
3. A iling may bc dicadcd as long as ii las noi ovciialcn you, bui oncc ii las
comc upon you, iiy io gci iid ol ii wiiloui lcsiiaiion.
+. Tlougl pcisons bc boin liom ilc samc womb and undci ilc samc siais,
ilcy do noi bccomc alilc in disposiiion as ilc ilousand liuiis ol ilc baáarí
iicc.
5. Hc wlosc lands aic clcan docs noi lilc io lold an ollicc; lc wlo dcsiics
noiling caics noi loi bodily dccoiaiions; lc wlo is only paiiially cducaicd
cannoi spcal agiccably; and lc wlo spcals oui plainly cannoi bc a
dcccivci.
6. Tlc lcaincd aic cnvicd by ilc loolisl; iicl mcn by ilc pooi; clasic womcn
by adulicicsscs; and bcauiilul ladics by ugly oncs.
7. Indolcni applicaiion iuins siudy; moncy is losi wlcn cniiusicd io oilcis; a
laimci wlo sows lis sccd spaiscly is iuincd; and an aimy is losi loi wani ol
a commandci.
S. Lcaining is iciaincd iliougl puiiing inio piaciicc; lamily picsiigc is
mainiaincd iliougl good bclavioui; a icspcciablc pcison is iccogniscd by
lis cxccllcni qualiiics; and angci is sccn in ilc cycs.
9. Rcligion is picscivcd by wcalil; lnowlcdgc by diligcni piaciicc; a ling by
conciliaioiy woids; and a lomc by a duiilul louscwilc.
10. Tlosc wlo blasplcmc Vcdic wisdom, wlo iidiculc ilc lilc siylc
iccommcndcd in ilc satras, and wlo dciidc mcn ol pcacclul icmpciamcni,
comc io giicl unncccssaiily.
11. Claiiiy puis and cnd io povciiy; iiglicous conduci io misciy; disciciion io
ignoiancc; and sciuiiny io lcai.
12. Tlcic is no discasc (so dcsiiuciivc) as lusi; no cncmy lilc inlaiuaiion; no
liic lilc wiail; and no lappincss lilc spiiiiual lnowlcdgc.
13. A man is boin alonc and dics alonc; and lc cxpciicnccs ilc good and bad
conscqucnccs ol lis harma alonc; and lc gocs alonc io lcll oi ilc Supicmc
abodc.
1+. Hcavcn is bui a siiaw io lim wlo lnows spiiiiual lilc (Kisna
consciousncss); so is lilc io a valiani man; a woman io lim wlo las
subducd lis scnscs; and ilc univcisc io lim wlo is wiiloui aiiaclmcni loi
ilc woild.
15. Lcaining is a liicnd on ilc jouincy; a wilc in ilc lousc; mcdicinc in
siclncss; and icligious mciii is ilc only liicnd alici dcail.
16. Rain wlicl lalls upon ilc sca is usclcss; so is lood loi onc wlo is saiiaicd;
in vain is a gili loi onc wlo is wcalily; and a buining lamp duiing ilc
dayiimc is usclcss.
17. Tlcic is no waici lilc iainwaici; no siicngil lilc onc's own; no ligli lilc
ilai ol ilc cycs; and no wcalil moic dcai ilan lood giain.
1S. Tlc pooi wisl loi wcalil; animals loi ilc laculiy ol spcccl; mcn wisl loi
lcavcn; and godly pcisons loi libciaiion.
19. Tlc caiil is suppoiicd by ilc powci ol iiuil; ii is ilc powci ol iiuil ilai
malcs ilc sun slinc and ilc winds blow; indccd all ilings icsi upon iiuil.
20. Tlc Goddcss ol wcalil is unsicady (cnancnaIa), and so is ilc lilc bicail.
Tlc duiaiion ol lilc is uncciiain, and ilc placc ol labiiaiion is uncciiain;
bui in all ilis inconsisicni woild icligious mciii alonc is immovablc.
21. Among mcn ilc baibci is cunning; among biids ilc ciow; among bcasis ilc
jaclal; and among womcn, ilc maIín (llowci giil).
22. Tlcsc livc aic youi lailcis; lc wlo gavc you biiil, giidlcd you wiil sacicd
ilicad, icaclcs you, piovidcs you wiil lood, and pioiccis you liom lcailul
siiuaiions.
23. Tlcsc livc slould bc considcicd as moilcis; ilc ling's wilc, ilc picccpioi's
wilc, ilc liicnd's wilc, youi wilc's moilci, and youi own moilci.
CHAPTER SIX
1. ly mcans ol lcaiing onc undcisiands ánarma, maligniiy vanislcs,
lnowlcdgc is acquiicd, and libciaiion liom maiciial bondagc is gaincd.
2. Among biids ilc ciow is vilc; among bcasis ilc dog; ilc ascciic wlosc sins
is abominablc, bui lc wlo blasplcmcs oilcis is ilc woisi cnanáaIa.
3. liass is polislcd by aslcs; coppci is clcancd by iamaiind; a woman, by lci
mcnscs; and a iivci by iis llow.
+. Tlc ling, ilc branmana, and ilc ascciic yogí wlo go abioad aic icspccicd;
bui ilc woman wlo wandcis is uiicily iuincd.
5. Hc wlo las wcalil las liicnds. Hc wlo is wcalily las iclaiivcs. Tlc iicl
onc alonc is callcd a man, and ilc alllucni alonc aic icspccicd as panáíts.
6. As is ilc dcsiic ol Piovidcncc, so lunciions onc's inicllcci; onc's aciiviiics
aic also coniiollcd by Piovidcncc; and by ilc will ol Piovidcncc onc is
suiioundcd by lclpcis.
7. Timc pcilccis all living bcings as wcll as lills ilcm; ii alonc is awalc wlcn
all oilcis aic aslccp. Timc is insuimouniablc.
S. Tlosc boin blind cannoi scc; similaily blind aic ilosc in ilc giip ol lusi.
Pioud mcn lavc no pciccpiion ol cvil; and ilosc bcni on acquiiing iiclcs
scc no sin in ilcii aciions.
9. Tlc spiiii soul gocs iliougl lis own couisc ol harma and lc limscll
sullcis ilc good and bad icsulis ilcicby acciucd. ly lis own aciions lc
cnianglcs limscll in samsara, and by lis own clloiis lc cxiiicaics limscll.
10. Tlc ling is obligcd io acccpi ilc sins ol lis subjccis; ilc puronít (piicsi)
sullcis loi ilosc ol ilc ling; a lusband sullcis loi ilosc ol lis wilc; and ilc
guru sullcis loi ilosc ol lis pupils.
11. A lailci wlo is a clionic dcbioi, an adulicious moilci, a bcauiilul wilc,
and an unlcaincd son aic cncmics ( in onc's own lomc).
12. Conciliaic a covcious man by mcans ol a gili, an obsiinaic man wiil loldcd
lands in saluiaiion, a lool by lumouiing lim, and a lcaincd man by
iiuillul woids.
13. Ii is bciici io bc wiiloui a lingdom ilan io iulc ovci a pciiy onc; bciici io
bc wiiloui a liicnd ilan io bcliicnd a iascal; bciici io bc wiiloui a disciplc
ilan io lavc a siupid onc; and bciici io bc wiiloui a wilc ilan io lavc a
bad onc.
1+. How can pcoplc bc madc lappy in a pciiy lingdom' Wlai pcacc can wc
cxpcci liom a iascal liicnd' Wlai lappincss can wc lavc ai lomc in ilc
company ol a bad wilc' How can icnown bc gaincd by insiiuciing an
unwoiily disciplc'
15. Lcain onc iling liom a lion; onc liom a cianc; loui a cocl; livc liom a
ciow; six liom a dog; and ilicc liom an ass.
16. Tlc onc cxccllcni iling ilai can bc lcaincd liom a lion is ilai wlaicvci a
man inicnds doing slould bc donc by lim wiil a wlolc-lcaiicd and
siicnuous clloii.
17. Tlc wisc man slould icsiiain lis scnscs lilc ilc cianc and accomplisl lis
puiposc wiil duc lnowlcdgc ol lis placc, iimc and abiliiy.
1S. To walc ai ilc piopci iimc; io ialc a bold siand and ligli; io malc a laii
division (ol piopciiy) among iclaiions; and io cain onc's own bicad by
pcisonal cxciiion aic ilc loui cxccllcni ilings io bc lcaincd liom a cocl.
