Lost city of Dwaraka

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Chanakya Neethi Part 17/17..

1. The scholar who has acquired knowledge by studying innumerable
  books without the blessings of a bonafide spiritual master does not
 shine in an assembly of truly learned men just as an illegitimate child is
not honoured in society.
2. We should repay the favours of others by acts of kindness; so also
  should we return evil for evil in which there is no sin, for it is necessary
 to pay a wicked man in his own coin.
3. That thing which is distant, that thing which appears impossible, and
  that which is far beyond our reach, can be easily attained through
 tapasya (religious austerity), for nothing can surpass austerity.
4. What vice could be worse than covetousness? What is more sinful than
  slander? For one who is truthful, what need is there for austerity? For
 one who has a clean heart, what is the need for pilgrimage? If one has a
good disposition, what other virtue is needed? If a man has fame, what
is the value of other ornamentation? What need is there for wealth for
the man of practical knowledge? And if a man is dishonoured, what
could there be worse in death?
5. Though the sea, which is the reservoir of all jewels, is the father of the
  conch shell, and the Goddess of fortune Lakshmi is conch's sister, still
 the conch must go from door to door for alms (in the hands of a
beggar). It is true, therefore, that one gains nothing without having
given in the past.
6. When a man has no strength left in him he becomes a sadhu, one
  without wealth acts like a brahmacari, a sick man behaves like a
 devotee of the Lord, and when a woman grows old she becomes
devoted to her husband.
7. ...
8. There is poison in the fang of the serpent, in the mouth of the fly and in
  the sting of a scorpion; but the wicked man is saturated with it.
9. The woman who fasts and observes religious vows without the
  permission of her husband shortens his life, and goes to hell.
10. A woman does not become holy by offering by charity, by observing
hundreds of fasts, or by sipping sacred water, as by sipping the water
used to wash her husbands feet.
11 ...
12. The hand is not so well adorned by ornaments as by charitable
offerings; one does not become clean by smearing sandalwood paste
upon the body as by taking a bath; one does not become so much
satisfied by dinner as by having respect shown to him; and salvation is
not attained by self-adornment as by cultivation of spiritual knowledge.
13. ...
14. The eating of tundi fruit deprives a man of his sense, while the vacha
root administered revives his reasoning immediately. A woman at once
robs a man of his vigour while milk at once restores it.
15. He who nurtures benevolence for all creatures within his heart
overcomes all difficulties and will be the recipient of all types of riches
at every step.
16. What is there to be enjoyed in the world of Lord Indra for one whose
wife is loving and virtuous, who possesses wealth, who has a well-
behaved son endowed with good qualities, and who has a grandchildren
born of his children?
17. Men have eating, sleeping, fearing and mating in common with the
lower animals. That in which men excel the beasts is discretionary
knowledge; hence, indiscreet men who are without knowledge should
be regarded as beasts.
18. If the bees which seek the liquid oozing from the head of a lust-
intoxicated elephant are driven away by the flapping of his ears, then
the elephant has lost only the ornament of his head. The bees are quite
happy in the lotus filled lake.
19. A king, a prostitute, Lord Yamaraja, fire, a thief, a young boy, and a
beggar cannot understand the suffering of others. The eighth of this
category is the tax collector.
20. O lady, why are you gazing downward? Has something of yours fallen
on the ground? (She replies) O fool, can you not understand the pearl of
my youth has slipped away?
21. O ketki flower! Serpents live in your midst, you bear no edible fruits,
your leaves are covered with thorns, you are crooked in growth, you
thrive in mud, and you are not easily accessible. Still for your
exceptional fragrance you are as dear as a kinsmen to others. Hence, a
single excellence overcomes a multitude of blemishes.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 16/17..

