சாணக்ய நீதி - த்வாதஶோऽத்யாயஃ

Blessed is the householder whose home is filled with joy, whose children are wise, whose wife speaks with affection, who has wealth to fulfill his desires, who finds contentment in his own spouse, whose servants follow his commands, who regularly offers hospitality, performs the worship of Shiva, enjoys sweet food and drink, and consistently seeks the company of the righteous.

O King, even a small gift offered with devotion to a suffering brahmin bears infinite fruit; but wealth that is never given to the worthy remains sterile and yields no merit.

Those who are truly skilled in the ways of the world—and upon whom the stability of society depends—are those who show courtesy to their own kin, compassion to strangers, cunning to the wicked, love to the saintly, indifference to the arrogant, simplicity to the learned, valor to enemies, forbearance to elders, and guardedness toward the deceitful.

Oh, wretched body! Shame upon hands that give no charity, ears that never hear the sacred scriptures, eyes that do not seek the sight of holy men, and feet that do not travel to sacred places. Shame upon the stomach filled with ill-gotten wealth and the head held high with pride—abandon this low and despicable existence at once.

Woe to those men who have no devotion to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, the son of Yashoda; woe to those whose tongues do not delight in chanting the glories of the beloved of the gopi maidens; and woe to those whose ears take no pleasure in the sweet tales of His divine pastimes—this is what the mridangam drum constantly proclaims during the kirtan.

If a karira tree bears no leaves, is it the fault of the spring? If an owl cannot see during the day, is it the fault of the sun? If rain does not fall into the beak of the chataka bird, is it the fault of the cloud? Who can alter what has already been written by destiny on one's forehead?

Through the association of the good, the wicked may become righteous, but the righteous do not become wicked through association with the vile. Just as the earth takes on the fragrance of flowers, but the flowers do not take on the scent of the earth.

The sight of holy men is meritorious, for they are like living places of pilgrimage. A pilgrimage site yields its fruit only after a long time, but the association with a holy person yields its fruit immediately.

"O brahmin, tell me, who is the greatest person in this city?" "The group of palm trees." "Who is the benefactor?" "The washerman, who takes clothes in the morning and returns them at night." "Who is expert in taking others' wealth and wives?" "Everyone here is an expert in that." "Then how do you survive, my friend?" "I live like a worm in filth."

Those houses that are devoid of the holy water washed from the feet of the wise, those where the sound of the chanting of the Vedas is not heard, and those where the sacred mantras of sacrifice are never uttered, are as desolate and lifeless as a cremation ground.

Truth is my mother, knowledge is my father, righteousness is my brother, and compassion is my friend. Peace is my wife, and forgiveness is my son; these six are my true kinsfolk.

The physical body is transient and worldly wealth is not eternal. Death is ever-present; therefore, one should strive to accumulate virtue.

Brahmins find their delight in invitations, cows in fresh green grass, a wife in her husband’s affection, and I find my delight in the lotus feet of Lord Krishna.

He who regards other men's wives as his mother, other people's wealth as mere clods of earth, and all living beings as equal to his own self, is truly a wise man.

O Rama, You possess true devotion to righteousness, sweetness in speech, enthusiasm in charity, honesty toward friends, humility before the Guru, profound fearlessness in spirit, purity in conduct, appreciation for virtues, wisdom in scriptures, grace in form, and deep devotion to the Supreme Lord.

The wish-fulfilling tree is but wood, Mount Meru is just a mountain, the wish-granting gem is merely a stone, the sun is harsh, the moon wanes, the ocean is salty, Cupid is formless, Bali is a demon, and the wish-granting cow is but an animal. O Lord of the Raghus, I cannot compare You to any of these; to whom can You be compared?

Knowledge is a friend during travel, a wife is a friend at home, medicine is a friend to the sick, and righteousness is the only friend after death.

One should learn humility from princes, eloquent speech from the learned, deceit from gamblers, and cunningness from women.

The person who spends money without foresight, who is without a protector, who is fond of conflict, and who remains perpetually agitated, perishes quickly.

A wise person should not worry about food, but should contemplate only on righteousness, for the provision of food is destined for every living being from the moment of birth.

One who abandons false shyness in matters of business, in the pursuit of knowledge, and in daily interactions like eating and dealing with others, remains happy.

Just as a pitcher is filled gradually by the constant falling of water droplets, so too is knowledge, righteousness, and wealth acquired through persistent and steady effort.

A wicked person remains wicked even in old age, just as the bitter colocynth fruit does not lose its bitterness even when it is fully ripe.