19. Union in piivacy (wiil onc's wilc); boldncss; sioiing away usclul iicms;
waicllulncss; and noi casily iiusiing oilcis; ilcsc livc ilings aic io bc
lcaincd liom a ciow.
20. Conicnimcni wiil liiilc oi noiling io cai alilougl onc may lavc a gicai
appciiic; io awalcn insianily alilougl onc may bc in a dccp slumbci;
unllincling dcvoiion io ilc masici; and biavciy; ilcsc six qualiiics slould
bc lcaincd liom ilc dog.
21. Alilougl an ass is iiicd, lc coniinucs io caiiy lis buidcn; lc is unmindlul
ol cold and lcai; and lc is always conicnicd; ilcsc ilicc ilings slould bc
lcaincd liom ilc ass.
22. Hc wlo slall piaciicc ilcsc iwcniy viiiucs slall bccomc invinciblc in all lis
undciialings.
CHAPTER SEVEN
1. A wisc man slould noi icvcal lis loss ol wcalil, ilc vcxaiion ol lis mind,
ilc misconduci ol lis own wilc, basc woids spolcn by oilcis, and disgiacc
ilai las bclallcn lim.
2. Hc wlo givcs up slyncss in monciaiy dcalings, in acquiiing lnowlcdgc, in
caiing and in busincss, bccomcs lappy.
3. Tlc lappincss and pcacc aiiaincd by ilosc saiislicd by ilc ncciai ol
spiiiiual iianquilliiy is noi aiiaincd by giccdy pcisons icsilcssly moving
lcic and ilcic.
+. Onc slould lccl saiislicd wiil ilc lollowing ilicc ilings; lis own wilc, lood
givcn by Piovidcncc and wcalil acquiicd by loncsi clloii; bui onc slould
ncvci lccl saiislicd wiil ilc lollowing ilicc; siudy, claniing ilc loly namcs
ol ilc Loid (japa) and claiiiy.
5. Do noi pass bciwccn iwo branmanas, bciwccn a branmana and lis saciilicial
liic, bciwccn a wilc and lci lusband, a masici and lis scivani, and a
plougl and an ox.
6. Do noi lci youi looi ioucl liic, ilc spiiiiual masici oi a branmana; ii musi
ncvci ioucl a cow, a viigin, an old pcison oi a clild.
7. Kccp onc ilousand cubiis away liom an clcplani, a lundicd liom a loisc,
icn liom a loincd bcasi, bui lccp away liom ilc wiclcd by lcaving ilc
couniiy.
S. An clcplani is coniiollcd by a goad (anhusna), a loisc by a slap ol ilc
land, a loincd animal wiil ilc slow ol a siicl, and a iascal wiil a swoid.
9. Pranmanas lind saiislaciion in a good mcal, pcacocls in ilc pcal ol
ilundci, a saánu in sccing ilc piospciiiy ol oilcis, and ilc wiclcd in ilc
misciy ol oilcis.
10. Conciliaic a siiong man by submission, a wiclcd man by opposiiion, and
ilc onc wlosc powci is cqual io youis by poliicncss oi loicc.
11. Tlc powci ol a ling lics in lis migliy aims; ilai ol a branmana in lis
spiiiiual lnowlcdgc; and ilai ol a woman in lci bcauiy youil and swcci
woids.
12. Do noi bc vciy upiigli in youi dcalings loi you would scc by going io ilc
loicsi ilai siiaigli iiccs aic cui down wlilc cioolcd oncs aic lcli sianding.
13. Swans livc wlcicvci ilcic is waici, and lcavc ilc placc wlcic waici diics
up; lci noi a man aci so -- and comc and goas lc plcascs.
1+. Accumulaicd wcalil is savcd by spcnding jusi as incoming licsl waici is
savcd by lciiing oui siagnani waici.
15. Hc wlo las wcalil las liicnds and iclaiions; lc alonc suivivcs and is
icspccicd as a man.
16. Tlc lollowing loui claiaciciisiics ol ilc dcnizcns ol lcavcn may bc sccn in
ilc icsidcnis ol ilis caiil planci; claiiiy, swcci woids, woislip ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and saiislying ilc nccds ol branmanas.
17. Tlc lollowing qualiiics ol ilc dcnizcns ol lcll may claiaciciisc mcn on
caiil; cxiicmc wiail, laisl spcccl, cnmiiy wiil onc's iclaiions, ilc
company wiil ilc basc, and scivicc io mcn ol low cxiiaciion.
1S. ly going io ilc dcn ol a lion pcails liom ilc lcad ol an clcplani may bc
obiaincd; bui by visiiing ilc lolc ol a jaclal noiling bui ilc iail ol a call oi
a bii ol ilc lidc ol an ass may lound.
19. Tlc lilc ol an uncducaicd man is as usclcss as ilc iail ol a dog wlicl
nciilci covcis iis icai cnd, noi pioiccis ii liom ilc biics ol insccis.
20. Puiiiy ol spcccl, ol ilc mind, ol ilc scnscs, and ilc ol a compassionaic
lcaii aic nccdcd by onc wlo dcsiics io iisc io ilc divinc plailoim.
21. As you sccl liagiancc in a llowci, oil in ilc scsamum sccd, liic in wood,
glcc in mill, and jaggciy (guáa) in sugaicanc; so sccl ilc spiiii ilai is in
ilc body by mcans ol disciiminaiion.
CHAPTER EIGHT
1. Low class mcn dcsiic wcalil; middlc class mcn boil wcalil and icspcci;
bui ilc noblc, lonoui only; lcncc lonoui is ilc noblc man's iiuc wcalil.
2. ...
3. Tlc lamp cais up ilc dailncss and ilcicloic ii pioduccs lamp blacl; in ilc
samc way accoiding io ilc naiuic ol oui dici (sattva, rajas, oi tamas) wc
pioducc ollspiing in similai qualiiy.
+. O wisc man! Givc youi wcalil only io ilc woiily and ncvci io oilcis. Tlc
waici ol ilc sca icccivcd by ilc clouds is always swcci. Tlc iain waici
cnlivcns all living bcings ol ilc caiil boil movablc (insccis, animals,
lumans, cic.) and immovablc (planis, iiccs, cic.), and ilcn iciuins io ilc
occan ii valuc muliiplicd a million lold.
5. Tlc wisc wlo disccin ilc csscncc ol ilings lavc dcclaicd ilai ilc yavana
(mcai caici) is cqual in bascncss io a ilousand canáaIas ilc lowcsi class),
and lcncc a yavana is ilc bascsi ol mcn; indccd ilcic is no onc moic basc.
6. Alici laving iubbcd oil on ilc body, alici cncouniciing ilc smolc liom a
luncial pyic, alici scxual inicicouisc, and alici bcing slavcd, onc icmains a
cnanáaIa uniil lc bailcs.
7. Waici is ilc mcdicinc loi indigcsiion; ii is invigoiaiing wlcn ilc lood ilai
is caicn is wcll digcsicd; ii is lilc ncciai wlcn diunl in ilc middlc ol a
dinnci; and ii is lilc poison wlcn ialcn ai ilc cnd ol a mcal.
S. Knowlcdgc is losi wiiloui puiiing ii inio piaciicc; a man is losi duc io
ignoiancc; an aimy is losi wiiloui a commandci; and a woman is losi
wiiloui a lusband.
9. A man wlo cncounicis ilc lollowing ilicc is unloiiunaic; ilc dcail ol lis
wilc in lis old agc, ilc cniiusiing ol moncy inio ilc lands ol iclaiivcs, and
dcpcnding upon oilcis loi lood.
10. Claniing ol ilc Vcáas wiiloui maling iiiualisiic saciiliccs io ilc Supicmc
Loid iliougl ilc mcdium ol Agni, and saciiliccs noi lollowcd by bouniilul
gilis aic luiilc. Pcilcciion can bc aclicvcd only iliougl dcvoiion (io ilc
Supicmc Loid) loi dcvoiion is ilc basis ol all succcss.
11. ...
12. ...
13. Tlcic is no ausiciiiy cqual io a balanccd mind, and ilcic is no lappincss
cqual io conicnimcni; ilcic is no discasc lilc covciousncss, and no viiiuc
lilc mcicy.
1+. Angci is a pcisonilicaiion ol Yama (ilc dcmigod ol dcail); iliisi is lilc ilc
lcllisl iivci Vaiiaiani; lnowlcdgc is lilc a hamaáncnu (ilc cow ol plcniy);
and conicnimcni is lilc Nandanavana (ilc gaidcn ol India).