1. ...
2. The heart of a woman is not united; it is divided. While she is talking
  with one man, she looks lustfully at another and thinks fondly of a third
 in her heart.
3. The fool (mudha) who fancies that a charming young lady loves him,
  becomes her slave and he dances like a shakuntal bird tied to a string.
4. Who is there who, having become rich, has not become proud? Which
  licentious (Free) man has put an end to his calamities (A grievous
 disaster)? Which man in this world has not been overcome by a
woman? Who is always loved by the king? Who is there who has not
been overcome by the ravages of time? Which beggar has attained
glory? Who has become happy by contracting the vices of the wicked?
5. ...
6. A man attains greatness by his merits, not simply by occupying an
  exalted seat. Can we call a crow an eagle (garuda) simply because he
 sits on the top of a tall building.
7. ...
8. The man who is praised by others as great is regarded as worthy though
  he may be really void of all merit. But the man who sings his own
 praises lowers himself in the estimation of others though he should be
Indra (the possessor of all excellences).
9. If good qualities should characterise a man of discrimination, the
  brilliance of his qualities will be recognised just as a gem which is
 essentially bright really shines when fixed in an ornament of gold.
10. Even one who by his qualities appears to be all knowing suffers without
patronage; the gem, though precious, requires a gold setting.
11. I do not deserve that wealth which is to be attained by enduring much
suffering, or by transgressing the rules of virtue, or by flattering an
enemy.
12. ...
13. Those who were not satiated with the enjoyment of wealth, food and
women have all passed away; there are others now passing away who
have likewise remained unsatiated; and in the future still others will
pass away feeling themselves unsatiated.
14. All charities and sacrifices (performed for fruitive gain) bring only
temporary results, but gifts made to deserving persons (those who are
Krishna consciousness) and protection offered to all creatures shall
never perish.
15. A blade of grass is light, cotton is lighter, the beggar is infinitely lighter
still. Why then does not the wind carry him away? Because it fears that
he may ask alms of him.
16. It is better to die than to preserve this life by incurring disgrace. The
loss of life causes but a moment's grief, but disgrace brings grief every
day of one's life.
17. All the creatures are pleased by loving words; and therefore we should
address words that are pleasing to all, for there is no lack of sweet
words.
18. There are two nectarean fruits hanging from the tree of this world: one
is the hearing of sweet words (such as Krishna-katha) and the other, the
society of saintly men.
19. The good habits of charity, learning and austerity practised during many
past lives continue to be cultivated in this birth by virtue of the link
(yoga) of this present life to the previous ones.
20. One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the
possession of others, can use neither his knowledge nor wealth when
the need for them arises.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 15/17..

1. For one whose heart melts with compassion for all creatures; what is
  the necessity of knowledge, liberation, matted hair on the head, and
 smearing the body with ashes.
2. There is no treasure on earth the gift of which will cancel the debt a
  disciple owes his guru for having taught him even a single letter ( that
 leads to Krishna consciousness).
3. There are two ways to get rid of thorns and wicked persons; using
  footwear in the first case and in the second shaming them so that they
 cannot raise their faces again thus keeping them at a distance.
4. He who wears unclean garments, has dirty teeth, as a glutton, speaks
  unkindly and sleeps after sunrise -- although he may be the greatest
 personality -- will lose the favour of Lakshmi.
5. He who loses his money is forsaken by his friends, his wife, his
  servants and his relations; yet when he regains his riches those who
 have forsaken him come back to him. Hence wealth is certainly the best
of relations.
6. Sinfully acquired wealth may remain for ten years; in the eleventh year
  it disappears with even the original stock.
7. A bad action committed by a great man is not censured (as there is none
  that can reproach him), and a good action performed by a low-class
 man comes to be condemned (because none respects him). Just see: the
drinking of nectar is excellent, but it became the cause of Rahu's
demise; and the drinking of poison is harmful, but when Lord Shiva
(who is exalted) drank it, it became an ornament to his neck (nila-
kanta).
8. A true meal is that which consists of the remnants left after a
  brahmana's meal. Love which is shown to others is true love, not that
 which is cherished for one's own self. to abstain from sin is true
wisdom. That is an act of charity which is performed without
ostentation.
9.
For want of discernment the most precious jewels lie in the dust at the
feet of men while bits of glass are worn on their heads. But we should
not imagine that the gems have sunk in value, and the bits of glass have
risen in importance. When a person of critical judgement shall appear,
each will be given its right position.
10. Sastric knowledge is unlimited, and the arts to be learned are many; the
time we have is short, and our opportunities to learn are beset with
obstacles. Therefore select for learning that which is most important,
just as the swan drinks only the milk in water.
11. He is a chandala who eats his dinner without entertaining the stranger
who has come to his house quite accidentally, having travelled from a
long distance and is wearied.
12. One may know the four Vedas and the Dharma-sastras, yet if he has no
realisation of his own spiritual self, he can be said to be like the ladle
which stirs all kinds of foods but knows not the taste of any.
13. Those blessed souls are certainly elevated who, while crossing the
ocean of life, take shelter of a genuine brahmana, who is likened unto a
boat. They are unlike passengers aboard an ordinary ship which runs
the risk of sinking.
14. The moon, who is the abode of nectar and the presiding deity of all
medicines, although immortal like amrta and resplendent in form, loses
the brilliance of his rays when he repairs to the abode of the sun (day
time). Therefore will not an ordinary man be made to feel inferior by
going to live at the house of another.
15. This humble bee, who always resides among the soft petals of the lotus
and drinks abundantly its sweet nectar, is now feasting on the flower of
the ordinary kutaja. Being in a strange country where the lotuses do not
exist, he is considering the pollen of the kutaja to be nice.
16. (Lord Visnu asked His spouse Lakshmi why She did not care to live in
the house of a brahmana, when She replied) " O Lord a rishi named
Agastya drank up My father (the ocean) in anger; Brighu Muni kicked
You; brahmanas pride themselves on their learning having sought the
favour of My competitor Sarasvati; and lastly they pluck each day the
lotus which is My abode, and therewith worship Lord Shiva. Therefore,
O Lord, I fear to dwell with a brahmana and that properly.
17. There are many ways of binding by which one can be dominated and
controlled in this world, but the bond of affection is the strongest. For
example, take the case of the humble bee which, although expert at
piercing hardened wood, becomes caught in the embrace of its beloved
flowers (as the petals close at dusk).
18. Although sandalwood be cut, it does not forsake its natural quality of
fragrance; so also the elephant does not give up sportiveness though he
should grow old. The sugarcane does not cease to be sweet though
squeezed in a mill; so the man of noble extraction does not lose his
lofty qualities, no matter how pinched he is by poverty.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 14/17..

