ଚାଣକ୍ଯ ନୀତି - ପଞ୍ଚମୋଽଧ୍ଯାଯଃ

The teacher is the guide for the twice-born (Brahmins), the Brahmin is the guide for all the castes, the husband is the guide for women, and the guest is the guide for everyone.

Just as gold is tested by four methods—rubbing, cutting, heating, and beating—so a person is tested by four qualities: renunciation, character, virtues, and actions.

One should fear danger only as long as it is distant; but when danger is at hand, one should face it without hesitation.

Even those born from the same womb and under the same star are not identical in character, just as thorns and fruits on the same jujube tree are not the same.

One who is without desire cannot be a leader; one who is without passion does not care for adornment; one who is not clever cannot speak sweetly; and one who is a straightforward speaker is not a deceiver.

The foolish envy the learned; the poor envy the wealthy; women of loose character envy virtuous women; and the unfortunate envy those who are fortunate.

Knowledge is lost through laziness, money is lost when it falls into another's hands, a field is ruined by sparse seeds, and an army is ruined without a leader.

Knowledge is preserved through practice, family honor is preserved through good character, a noble person is recognized by their virtues, and anger is revealed through the eyes.

Righteousness is protected by wealth, knowledge is protected by application, a king is protected by mildness, and a home is protected by a virtuous wife.

The understanding of sacred texts is one thing, the acquisition of worldly knowledge is another, the attainment of the peaceful state of the Divine is yet another, and the suffering of the world is different from all these.

Charity destroys poverty, good conduct destroys misfortune, wisdom destroys ignorance, and faith destroys fear.

There is no disease like worldly desire, no enemy like delusion, no fire like anger, and no happiness greater than knowledge.

A person is born alone and dies alone, experiences the fruits of their good and bad deeds alone, suffers in hell alone, and attains the supreme state alone.

For the one who knows Brahman, heaven is but a blade of grass; for the brave person, life is but a blade of grass; for the one who has conquered their senses, a woman is but a blade of grass; and for the one who is free from desires, the entire world is but a blade of grass.

Knowledge is the friend of a traveler, a wife is the friend of one at home, medicine is the friend of the sick, and righteousness (Dharma) is the friend of the dead.

Rain falling into the ocean is useless, food given to one who is already satiated is useless, charity given to the wealthy is useless, and a lamp lit during the daytime is useless.

There is no water like rain, no strength like self-reliance, no light like the eye, and no nourishment as dear as food grains.

The poor desire wealth, animals desire the ability to speak, human beings desire heaven, and the gods desire liberation.

By truth, the earth is supported; by truth, the sun shines; by truth, the wind blows; indeed, everything is established upon truth.

Wealth is transient, life-force is transient, and the dwelling of life is transient. In this ever-changing world, only righteousness (Dharma) remains steady and eternal.

Among men, the barber is the most cunning; among birds, the crow; among four-legged animals, the jackal; and among women, the garland-maker (or flower-seller) is the most cunning.

The one who gives birth, the one who performs the sacred thread ceremony (initiator), the one who imparts knowledge, the one who provides food, and the one who protects from fear—these five are considered as fathers.

The king’s wife, the teacher’s wife, the friend’s wife, the wife of one’s maternal uncle, and one’s own mother—these five are considered as mothers.