ଚାଣକ୍ଯ ନୀତି - ଚତୁର୍ଦଶୋଽଧ୍ଯାଯଃ

Poverty, sorrow, disease, imprisonment, and misfortune are the fruits born of the tree of one's own past misdeeds.

Wealth, friends, a wife, and land can all be regained; however, this human body, once lost, cannot be acquired again.

The collective strength of many is capable of conquering even a powerful enemy; just as blades of grass, when woven together, can withstand the torrential downpour of clouds.

Oil poured on water, a secret shared with a wicked person, charity given to a worthy recipient, and knowledge imparted to the wise—all these naturally expand according to their inherent nature.

If the state of mind one experiences while listening to religious discourses, visiting a cremation ground, or suffering from illness were to remain constant at all times, who would not be liberated from the bondage of the world?

If a person possessed the same wisdom at the outset that they attain only after feeling remorse for their mistakes, what great success would they not be able to achieve?

One should not be astonished by anyone’s prowess in charity, penance, bravery, knowledge, humility, or diplomacy, for the earth is full of many such precious gems.

He who resides in one’s mind is never far away, even if he is physically distant; but he who is not in one’s heart is far away, even if he is standing right beside.

One should always speak pleasantly to the person from whom one desires a favor; just as a hunter sings a melodious song to trap a deer.

Being too close leads to destruction, and remaining too far yields no benefits; therefore, one should maintain a balanced distance when dealing with kings, fire, teachers, and women.

Fire, water, women, fools, serpents, and royal families—these six must always be approached with great caution, for they can take one's life in an instant.

He truly lives who possesses virtues and righteousness; the life of one devoid of virtue and dharma is meaningless.

If you wish to conquer the world with a single act, then first restrain your senses—the five organs of perception and the five of action, along with the mind—from wandering toward worldly temptations.

A wise person is one who knows how to speak according to the occasion, how to offer affection according to the situation's influence, and how to express anger in proportion to their own strength.

A single object is perceived in three different ways: the body is seen as a corpse by the yogi, as an object of desire by the lustful, and as mere flesh by the dog.

A wise person should never disclose the following: effective medicine, religious practices, domestic conflicts, intimate relations, food that is unpalatable, and slanderous talk.

The cuckoos remain silent until the arrival of the spring season when their sweet voices can bring joy to all; similarly, a wise person should remain silent until the right time to speak arrives.

One must strictly follow the path of righteousness, earn wealth, store provisions, heed the guru’s advice, and apply proper remedies; failing to do so makes life difficult to sustain.

Abandon the company of the wicked and seek the association of the virtuous; perform righteous deeds day and night, and always remember the transitory nature of this world.