15. Moial cxccllcncc is an oinamcni loi pcisonal bcauiy; iiglicous conduci, loi
ligl biiil; succcss loi lcaining; and piopci spcnding loi wcalil.
16. lcauiy is spoilcd by an immoial naiuic; noblc biiil by bad conduci;
lcaining, wiiloui bcing pcilccicd; and wcalil by noi bcing piopcily
uiiliscd.
17. Waici sccping inio ilc caiil is puic; and a dcvoicd wilc is puic; ilc ling
wlo is ilc bcnclacioi ol lis pcoplc is puic; and puic is ilc branmana wlo
is conicnicd.
1S. Disconicnicd branmanas, conicnicd lings, sly piosiiiuics, and immodcsi
louscwivcs aic iuincd.
19. Ol wlai avail is a ligl biiil il a pcison is dcsiiiuic ol sclolaislip' A man
wlo is ol low cxiiaciion is lonouicd cvcn y ilc dcmigods il lc is lcaincd.
20. A lcaincd man is lonouicd by ilc pcoplc. A lcaincd man commands
icspcci cvciywlcic loi lis lcaining. Indccd, lcaining is lonouicd
cvciywlcic.
21. ilosc wlo aic cndowcd wiil bcauiy and youil and wlo aic boin ol noblc
lamilics aic woiillcss il ilcy lavc no lcaining. Tlcy aic jusi lilc ilc
hímsnuha blossoms ( llowcis ol ilc paIasa iicc) wlicl, ilougl bcauiilul,
lavc no liagiancc.
22. Tlc caiil is cncumbcicd wiil ilc wcigli ol ilc llcsl-caicis, winc-bibblcis,
dolis and blocllcads, wlo aic bcasis in ilc loim ol mcn.
23. Tlcic is no cncmy lilc a yajna (saciilicc) wlicl consumcs ilc lingdom
wlcn noi aiicndcd by lccding on a laigc scalc; consumcs ilc piicsi wlcn
ilc claniing is noi donc piopcily; and consumcs ilc yajaman (ilc
icsponsiblc pcison) wlcn ilc gilis aic noi madc.
CHAPTER NINE
1. My dcai clild, il you dcsiic io bc licc liom ilc cyclc ol biiil and dcail,
ilcn abandon ilc objccis ol scnsc giaiilicaiion as poison. Diinl insicad ilc
ncciai ol loibcaiancc, upiigli conduci, mcicy, clcanlincss and iiuil.
2. Tlosc basc mcn wlo spcal ol ilc sccici laulis ol oilcis dcsiioy ilcmsclvcs
lilc scipcnis wlo siiay onio anilills.
3. Pcilaps nobody las adviscd Loid lialma, ilc cicaioi, io impaii pcilumc
io gold; liuii io ilc sugaicanc; llowcis io ilc sandalwood iicc; wcalil io ilc
lcaincd; and long lilc io ilc ling.
+. Ncciai (amríta) is ilc bcsi among mcdicincs; caiing good lood is ilc bcsi ol
all iypcs ol maiciial lappincss; ilc cyc is ilc clicl among all oigans; and
ilc lcad occupics ilc clicl posiiion among all paiis ol ilc body.
5. No mcsscngci can iiavcl aboui in ilc sly and no iidings comc liom ilcic.
Tlc voicc ol iis inlabiianis as ncvci lcaid, noi can any coniaci bc
csiablislcd wiil ilcm. Tlcicloic ilc branmana wlo picdicis ilc cclipsc ol
ilc sun and moon wlicl occui in ilc sly musi bc considcicd as a víávan
(man ol gicai lcaining).
6. Tlc siudcni, ilc scivani, ilc iiavcllci, ilc lungiy pcison, ilc liiglicncd
man, ilc iicasuiy guaid, and ilc sicwaid: ilcsc scvcn ougli io bc
awalcncd il ilcy lall aslccp.
7. Tlc scipcni, ilc ling, ilc iigci, ilc siinging wasp, ilc small clild, ilc dog
owncd by oilci pcoplc, and ilc lool: ilcsc scvcn ougli noi io bc awalcncd
liom slccp.
S. Ol ilosc wlo lavc siudicd ilc Vcáas loi maiciial icwaids, and ilosc wlo
acccpi loodsiulls ollcicd by snuáras, wlai poicncy lavc ilcy' Tlcy aic jusi
lilc scipcnis wiiloui langs.
9. Hc wlo nciilci iouscs lcai by lis angci, noi conlcis a lavoui wlcn lc is
plcascd can nciilci coniiol noi pioicci. Wlai can lc do'
10. Tlc scipcni may, wiiloui bcing poisonous, iaisc ligl iis lood, bui ilc
slow ol iciioi is cnougl io liiglicn pcoplc -- wlcilci lc bc vcnomous oi
noi.
11. Wisc mcn spcnd ilcii moinings in discussing gambling, ilc alicinoon
discussing ilc aciiviiics ol womcn, and ilc nigli lcaiing aboui ilc
aciiviiics ol ilcli. (Tlc liisi iicm abovc iclcis io ilc gambling ol King
Yuddlisiliia, ilc gicai dcvoicc ol Kisna. Tlc sccond iicm iclcis io ilc
gloiious dccds ol moilci Siia, ilc consoii ol Loid Ramaclandia. Tlc iliid
iicm linis ai ilc adoiablc clildlood pasiimcs ol Sii Kisna wlo siolc buiici
liom ilc cldcily cowlcid ladics ol Golula. Hcncc Clanalya Pandiia
adviscs wisc pcisons io spcnd ilc moining absoibcd in Manabnarata, ilc
alicinoon siudying Pamayana, and ilc cvcning dcvoicdly lcaiing ilc
Srímaá-Pnagvatam.)
12. ly picpaiing a gailand loi a Dciiy wiil onc's own land; by giinding sandal
pasic loi ilc Loid wiil onc's own land; and by wiiiing sacicd icxis wiil
onc's own land -- onc bccomcs blcsscd wiil opulcncc cqual io ilai ol
India.
13. ...
1+. Povciiy is sci oll by loiiiiudc; slabby gaimcnis by lccping ilcm clcan; bad
lood by waiming ii; and uglincss by good bclavioui.
CHAPTER TEN
1. Onc dcsiiiuic ol wcalil is noi dcsiiiuic, lc is indccd iicl (il lc is lcaincd);
bui ilc man dcvoid ol lcaining is dcsiiiuic in cvciy way.
2. Wc slould caiclully sciuiinisc ilai placc upon wlicl wc sicp (laving ii
ascciiaincd io bc licc liom lilil and living cicaiuics lilc insccis, cic.); wc
slould diinl waici wlicl las bccn lilicicd (iliougl a clcan cloil); wc
slould spcal only ilosc woids wlicl lavc ilc sanciion ol ilc satras; and
do ilai aci wlicl wc lavc caiclully considcicd.
3. Hc wlo dcsiics scnsc giaiilicaiion musi givc up all ilouglis ol acquiiing
lnowlcdgc; and lc wlo sccls lnowlcdgc musi noi lopc loi scnsc
giaiilicaiion. How can lc wlo sccls scnsc giaiilicaiion acquiic lnowlcdgc,
and lc wlo posscsscs lnowlcdgc cnjoy mundanc scnsc plcasuic'
+. Wlai is ii ilai cscapcs ilc obscivaiion ol pocis' Wlai is ilai aci womcn
aic incapablc ol doing' Wlai will diunlcn pcoplc noi piaic' Wlai will noi
a ciow cai'
5. Iaic malcs a bcggai a ling and a ling a bcggai. Hc malcs a iicl man pooi
and a pooi man iicl.
6. Tlc bcggai is a misci's cncmy; ilc wisc counsclloi is ilc lool's cncmy; lci
lusband is an adulicious wilc's cncmy; and ilc moon is ilc cncmy ol ilc
ilicl.
7. Tlosc wlo aic dcsiiiuic ol lcaining, pcnancc, lnowlcdgc, good disposiiion,
viiiuc and bcncvolcncc aic biuics wandciing ilc caiil in ilc loim ol mcn.
Tlcy aic buidcnsomc io ilc caiil.
S. Tlosc ilai aic cmpiy-mindcd cannoi bc bcncliicd by insiiuciion. lamboo
docs noi acquiic ilc qualiiy ol sandalwood by bcing associaicd wiil ilc
Malaya Mouniain.