1. Poverty, disease, sorrow, imprisonment and other evils are the fruits
  borne by the tree of one's own sins.
2. Wealth, a friend, a wife, and a kingdom may be regained; but this body
  when lost may never be acquired again.
3. The enemy can be overcome by the union of large numbers, just as
  grass through its collectiveness wards off erosion caused by heavy
 rainfall.
4. Oil on water, a secret communicated to a base man, a gift given to a
  worthy receiver, and scriptural instruction given to an intelligent man
 spread out by virtue of their nature.
5. If men should always retain the state of mind they experience when
  hearing religious instruction, when present at a crematorium ground,
 and when in sickness -- then who could not attain liberation.
6. If a man should feel before, as he feels after, repentance -- then who
  would not attain perfection?
7. We should not feel pride in our charity, austerity, valour, scriptural
  knowledge, modesty and morality for the world is full of the rarest
 gems.
8. He who lives in our mind is near though he may actually be far away;
  but he who is not in our heart is far though he may really be nearby.
9. We should always speak what would please the man of whom we
  expect a favour, like the hunter who sings sweetly when he desires to
 shoot a deer.
10. It is ruinous to be familiar with the king, fire, the religious preceptor,
and a woman. To be altogether indifferent of them is to be deprived of
the opportunity to benefit ourselves, hence our association with them
must be from a safe distance.
11. We should always deal cautiously with fire, water, women, foolish
people, serpents, and members of a royal family; for they may, when
the occasion presents itself, at once bring about our death.
12. He should be considered to be living who is virtuous and pious, but the
life of a man who is destitute of religion and virtues is void of any
blessing.
13. If you wish to gain control of the world by the performance of a single
deed, then keep the following fifteen, which are prone to wander here
and there, from getting the upper hand of you: the five sense objects
(objects of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch); the five sense organs
(ears, eyes, nose, tongue and skin) and organs of activity (hands, legs,
mouth, genitals and anus).
14. He is a pandit (man of knowledge) who speaks what is suitable to the
occasion, who renders loving service according to his ability, and who
knows the limits of his anger.
15 One single object (a woman) appears in three different ways: to the man
who practices austerity it appears as a corpse, to the sensual it appears
as a woman, and to the dogs as a lump of flesh.
16. A wise man should not divulge the formula of a medicine which he has
well prepared; an act of charity which he has performed; domestic
conflicts; private affairs with his wife; poorly prepared food he may
have been offered; or slang he may have heard.
17. The cuckoos remain silent for a long time (for several seasons) until
they are able to sing sweetly (in the Spring ) so as to give joy to all.
18. We should secure and keep the following: the blessings of meritorious
deeds, wealth, grain, the words of the spiritual master, and rare
medicines. Otherwise life becomes impossible.
19. Eschew (Avoid) wicked company and associate with saintly persons.
Acquire virtue day and night, and always meditate on that which is
eternal forgetting that which is temporary.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 13/17..

