Chanakya Neeti

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CHAPTER EIGHT

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1.  Low class men desire wealth; middle class men both wealth and 

respect; but the noble, honour only; hence honour is the noble man's

true wealth. 

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2.  ...

3.  The lamp eats up the darkness and therefore it produces lamp black; in 

the same way according to the nature of our diet (sattva, rajas, or

tamas) we produce offspring in similar quality. 

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4.  O wise man! Give your wealth only to the worthy and never to others.

The water of the sea received by the clouds is always sweet. The rain

water enlivens all living beings of the earth both movable (insects,

animals, humans, etc.) and immovable (plants, trees, etc.), and then

returns to the ocean it value multiplied a million fold. 

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5.  The wise who discern the essence of things have declared that the

yavana (meat eater) is equal in baseness to a thousand candalas the

lowest class), and hence a yavana is the basest of men; indeed there is

no one more base. 

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6.  After having rubbed oil on the body, after encountering the smoke from

a funeral pyre, after sexual intercourse, and after being shaved, one

remains a chandala until he bathes. 

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7.  Water is the medicine for indigestion; it is invigorating when the food

that is eaten is well digested; it is like nectar when drunk in the middle

of a dinner; and it is like poison when taken at the end of a meal. 

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8.  Knowledge is lost without putting it into practice; a man is lost due to

ignorance; an army is lost without a commander; and a woman is lost

without a husband. 

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9.  A man who encounters the following three is unfortunate; the death of

his wife in his old age, the entrusting of money into the hands of

relatives, and depending upon others for food. 

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10.  Chanting of the Vedas without making ritualistic sacrifices to the

Supreme Lord through the medium of Agni, and sacrifices not followed 

by bountiful gifts are futile. Perfection can be achieved only through

devotion (to the Supreme Lord) for devotion is the basis of all success. 

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11.  ...

12.  ...

13.  There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no 

happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness,

and no virtue like mercy. 

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15. Moral excellence is an ornament for personal beauty; righteous
conduct, for high birth; success for learning; and proper spending for
wealth.

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16. Beauty is spoiled by an immoral nature; noble birth by bad conduct;
learning, without being perfected; and wealth by not being properly
utilised.

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17. Water seeping into the earth is pure; and a devoted wife is pure; the
king who is the benefactor of his people is pure; and pure is the
brahmana who is contented.

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18. Discontented brahmanas, contented kings, shy prostitutes, and
immodest housewives are ruined.