9. Wlai good can ilc sciipiuics do io a man wlo las no scnsc ol lis own' Ol
wlai usc is as miiioi io a blind man'
10. Noiling can icloim a bad man, jusi as ilc posiciious cannoi bccomc a
supciioi paii ol ilc body ilougl waslcd onc lundicd iimcs.
11. ly ollcnding a linsman, lilc is losi; by ollcnding oilcis, wcalil is losi; by
ollcnding ilc ling, cvciyiling is losi; and by ollcnding a branmana onc's
wlolc lamily is iuincd.
12. Ii is bciici io livc undci a iicc in a junglc inlabiicd by iigcis and clcplanis,
io mainiain oncscll in sucl a placc wiil iipc liuiis and spiing waici, io lic
down on giass and io wcai ilc iaggcd bails ol iiccs ilan io livc amongsi
onc's iclaiions wlcn icduccd io povciiy.
13. Tlc branmana is lilc iicc; lis piaycis aic ilc ioois, lis claniing ol ilc
Vcáas aic ilc bianclcs, and lis icligious aci aic ilc lcavcs. Conscqucnily
clloii slould bc madc io picscivc lis ioois loi il ilc ioois aic dcsiioycd
ilcic can bc no bianclcs oi lcavcs.
1+. My moilci is Kamala dcvi (Lalslmi), my lailci is Loid Janaidana
(Vislnu), my linsmcn aic ilc Vislnu-bnahtas (Vaisnavas) and, my
lomcland is all ilc ilicc woilds.
15. (Tliougl ilc nigli) a gicai many linds ol biids pcicl on a iicc bui in ilc
moining ilcy lly in all ilc icn diicciions. Wly slould wc lamcni loi ilai'
(Similaily, wc slould noi giicvc wlcn wc musi incviiably paii company
liom oui dcai oncs).
16. Hc wlo posscsscs iniclligcncc is siiong; low can ilc man ilai is
uniniclligcni bc powcilul' Tlc clcplani ol ilc loicsi laving losi lis scnscs
by inioxicaiion was iiiclcd inio a lalc by a small iabbii. (ilis vcisc iclcis io
a lamous sioiy liom ilc nítí-sastra callcd pancatantra compilcd by ilc
pandii Vislnuslaima 2500 ycais ago).
17. Wly slould I bc conccincd loi my mainicnancc wlilc absoibcd in piaising
ilc gloiics ol Loid Vislwamblaia (Vislnu), ilc suppoiici ol all. Wiiloui
ilc giacc ol Loid Haii, low could mill llow liom a moilci's bicasi loi a
clild's nouiislmcni' Rcpcaicdly ilinling only in ilis way, O Loid ol ilc
Yadus, O lusband ol Lalslmi, all my iimc is spcni in sciving Youi loius
lcci.
1S. ...
19. ...
20. ...
CHAPTER ELEVEN
1. Gcnciosiiy, plcasing addicss, couiagc and piopiiciy ol conduci aic noi
acquiicd, bui aic inbicd qualiiics.
2. Hc wlo loisalcs lis own communiiy and joins anoilci pciislcs as ilc ling
wlo cmbiaccs an uniiglicous pail.
3. Tlc clcplani las a lugc body bui is coniiollcd by ilc anhusna (goad): yci,
is ilc goad as laigc as ilc clcplani' A liglicd candlc banislcs dailncss: is
ilc candlc as vasi as ilc dailncss. A mouniain is biolcn cvcn by a
ilundciboli: is ilc ilundciboli ilcicloic as big as ilc mouniain' No, lc
wlosc powci picvails is ically migliy; wlai is ilcic in bull'
+. ...
5. Hc wlo is cngiosscd in lamily lilc will ncvci acquiic lnowlcdgc; ilcic can
bc no mcicy in ilc caici ol llcsl; ilc giccdy man will noi bc iiuillul; and
puiiiy will noi bc lound in a woman a lunici.
6. Tlc wiclcd man will noi aiiain sanciiiy cvcn il lc is insiiucicd in dillcicni
ways, and ilc ním iicc will noi bccomc swcci cvcn il ii is spiinllcd liom
ilc iop io ilc ioois wiil mill and gncc.
7. Mcnial diii cannoi bc waslcd away cvcn by onc-lundicd bails in ilc
sacicd waicis, jusi as a winc poi cannoi bc puiilicd cvcn by cvapoiaiing all
ilc winc by liic.
S. Ii is noi siiangc il a man icvilcs a iling ol wlicl lc las no lnowlcdgc, jusi
as a wild lunici's wilc iliows away ilc pcail ilai is lound in ilc lcad ol
an clcplani, and picls up a gunj(a iypc ol sccd wlicl pooi iiibals wcai as
oinamcnis).
9. Hc wlo loi onc ycai cais lis mcals silcnily (inwaidly mcdiiaiing upon ilc
Loid's prasaáam); aiiains io ilc lcavcnly plancis loi a ilousand cioic ol
ycais. ( Noic: onc cioic cquals icn million)
10. Tlc siudcni (branmacarí) slould complcicly icnouncc ilc lollowing cigli
ilings -- lis lusi, angci, giccd, dcsiic loi swccis, scnsc ol dccoiaiing ilc
body, cxccssivc cuiiosiiy, cxccssivc slccp, and cxccssivc cndcavoui loi
bodily mainicnancc.
11. ...
12. Hc alonc is a iiuc branmana (ávíja oi "iwicc-boin") wlo is saiislicd wiil
onc mcal a day, wlo las ilc six samsharas (oi acis ol puiilicaiion sucl as
garbnaánana, cic.) pciloimcd loi lim, and wlo colabiis wiil lis wilc only
oncc in a monil on an auspicious day alici lci mcnscs.
13. Tlc branmana wlo is cngiosscd in woildly allaiis, biings up cows and is
cngagcd in iiadc is ically callcd a vaísnya.
1+. Tlc branmana wlo dcals in lac-dic, aiiiclcs, oil, indigo, sillcn cloil, loncy,
claiilicd buiici, liquoi, and llcsl is callcd a snuára.
15. Tlc branmana wlo ilwaiis ilc doings ol oilcis, wlo is lypociiiical,
scllisl, and a dccciilul laici, and wlilc spcaling mildly clciislcs ciucliy in
lis lcaii, is callcd a cai.
16. Tlc branmana wlo dcsiioys a pond, a wcll, a ianl, a gaidcn and a icmplc is
callcd a mIcccna.
17. Tlc branmana wlo sicals ilc piopciiy ol ilc Dciiics and ilc spiiiiual
picccpioi, wlo colabiis wiil anoilci's wilc, and wlo mainiains limscll by
caiing anyiling and cvciyiling s callcd a cnanáaIa.
1S. Tlc mciiioiious slould givc away in claiiiy all ilai ilcy lavc in cxccss ol
ilcii nccds. ly claiiiy only Kaina, lali and King Viliamadiiya suivivc cvcn
ioday. Jusi scc ilc pligli ol ilc loncybccs bcaiing ilcii lcgs in dcspaii
upon ilc caiil. Tlcy aic saying io ilcmsclvcs, "Alas! Wc nciilci cnjoycd
oui sioicd-up loncy noi gavc ii in claiiiy, and now somconc las ialcn ii
liom us in an insiani."
CHAPTER TWELVE
1. Hc is a blcsscd grnasta (louscloldci) in wlosc lousc ilcic is a blisslul
aimosplcic, wlosc sons aic ialcnicd, wlosc wilc spcals swccily, wlosc
wcalil is cnougl io saiisly lis dcsiics, wlo linds plcasuic in ilc company
ol lis wilc, wlosc scivanis aic obcdicni, in wlosc lousc lospiialiiy is
slown, ilc auspicious Supicmc Loid is woislipcd daily, dclicious lood and
diinl is paiialcn, and wlo linds joy in ilc company ol dcvoiccs.
2. Onc wlo dcvoicdly givcs a liiilc io a branmana wlo is in disiicss is
iccompcnscd abundanily. Hcncc, O Piincc, wlai is givcn io a good
branmana is goi bacl noi in an cqual quaniiiy, bui in an inliniicly liglci
dcgicc.
3. Tlosc mcn wlo aic lappy in ilis woild, wlo aic gcncious iowaids ilcii
iclaiivcs, lind io siiangcis, indillcicni io ilc wiclcd, loving io ilc good,
slicwd in ilcii dcalings wiil ilc basc, lianl wiil ilc lcaincd, couiagcous
wiil cncmics, lumblc wiil cldcis and sicin wiil ilc wilc.