1. A man may live but for a moment, but that moment should be spent in
doing auspicious deeds. It is useless living even for a kalpa (4,320,000
*1000 years) and bringing only distress upon the two worlds (this world
and the next).
2. We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the
  future; men of discernment deal only with the present moment.
3. It certainly is nature of the demigods, men of good character, and
  parents to be easily pleased. Near and distant relatives are pleased when
 they are hospitably received with bathing, food, and drink; and pandits
are pleased with an opportunity for giving spiritual discourse.
4. Even as the unborn babe is in the womb of his mother, these five are
  fixed as his life destiny: his life span, his activities, his acquisition of
 wealth and knowledge, and his time of death.
5. O see what a wonder it is! The doings of the great are strange: they treat
  wealth as light as a straw, yet, when they obtain it, they bend under its
 weight.
6. He who is overly attached to his family members experiences fear and
  sorrow, for the root of all grief is attachment. Thus one should discard
 attachment to be happy.
7. He who is prepared for the future and he who deals cleverly with any
  situation that may arise are both happy; but the fatalistic man who
 wholly depends on luck is ruined.
8. If the king is virtuous, then the subjects are also virtuous. If the king is
  sinful, then the subjects also become sinful. If he is mediocre, then the
 subjects are mediocre. The subjects follow the example of the king. In
short, as is the king so are the subjects.
9. I consider him who does not act religiously as dead though living, but
  he who dies acting religiously unquestionably lives long though he is
 dead.
10. He who has acquired neither virtue, wealth, satisfaction of desires nor
salvation (dharma, artha, kama, moksa), lives an utterly useless life,
like the "nipples" hanging from the neck of a goat.
11. The hearts of base men burn before the fire of other's fame, and they
slander them being themselves unable to rise to such a high position.
12. Excessive attachment to sense pleasures leads to bondage, and
detachment from sense pleasures leads to liberation; therefore it is the
mind alone that is responsible for bondage or liberation.
13. He who sheds bodily identification by means of knowledge of the
indwelling Supreme Self (Paramatma), will always be absorbed in
meditative trance (samadhi) wherever his mind leads him.
14. Who realises all the happiness he desires? Everything is in the hands of
God. Therefore one should learn contentment.
15. As a calf follows its mother among a thousand cows, so the (good or
bad) deeds of a man follow him.
16. He whose actions are disorganised has no happiness either in the midst
of men or in a jungle -- in the midst of men his heart burns by social
contacts, and his helplessness burns him in the forest.
17. As the man who digs obtains underground water by use of a shovel, so
the student attains the knowledge possessed by his preceptor through
his service.
18. Men reap the fruits of their deeds, and intellects bear the mark of deeds
performed in previous lives; even so the wise act after due
circumspection.
19. Even the man who has taught the spiritual significance of just one letter
ought to be worshiped. He who does not give reverence to such a guru
is born as a dog a hundred times, and at last takes birth as a chandala
(dog-eater).
20. At the end of the yuga, Mount Meru may be shaken; at the end of the
kalpa, the waters of the seven oceans may be disturbed; but a sadhu
will never swerve from the spiritual path.
21. There are three gems upon this earth; food, water, and pleasing words --
fools (mudhas) consider pieces of rocks as gems.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 12/17..

