ଚାଣକ୍ଯ ନୀତି - ତୃତୀଯୋଽଧ୍ଯାଯଃ

Is there anyone whose family is without any flaw? Who is not afflicted by some ailment or the other? Who has not encountered misfortune, and who is there whose happiness lasts forever?

One's conduct reveals one's family lineage, one's speech reveals one's country of origin, one's eagerness reveals one's affection, and one's physical appearance reveals the quality of one's food.

One should seek a noble family for the marriage of a daughter, engage a son in the pursuit of knowledge, involve an enemy in misfortune, and engage a friend in the path of righteousness.

Between a wicked person and a serpent, it is better to choose the serpent; for the serpent bites only when the time is right, but the wicked person bites at every step.

Kings seek to recruit people of noble character for this very reason, for such individuals do not deviate from their values or succumb to corruption, whether at the beginning, the middle, or the end of their service.

It is said that even the vast oceans transgress their boundaries during the time of universal dissolution (Pralaya). However, noble souls do not change their nature or lose their integrity, even in times of catastrophe.

One should strike at a fool, for he is a beast walking on two legs; he is wounded by the thorn of sharp words, just as one removes an unseen thorn with another.

Those who are endowed with beauty and youth and are born into high families do not shine if they lack knowledge, much like the Kinshuka flowers which lack fragrance.

The beauty of the cuckoo is its voice; the beauty of a woman is her devotion to her husband; the beauty of the plain-looking is their knowledge; and the beauty of an ascetic is their power of forgiveness.

One should sacrifice an individual for the sake of the family, the family for the sake of the village, the village for the sake of the country, and the entire earth for the sake of one's own soul.

There is no poverty for one who is industrious, no sin for one who chants the holy names, no discord for one who remains silent, and no fear for one who remains vigilant.

Sita was abducted due to her excessive beauty, Ravana was destroyed due to his excessive pride, and Bali was bound due to his excessive charity; therefore, one should always avoid extremes in everything.

For those who are capable, no burden is too heavy; for those who are enterprising, no distance is too far; for those who are learned, no land is foreign; and for those who speak kindly, no one is a stranger.

Just as a single blossoming, fragrant tree can fill an entire forest with its scent, so too can a single virtuous son bring glory to an entire family.

Just as a single dry tree catching fire can consume an entire forest, so too can a single wicked son destroy an entire family.

A single virtuous son, equipped with knowledge and good conduct, brings joy to the entire family, just as the moon illuminates the entire night.

What is the use of having many sons who only bring grief and distress? It is better to have one son who supports the family, for in him the family finds peace and refuge.

Nurture and cherish a child for the first five years, discipline and correct him for the next ten, but once he reaches the age of sixteen, treat him as a friend.

He who flees from natural calamities, foreign invasions, terrible famines, and the company of wicked people is the one who survives.

For one who does not possess even a portion of Dharma (righteousness), Artha (prosperity), Kama (desires/needs), or Moksha (liberation), life is as useless as the dangling skin beneath a goat’s neck.

Where fools are not venerated, where food grains are well-stored, and where there is no strife between husband and wife, there Goddess Lakshmi (prosperity) resides of her own accord.