+. O jaclal, lcavc asidc ilc body ol ilai man ai oncc, wlosc lands lavc ncvci
givcn in claiiiy, wlosc cais lavc noi lcaid ilc voicc ol lcaining, wlosc
cycs lavc noi bclcld a puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid, wlosc lcci lavc ncvci
iiavciscd io loly placcs, wlosc bclly is lillcd wiil ilings obiaincd by
cioolcd piaciiccs, and wlosc lcad is lcld ligl in vaniiy. Do noi cai ii, O
jaclal, oilciwisc you will bccomc polluicd.
5. "Slamc upon ilosc wlo lavc no dcvoiion io ilc loius lcci ol Sii Kisna, ilc
son ol moilci Yasoda; wlo lavc no aiiaclmcni loi ilc dcsciibing ilc
gloiics ol Siimaii Radlaiani; wlosc cais aic noi cagci io lisicn io ilc sioiics
ol ilc Loid's lila." Sucl is ilc cxclamaiion ol ilc mráanga sound ol áníh-
tam áníh-tam ánígatam ai hírtana.
6. Wlai lauli ol spiing ilai ilc bamboo slooi las no lcavcs' Wlai lauli ol ilc
sun il ilc owl cannoi scc duiing ilc dayiimc' Is ii ilc lauli ol ilc clouds il
no iaindiops lall inio ilc mouil ol ilc cnatah biid' Wlo can ciasc wlai
Loid lialma las insciibcd upon oui loiclcads ai ilc iimc ol biiil'
7. A wiclcd man may dcvclop sainily qualiiics in ilc company ol a dcvoicc,
bui a dcvoicc docs noi bccomc impious in ilc company ol a wiclcd pcison.
Tlc caiil is sccnicd by a llowci ilai lalls upon ii, bui ilc llowci docs noi
coniaci ilc odoui ol ilc caiil.
S. Onc indccd bccomcs blcsscd by laving áarsnan ol a dcvoicc; loi ilc
dcvoicc las ilc abiliiy io puiily immcdiaicly, wlcicas ilc sacicd tírtna
givcs puiiiy only alici piolongcd coniaci.
9. A siiangci aslcd a branmana, "Tcll mc, wlo is gicai in ilis ciiy'" Tlc
branmana icplicd, "Tlc clusici ol palmyia iiccs is gicai." Tlcn ilc iiavcllci
aslcd, "Wlo is ilc mosi claiiiablc pcison'" Tlc branmana answcicd, "Tlc
waslciman wlo ialcs ilc cloilcs in ilc moining and givcs ilcm bacl in
ilc cvcning is ilc mosi claiiiablc." Hc ilcn aslcd, "Wlo is ilc ablcsi
man'" Tlc branmana answcicd, "Lvciyonc is cxpcii in iobbing oilcis ol
ilcii wivcs and wcalil." Tlc man lcn aslcd ilc branmana, "How do you
managc io livc in sucl a ciiy'" Tlc branmana icplicd, "As a woim suivivcs
wlilc cvcn in a lilily placc so do I suivivc lcic!"
10. Tlc lousc in wlicl ilc loius lcci ol branmanas aic noi waslcd, in wlicl
Vcáíc maniias aic noi loudly icciicd, and in wlicl ilc loly iiics ol svana
(saciilicial ollciings io ilc Supicmc Loid) and svaána (ollciings io ilc
anccsiois) aic noi pciloimcd, is lilc a cicmaioiium.
11. (Ii is said ilai a saánu, wlcn aslcd aboui lis lamily, icplicd ilusly): iiuil
is my moilci, and my lailci is spiiiiual lnowlcdgc; iiglicous conduci is
my bioilci, and mcicy is my liicnd, innci pcacc is my wilc, and loigivcncss
is my son: ilcsc six aic my linsmcn.
12. Oui bodics aic pciislablc, wcalil is noi ai all pcimancni and dcail is
always ncaiby. Tlcicloic wc musi immcdiaicly cngagc in acis ol mciii.
13. Aijuna says io Kisna. "Pranmanas lind joy in going io lcasis, cows lind joy
in caiing ilcii icndci giass, wivcs lind joy in ilc company ol ilcii
lusbands, and lnow, O Kisna, ilai in ilc samc way I icjoicc in baiilc.
1+. Hc wlo icgaids anoilci's wilc as lis moilci, ilc wcalil ilai docs noi
bclong io lim as a lump ol mud, and ilc plcasuic and pain ol all oilci
living bcings as lis own -- iiuly sccs ilings in ilc iigli pcispcciivc, and lc
is a iiuc panáít.
15. O Raglava, ilc lovc ol viiiuc, plcasing spcccl, and an aidcni dcsiic loi
pciloiming acis ol claiiiy, guilclcss dcalings wiil liicnds, lumiliiy in ilc
guiu's picscncc , dccp iianquilliiy ol mind, puic conduci, disccinmcni ol
viiiucs, icaliscd lnowlcdgc ol ilc sastras, bcauiy ol loim and dcvoiion io
God aic all lound in you." (Tlc gicai sagc Vasisila Muni, ilc spiiiiual
picccpioi ol ilc dynasiy ol ilc sun, said ilis io Loid Ramaclandia ai ilc
iimc ol His pioposcd coionaiion).
16. Tlc dcsiic iicc is wood; ilc goldcn Mouni Mciu is moiionlcss; ilc wisl-
lullilling gcm cíntamaní is jusi a sionc; ilc sun is scoicling; ilc moon is
pionc io wanc; ilc boundlcss occan is salinc; ilc dcmigod ol lusi losi lis
body (duc io Sliva's wiail); lali Malaiaja, ilc son ol Diii, was boin inio a
clan ol dcmons; and Kamadlcnu (ilc cow ol lcavcn) is a mcic bcasi. O
Loid ol ilc Raglu dynasiy! I cannoi compaic you io any onc ol ilcsc
(ialing ilcii mciiis inio accouni).
17. Rcaliscd lcaining (víáya) is oui liicnd wlilc iiavclling , ilc wilc is a liicnd
ai lomc, mcdicinc is ilc liicnd ol a sicl man, and mciiioiious dccds aic
ilc liicnds ai dcail.
1S. Couiicsy slould bc lcaincd liom piinccs, ilc aii ol convcisaiion liom
panáíts, lying slould bc lcaincd liom gamblcis and dccciilul ways slould
bc lcaincd liom womcn.
19. Tlc unilinling spcndci, ilc lomclcss uiclin, ilc quaiicl mongci, ilc man
wlo ncglccis lis wilc and is lccdlcss in lis aciions -- all ilcsc will soon
comc io iuinaiion.
20. Tlc wisc man slould noi bc anxious aboui lis lood; lc slould bc anxious
io bc cngagcd only in ánarma (Kisna consciousncss). ilc lood ol cacl man
is cicaicd loi lim ai lis biiil.
21. Hc wlo is noi sly in ilc acquisiiion ol wcalil, giain and lnowlcdgc, and in
ialing lis mcals, will bc lappy
22. As ccnicsimal dioppings will lill a poi so also aic lnowlcdgc, viiiuc and
wcalil giadually obiaincd.
23. Tlc man wlo icmains a lool cvcn in advanccd agc is ically a lool, jusi as
ilc India-Vaiuna liuii docs noi bccomc swcci no maiici low iipc ii migli
bccomc.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
1. A man may livc bui loi a momcni, bui ilai momcni slould bc spcni in
doing auspicious dccds. Ii is usclcss living cvcn loi a haIpa (+,320,000 ¯
1000 ycais) and biinging only disiicss upon ilc iwo woilds (ilis woild and
ilc ncxi).
2. Wc slould noi lici loi wlai is pasi, noi slould wc bc anxious aboui ilc
luiuic; mcn ol disccinmcni dcal only wiil ilc picscni momcni.
3. Ii cciiainly is naiuic ol ilc dcmigods, mcn ol good claiacici, and paicnis
io bc casily plcascd. Ncai and disiani iclaiivcs aic plcascd wlcn ilcy aic
lospiiably icccivcd wiil bailing, lood, and diinl; and panáíts aic plcascd
wiil an oppoiiuniiy loi giving spiiiiual discouisc.
+ Lvcn as ilc unboin babc is in ilc womb ol lis moilci, ilcsc livc aic lixcd
as lis lilc dcsiiny: lis lilc span, lis aciiviiics, lis acquisiiion ol wcalil and
lnowlcdgc, and lis iimc ol dcail.
5. O scc wlai a wondci ii is! Tlc doings ol ilc gicai aic siiangc: ilcy iicai
wcalil as ligli as a siiaw, yci, wlcn ilcy obiain ii, ilcy bcnd undci iis
wcigli.
6. Hc wlo is ovcily aiiaclcd io lis lamily mcmbcis cxpciicnccs lcai and
soiiow, loi ilc iooi ol all giicl is aiiaclmcni. Tlus onc slould discaid
aiiaclmcni io bc lappy.
7. Hc wlo is picpaicd loi ilc luiuic and lc wlo dcals clcvcily wiil any
siiuaiion ilai may aiisc aic boil lappy; bui ilc laialisiic man wlo wlolly
dcpcnds on lucl is iuincd.
S. Il ilc ling is viiiuous, ilcn ilc subjccis aic also viiiuous. Il ilc ling is
sinlul, ilcn ilc subjccis also bccomc sinlul. Il lc is mcdiocic, ilcn ilc
subjccis aic mcdiocic. Tlc subjccis lollow ilc cxamplc ol ilc ling. In
sloii, as is ilc ling so aic ilc subjccis.
9. I considci lim wlo docs noi aci icligiously as dcad ilougl living, bui lc
wlo dics aciing icligiously unqucsiionably livcs long ilougl lc is dcad.
10. Hc wlo las acquiicd nciilci viiiuc, wcalil, saiislaciion ol dcsiics noi
salvaiion (ánarma, artna, hama, mohsa), livcs an uiicily usclcss lilc, lilc ilc
"nipplcs" langing liom ilc nccl ol a goai.
11. Tlc lcaiis ol basc mcn buin bcloic ilc liic ol oilci's lamc, and ilcy
slandci ilcm bcing ilcmsclvcs unablc io iisc io sucl a ligl posiiion.
12. Lxccssivc aiiaclmcni io scnsc plcasuics lcads io bondagc, and dciaclmcni
liom scnsc plcasuics lcads io libciaiion; ilcicloic ii is ilc mind alonc ilai
is icsponsiblc loi bondagc oi libciaiion.
13. Hc wlo slcds bodily idcniilicaiion by mcans ol lnowlcdgc ol ilc
indwclling Supicmc Scll (Paramatma), will always bc absoibcd in
mcdiiaiivc iiancc (samaání) wlcicvci lis mind lcads lim.
1+. Wlo icaliscs all ilc lappincss lc dcsiics' Lvciyiling is in ilc lands ol
God. Tlcicloic onc slould lcain conicnimcni.
15. As a call lollows iis moilci among a ilousand cows, so ilc (good oi bad)
dccds ol a man lollow lim.
16. Hc wlosc aciions aic disoiganiscd las no lappincss ciilci in ilc midsi ol
mcn oi in a junglc -- in ilc midsi ol mcn lis lcaii buins by social coniacis,
and lis lclplcssncss buins lim in ilc loicsi.
17. As ilc man wlo digs obiains undcigiound waici by usc ol a slovcl, so ilc
siudcni aiiains ilc lnowlcdgc posscsscd by lis picccpioi iliougl lis
scivicc.
1S. Mcn icap ilc liuiis ol ilcii dccds, and inicllccis bcai ilc mail ol dccds
pciloimcd in picvious livcs; cvcn so ilc wisc aci alici duc ciicumspcciion.
19. Lvcn ilc man wlo las iaugli ilc spiiiiual signilicancc ol jusi onc lciici
ougli io bc woislipcd. Hc wlo docs noi givc icvcicncc io sucl a guru is
boin as a dog a lundicd iimcs, and ai lasi ialcs biiil as a cnanáaIa (dog-
caici).
20. Ai ilc cnd ol ilc yuga, Mouni Mciu may bc slalcn; ai ilc cnd ol ilc
haIpa, ilc waicis ol ilc scvcn occans may bc disiuibcd; bui a saánu will
ncvci swcivc liom ilc spiiiiual pail.
21. Tlcic aic ilicc gcms upon ilis caiil; lood, waici, and plcasing woids --
lools (muánas) considci picccs ol iocls as gcms.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
1. Povciiy, discasc, soiiow, impiisonmcni and oilci cvils aic ilc liuiis boinc
by ilc iicc ol onc's own sins.
2. Wcalil, a liicnd, a wilc, and a lingdom may bc icgaincd; bui ilis body
wlcn losi may ncvci bc acquiicd again.
3. Tlc cncmy can bc ovcicomc by ilc union ol laigc numbcis, jusi as giass
iliougl iis collcciivcncss waids oll ciosion causcd by lcavy iainlall.
+. Oil on waici, a sccici communicaicd io a basc man, a gili givcn io a woiily
icccivci, and sciipiuial insiiuciion givcn io an iniclligcni man spicad oui
by viiiuc ol ilcii naiuic.
5. Il mcn slould always iciain ilc siaic ol mind ilcy cxpciicncc wlcn lcaiing
icligious insiiuciion, wlcn picscni ai a cicmaioiium giound, and wlcn in
siclncss -- ilcn wlo could noi aiiain libciaiion.
6. Il a man slould lccl bcloic, as lc lccls alici, icpcniancc -- ilcn wlo would
noi aiiain pcilcciion'
7. Wc slould noi lccl piidc in oui claiiiy, ausiciiiy, valoui, sciipiuial
lnowlcdgc, modcsiy and moialiiy loi ilc woild is lull ol ilc iaicsi gcms.
S. Hc wlo livcs in oui mind is ncai ilougl lc may aciually bc lai away; bui
lc wlo is noi in oui lcaii is lai ilougl lc may ically bc ncaiby.
9. Wc slould always spcal wlai would plcasc ilc man ol wlom wc cxpcci a
lavoui, lilc ilc lunici wlo sings swccily wlcn lc dcsiics io slooi a dcci.
10. |t ís ruínous to bc jamíIíar vítn tnc híng, jírc, tnc rcIígíous prcccptor,
aná a voman. 1o bc aItogctncr ínáíjjcrcnt oj tncm ís to bc ácprívcá oj tnc
opportuníty to bcncjít ourscIvcs, ncncc our assocíatíon vítn tncm must bc jrom
a sajc áístancc.
11. Wc slould always dcal cauiiously wiil liic, waici, womcn, loolisl pcoplc,
scipcnis, and mcmbcis ol a ioyal lamily; loi ilcy may, wlcn ilc occasion
picscnis iiscll, ai oncc biing aboui oui dcail.
12. Hc slould bc considcicd io bc living wlo is viiiuous and pious, bui ilc lilc
ol a man wlo is dcsiiiuic ol icligion and viiiucs is void ol any blcssing.
13. Il you wisl io gain coniiol ol ilc woild by ilc pciloimancc ol a singlc
dccd, ilcn lccp ilc lollowing liliccn, wlicl aic pionc io wandci lcic and
ilcic, liom gciiing ilc uppci land ol you: ilc livc scnsc objccis (objccis ol
sigli, sound, smcll, iasic, and ioucl); ilc livc scnsc oigans (cais, cycs,
nosc, ionguc and slin) and oigans ol aciiviiy (lands, lcgs, mouil, gcniials
and anus).
1+. Hc is a panáít (man ol lnowlcdgc) wlo spcals wlai is suiiablc io ilc
occasion, wlo icndcis loving scivicc accoiding io lis abiliiy, and wlo
lnows ilc limiis ol lis angci.
15 Onc singlc objcci (a woman) appcais in ilicc dillcicni ways: io ilc man
wlo piaciiccs ausiciiiy ii appcais as a coipsc, io ilc scnsual ii appcais as a
woman, and io ilc dogs as a lump ol llcsl.
16. A wisc man slould noi divulgc ilc loimula ol a mcdicinc wlicl lc las
wcll picpaicd; an aci ol claiiiy wlicl lc las pciloimcd; domcsiic conllicis;
piivaic allaiis wiil lis wilc; pooily picpaicd lood lc may lavc bccn
ollcicd; oi slang lc may lavc lcaid.
17. Tlc cucloos icmain silcni loi a long iimc (loi scvcial scasons) uniil ilcy
aic ablc io sing swccily (in ilc Spiing ) so as io givc joy io all.
1S. Wc slould sccuic and lccp ilc lollowing: ilc blcssings ol mciiioiious
dccds, wcalil, giain, ilc woids ol ilc spiiiiual masici, and iaic mcdicincs.
Oilciwisc lilc bccomcs impossiblc.
19. Lsclcw wiclcd company and associaic wiil sainily pcisons. Acquiic viiiuc
day and nigli, and always mcdiiaic on ilai wlicl is cicinal loigciiing ilai
wlicl is icmpoiaiy.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
1. Ioi onc wlosc lcaii mclis wiil compassion loi all cicaiuics; wlai is ilc
ncccssiiy ol lnowlcdgc, libciaiion, maiicd laii on ilc lcad, and smcaiing
ilc body wiil aslcs.
2. Tlcic is no iicasuic on caiil ilc gili ol wlicl will canccl ilc dcbi a
disciplc owcs lis guru jor laving iaugli lim cvcn a singlc lciici ( ilai lcads
io Kisna consciousncss).
3. Tlcic aic iwo ways io gci iid ol iloins and wiclcd pcisons; using looiwcai
in ilc liisi casc and in ilc sccond slaming ilcm so ilai ilcy cannoi iaisc
ilcii laccs again ilus lccping ilcm ai a disiancc.
+. Hc wlo wcais unclcan gaimcnis, las diiiy iccil, as a gluiion, spcals
unlindly and slccps alici suniisc -- alilougl lc may bc ilc gicaicsi
pcisonaliiy -- will losc ilc lavoui ol Lalslmi.
5. Hc wlo loscs lis moncy is loisalcn by lis liicnds, lis wilc, lis scivanis
and lis iclaiions; yci wlcn lc icgains lis iiclcs ilosc wlo lavc loisalcn
lim comc bacl io lim. Hcncc wcalil is cciiainly ilc bcsi ol iclaiions.
6. Sinlully acquiicd wcalil may icmain loi icn ycais; in ilc clcvcnil ycai ii
disappcais wiil cvcn ilc oiiginal siocl.
7. A bad aciion commiiicd by a gicai man is noi ccnsuicd (as ilcic is nonc
ilai can icpioacl lim), and a good aciion pciloimcd by a low-class man
comcs io bc condcmncd (bccausc nonc icspccis lim). Jusi scc: ilc diinling
ol ncciai is cxccllcni, bui ii bccamc ilc causc ol Ralu's dcmisc; and ilc
diinling ol poison is laimlul, bui wlcn Loid Sliva (wlo is cxalicd) dianl
ii, ii bccamc an oinamcni io lis nccl (níIa-hanta).
S. A iiuc mcal is ilai wlicl consisis ol ilc icmnanis lcli alici a branmanas
mcal. Lovc wlicl is slown io oilcis is iiuc lovc, noi ilai wlicl is
clciislcd loi onc's own scll. io absiain liom sin is iiuc wisdom. Tlai is an
aci ol claiiiy wlicl is pciloimcd wiiloui osicniaiion.
9. Ioi wani ol disccinmcni ilc mosi piccious jcwcls lic in ilc dusi ai ilc lcci
ol mcn wlilc biis ol glass aic woin on ilcii lcads. lui wc slould noi
imaginc ilai ilc gcms lavc sunl in valuc, and ilc biis ol glass lavc iiscn in
impoiiancc. Wlcn a pcison ol ciiiical judgcmcni slall appcai, cacl will bc
givcn iis iigli posiiion.
10. Sastríc lnowlcdgc is unlimiicd, and ilc aiis io bc lcaincd aic many; ilc
iimc wc lavc is sloii, and oui oppoiiuniiics io lcain aic bcsci wiil
obsiaclcs. Tlcicloic sclcci loi lcaining ilai wlicl is mosi impoiiani, jusi as
ilc swan diinls only ilc mill in waici.
11. Hc is a cnanáaIa wlo cais lis dinnci wiiloui cniciiaining ilc siiangci wlo
las comc io lis lousc quiic accidcnially, laving iiavcllcd liom a long
disiancc and is wcaiicd.
12. Onc may lnow ilc loui Vcáas and ilc Dnarma-sastras, yci il lc las no
icalisaiion ol lis own spiiiiual scll, lc can bc said io bc lilc ilc ladlc wlicl
siiis all linds ol loods bui lnows noi ilc iasic ol any.
13. Tlosc blcsscd souls aic cciiainly clcvaicd wlo, wlilc ciossing ilc occan ol
lilc, ialc slclici ol a gcnuinc branmana, wlo is lilcncd unio a boai. Tlcy
aic unlilc passcngcis aboaid an oidinaiy slip wlicl iuns ilc iisl ol
sinling.
1+. Tlc moon, wlo is ilc abodc ol ncciai and ilc picsiding dciiy ol all
mcdicincs, alilougl immoiial lilc amrta and icsplcndcni in loim, loscs
ilc biilliancc ol lis iays wlcn lc icpaiis io ilc abodc ol ilc sun (day iimc).
Tlcicloic will noi an oidinaiy man bc madc io lccl inlciioi by going io livc
ai ilc lousc ol anoilci.
15. Tlis lumblc bcc, wlo always icsidcs among ilc soli pcials ol ilc loius and
diinls abundanily iis swcci ncciai, is now lcasiing on ilc llowci ol ilc
oidinaiy hutaja. lcing in a siiangc couniiy wlcic ilc loiuscs do noi cxisi,
lc is considciing ilc pollcn ol ilc hutaja io bc nicc.
16. (Loid Visnu aslcd His spousc Lalslmi wly Slc did noi caic io livc in ilc
lousc ol a branmana, wlcn Slc icplicd) " O Loid a rísní namcd Agasiya
dianl up My lailci (ilc occan) in angci; liiglu Muni liclcd You;
branmanas piidc ilcmsclvcs on ilcii lcaining laving sougli ilc lavoui ol
My compciiioi Saiasvaii; and lasily ilcy plucl cacl day ilc loius wlicl is
My abodc, and ilcicwiil woislip Loid Sliva. Tlcicloic, O Loid, I lcai io
dwcll wiil a branmana and ilai piopcily.
17. Tlcic aic many ways ol binding by wlicl onc can bc dominaicd and
coniiollcd in ilis woild, bui ilc bond ol allcciion is ilc siiongcsi. Ioi
cxamplc, ialc ilc casc ol ilc lumblc bcc wlicl, alilougl cxpcii ai
picicing laidcncd wood, bccomcs caugli in ilc cmbiacc ol iis bclovcd
llowcis (as ilc pcials closc ai dusl).
1S. Alilougl sandalwood bc cui, ii docs noi loisalc iis naiuial qualiiy ol
liagiancc; so also ilc clcplani docs noi givc up spoiiivcncss ilougl lc
slould giow old. Tlc sugaicanc docs noi ccasc io bc swcci ilougl
squcczcd in a mill; so ilc man ol noblc cxiiaciion docs noi losc lis loliy
qualiiics, no maiici low pinclcd lc is by povciiy.
19. ...
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
1. ...
2. Tlc lcaii ol a woman is noi uniicd; ii is dividcd. Wlilc slc is ialling wiil
onc man, slc lools lusilully ai anoilci and ilinls londly ol a iliid in lci
lcaii.
3. Tlc lool (muána) wlo lancics ilai a claiming young lady lovcs lim,
bccomcs lci slavc and lc danccs lilc a snahuntaI biid iicd io a siiing.
+. Wlo is ilcic wlo, laving bccomc iicl, las noi bccomc pioud' Wlai
liccniious man las pui an cnd io lis calamiiics' Wlai man in ilis woild
las noi bccn ovcicomc by a woman' Wlo is always lovcd by ilc ling'
Wlo is ilcic wlo las noi bccn ovcicomc by ilc iavagcs ol iimc' Wlai
bcggai las aiiaincd gloiy' Wlo las bccomc lappy by coniiaciing ilc viccs
ol ilc wiclcd'
5. ...
6. A man aiiains gicaincss by lis mciiis, noi simply by occupying an cxalicd
scai. Can wc call a ciow an caglc (garuáa) simply bccausc lc siis on ilc iop
ol a iall building.
7. ...
S. Tlc man wlo is piaiscd by oilcis as gicai is icgaidcd as woiily ilougl lc
may bc ically void ol all mciii. lui ilc man wlo sings lis own piaiscs
lowcis limscll in ilc csiimaiion ol oilcis ilougl lc slould bc India (ilc
posscssoi ol all cxccllcnccs).
9. Il good qualiiics slould claiaciciisc a man ol disciiminaiion, ilc biilliancc
ol lis qualiiics will bc iccogniscd jusi as a gcm wlicl is csscniially biigli
ically slincs wlcn lixcd in an oinamcni ol gold.
10. Lvcn onc wlo by lis qualiiics appcais io bc all lnowing sullcis wiiloui
paiionagc; ilc gcm, ilougl piccious, icquiics a gold sciiing.
11. I do noi dcscivc ilai wcalil wlicl is io bc aiiaincd by cnduiing mucl
sullciing, oi by iiansgicssing ilc iulcs ol viiiuc, oi by llaiiciing an cncmy.
12. ...
13. Tlosc wlo wcic noi saiiaicd wiil ilc cnjoymcni ol wcalil, lood and
womcn lavc all passcd away; ilcic aic oilcis now passing away wlo lavc
lilcwisc icmaincd unsaiiaicd; and in ilc luiuic siill oilcis will pass away
lccling ilcmsclvcs unsaiiaicd.
1+. All claiiiics and saciiliccs (pciloimcd loi liuiiivc gain) biing only
icmpoiaiy icsulis, bui gilis madc io dcsciving pcisons (ilosc wlo aic
Kisna consciousncss) and pioicciion ollcicd io all cicaiuics slall ncvci
pciisl.
15. A bladc ol giass is ligli, coiion is liglici, ilc bcggai is inliniicly liglici
siill. Wly ilcn docs noi ilc wind caiiy lim away' lccausc ii lcais ilai lc
may asl alms ol lim.
16. Ii is bciici io dic ilan io picscivc ilis lilc by incuiiing disgiacc. Tlc loss ol
lilc causcs bui a momcni's giicl, bui disgiacc biings giicl cvciy day ol onc's
lilc.
17. All ilc cicaiuics aic plcascd by loving woids; and ilcicloic wc slould
addicss woids ilai aic plcasing io all, loi ilcic is no lacl ol swcci woids.
1S. Tlcic aic iwo ncciaican liuiis langing liom ilc iicc ol ilis woild: onc is
ilc lcaiing ol swcci woids (sucl as Kisna-hatna) and ilc oilci, ilc sociciy
ol sainily mcn.
19. Tlc good labiis ol claiiiy, lcaining and ausiciiiy piaciiscd duiing many
pasi livcs coniinuc io bc culiivaicd in ilis biiil by viiiuc ol ilc linl (yoga)
ol ilis picscni lilc io ilc picvious oncs.
20. Onc wlosc lnowlcdgc is conlincd io bools and wlosc wcalil is in ilc
posscssion ol oilcis, can usc nciilci lis lnowlcdgc noi wcalil wlcn ilc
nccd loi ilcm aiiscs.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
1. Tlc sclolai wlo las acquiicd lnowlcdgc by siudying innumciablc bools
wiiloui ilc blcssings ol a bonalidc spiiiiual masici docs noi slinc in an
asscmbly ol iiuly lcaincd mcn jusi as an illcgiiimaic clild is noi lonouicd
in sociciy.
2. Wc slould icpay ilc lavouis ol oilcis by acis ol lindncss; so also slould
wc iciuin cvil loi cvil in wlicl ilcic is no sin, loi ii is ncccssaiy io pay a
wiclcd man in lis own coin.
3. Tlai iling wlicl is disiani, ilai iling wlicl appcais impossiblc, and ilai
wlicl is lai bcyond oui icacl, can bc casily aiiaincd iliougl tapasya
(icligious ausiciiiy), loi noiling can suipass ausiciiiy.
+. Wlai vicc could bc woisc ilan covciousncss' Wlai is moic sinlul ilan
slandci' Ioi onc wlo is iiuillul, wlai nccd is ilcic loi ausiciiiy' Ioi onc
wlo las a clcan lcaii, wlai is ilc nccd loi pilgiimagc' Il onc las a good
disposiiion, wlai oilci viiiuc is nccdcd' Il a man las lamc, wlai is ilc
valuc ol oilci oinamcniaiion' Wlai nccd is ilcic loi wcalil loi ilc man ol
piaciical lnowlcdgc' And il a man is dislonouicd, wlai could ilcic bc
woisc in dcail'
5. Tlougl ilc sca, wlicl is ilc icscivoii ol all jcwcls, is ilc lailci ol ilc
concl slcll, and ilc Goddcss ol loiiunc Lalslmi is concl's sisici, siill ilc
concl musi go liom dooi io dooi loi alms (in ilc lands ol a bcggai). Ii is
iiuc, ilcicloic, ilai onc gains noiling wiiloui laving givcn in ilc pasi.
6. Wlcn a man las no siicngil lcli in lim lc bccomcs a saánu, onc wiiloui
wcalil acis lilc a branmacarí, a sicl man bclavcs lilc a dcvoicc ol ilc Loid,
and wlcn a woman giows old slc bccomcs dcvoicd io lci lusband.
7. ...
S. Tlcic is poison in ilc lang ol ilc scipcni, in ilc mouil ol ilc lly and in ilc
siing ol a scoipion; bui ilc wiclcd man is saiuiaicd wiil ii.
9. Tlc woman wlo lasis and obscivcs icligious vows wiiloui ilc pcimission
ol lci lusband sloiicns lis lilc, and gocs io lcll.
10. A woman docs noi bccomc loly by ollciing by claiiiy, by obsciving
lundicds ol lasis, oi by sipping sacicd waici, as by sipping ilc waici uscd
io wasl lci lusbands lcci.
11 ...
12. Tlc land is noi so wcll adoincd by oinamcnis as by claiiiablc ollciings;
onc docs noi bccomc clcan by smcaiing sandalwood pasic upon ilc body as
by ialing a bail; onc docs noi bccomc so mucl saiislicd by dinnci as by
laving icspcci slown io lim; and salvaiion is noi aiiaincd by scll-
adoinmcni as by culiivaiion ol spiiiiual lnowlcdgc.
13. ...
1+. Tlc caiing ol tunáí liuii dcpiivcs a man ol lis scnsc, wlilc ilc vacna iooi
adminisicicd icvivcs lis icasoning immcdiaicly. A woman ai oncc iobs a
man ol lis vigoui wlilc mill ai oncc icsioics ii.
15. Hc wlo nuiiuics bcncvolcncc loi all cicaiuics wiilin lis lcaii ovcicomcs
all dilliculiics and will bc ilc iccipicni ol all iypcs ol iiclcs ai cvciy sicp.
16. Wlai is ilcic io bc cnjoycd in ilc woild ol Loid India loi onc wlosc wilc
is loving and viiiuous, wlo posscsscs wcalil, wlo las a wcll-bclavcd son
cndowcd wiil good qualiiics, and wlo las a giandclildicn boin ol lis
clildicn'
17. Mcn lavc caiing, slccping, lcaiing and maiing in common wiil ilc lowci
animals. Tlai in wlicl mcn cxccl ilc bcasis is disciciionaiy lnowlcdgc;
lcncc, indiscicci mcn wlo aic wiiloui lnowlcdgc slould bc icgaidcd as
bcasis.
1S. Il ilc bccs wlicl sccl ilc liquid oozing liom ilc lcad ol a lusi-inioxicaicd
clcplani aic diivcn away by ilc llapping ol lis cais, ilcn ilc clcplani las
losi only ilc oinamcni ol lis lcad. Tlc bccs aic quiic lappy in ilc loius
lillcd lalc.
19. A ling, a piosiiiuic, Loid Yamaiaja, liic, a ilicl, a young boy, and a bcggai
cannoi undcisiand ilc sullciing ol oilcis. Tlc ciglil ol ilis caicgoiy is ilc
iax collccioi.
20. O lady, wly aic you gazing downwaid' Has somciling ol youis lallcn on
ilc giound' (Slc icplics) O lool, can you noi undcisiand ilc pcail ol my
youil las slippcd away'
21. O hcthí llowci! Scipcnis livc in youi midsi, you bcai no cdiblc liuiis, youi
lcavcs aic covcicd wiil iloins, you aic cioolcd in giowil, you iliivc in mud, and
you aic noi casily acccssiblc. Siill loi youi cxccpiional liagiancc you aic as dcai as
a linsmcn io oilcis. Hcncc, a singlc cxccllcncc ovcicomcs a muliiiudc ol
blcmislcs.