1. He is a blessed grhasta (householder) in whose house there is a blissful
  atmosphere, whose sons are talented, whose wife speaks sweetly,
 whose wealth is enough to satisfy his desires, who finds pleasure in the
company of his wife, whose servants are obedient, in whose house
hospitality is shown, the auspicious Supreme Lord is worshiped daily,
delicious food and drink is partaken, and who finds joy in the company
of devotees.
2. One who devotedly gives a little to a brahmana who is in distress is
  recompensed abundantly. Hence, O Prince, what is given to a good
 brahmana is got back not in an equal quantity, but in an infinitely
higher degree.
3. Those men who are happy in this world, who are generous towards their
  relatives, kind to strangers, indifferent to the wicked, loving to the
 good, shrewd in their dealings with the base, frank with the learned,
courageous with enemies, humble with elders and stern with the wife.
4. O jackal, leave aside the body of that man at once, whose hands have
  never given in charity, whose ears have not heard the voice of learning,
 whose eyes have not beheld a pure devotee of the Lord, whose feet
have never traversed to holy places, whose belly is filled with things
obtained by crooked practices, and whose head is held high in vanity.
Do not eat it, O jackal, otherwise you will become polluted.
5. "Shame upon those who have no devotion to the lotus feet of Sri
  Krishna, the son of mother Yasoda; who have no attachment for the
 describing the glories of Srimati Radharani; whose ears are not eager to
listen to the stories of the Lord's lila." Such is the exclamation of the
mrdanga sound of dhik-tam dhik-tam dhigatam at kirtana.
6. What fault of spring that the bamboo shoot has no leaves? What fault of
  the sun if the owl cannot see during the daytime? Is it the fault of the
 clouds if no raindrops fall into the mouth of the chatak bird? Who can
erase what Lord Brahma has inscribed upon our foreheads at the time of
birth?
7. A wicked man may develop saintly qualities in the company of a
  devotee, but a devotee does not become impious in the company of a
 wicked person. The earth is scented by a flower that falls upon it, but
the flower does not contact the odour of the earth.
8. One indeed becomes blessed by having darshan of a devotee; for the
  devotee has the ability to purify immediately, whereas the sacred tirtha
 gives purity only after prolonged contact.
9. A stranger asked a brahmana, "Tell me, who is great in this city?" The
  brahmana replied, "The cluster of palmyra trees is great." Then the
 traveller asked, "Who is the most charitable person?" The brahmana
answered, "The washerman who takes the clothes in the morning and
gives them back in the evening is the most charitable." He then asked,
"Who is the ablest man?" The brahmana answered, "Everyone is expert
in robbing others of their wives and wealth." The man then asked the
brahmana, "How do you manage to live in such a city?" The brahmana
replied, "As a worm survives while even in a filthy place so do I
survive here!"
10. The house in which the lotus feet of brahmanas are not washed, in
which Vedic mantras are not loudly recited, and in which the holy rites
of svaha (sacrificial offerings to the Supreme Lord) and swadha
(offerings to the ancestors) are not performed, is like a crematorium.
11. (It is said that a sadhu, when asked about his family, replied thusly):
truth is my mother, and my father is spiritual knowledge; righteous
conduct is my brother, and mercy is my friend, inner peace is my wife,
and forgiveness is my son: these six are my kinsmen.
12. Our bodies are perishable, wealth is not at all permanent and death is
always nearby. Therefore we must immediately engage in acts of merit.
13. Arjuna says to Krishna. "Brahmanas find joy in going to feasts, cows
find joy in eating their tender grass, wives find joy in the company of
their husbands, and know, O Krishna, that in the same way I rejoice in
battle.
14. He who regards another's wife as his mother, the wealth that does not
belong to him as a lump of mud, and the pleasure and pain of all other
living beings as his own -- truly sees things in the right perspective, and
he is a true pandit.
15. O Raghava, the love of virtue, pleasing speech, and an ardent desire for
performing acts of charity, guileless dealings with friends, humility in
the guru's presence , deep tranquillity of mind, pure conduct,
discernment of virtues, realised knowledge of the sastras, beauty of
form and devotion to God are all found in you." (The great sage
Vasistha Muni, the spiritual preceptor of the dynasty of the sun, said
this to Lord Ramachandra at the time of His proposed coronation).
16. The desire tree is wood; the golden Mount Meru is motionless; the
wish-fulfilling gem cintamani is just a stone; the sun is scorching; the
moon is prone to wane; the boundless ocean is saline; the demigod of
lust lost his body (due to Shiva's wrath); Bali Maharaja, the son of Diti,
was born into a clan of demons; and Kamadhenu (the cow of heaven) is
a mere beast. O Lord of the Raghu dynasty! I cannot compare you to
any one of these (taking their merits into account).
17. Realised learning (vidya) is our friend while travelling , the wife is a
friend at home, medicine is the friend of a sick man, and meritorious
deeds are the friends at death.
18. Courtesy should be learned from princes, the art of conversation from
pandits, lying should be learned from gamblers and deceitful ways
should be learned from women.
19. The unthinking spender, the homeless urchin , the quarrel
monger , the man who neglects his wife and is heedless in
his actions -- all these will soon come to ruination.
20. The wise man should not be anxious about his food; he should be
anxious to be engaged only in dharma (Krishna consciousness). the
food of each man is created for him at his birth.
21. He who is not shy in the acquisition of wealth, grain and knowledge,
and in taking his meals, will be happy
22. As centesimal droppings will fill a pot so also are knowledge, virtue
and wealth gradually obtained.
23. The man who remains a fool even in advanced age is really a fool, just
as the Indra-Varuna fruit does not become sweet no matter how ripe it
might become.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 11/17..

1. Generosity, pleasing address, courage and propriety of conduct are not
  acquired, but are inbred qualities.
2. He who forsakes his own community and joins another perishes as the
  king who embraces an unrighteous path.
3. The elephant has a huge body but is controlled by the ankusha (goad):
  yet, is the goad as large as the elephant? A lighted candle banishes
 darkness: is the candle as vast as the darkness. A mountain is broken
even by a thunderbolt: is the thunderbolt therefore as big as the
mountain? No, he whose power prevails is really mighty; what is there
in bulk?

5. He who is engrossed in family life will never acquire knowledge; there
  can be no mercy in the eater of flesh; the greedy man will not be
 truthful; and purity will not be found in a woman and a hunter.
6. The wicked man will not attain sanctity even if he is instructed in
  different ways, and the nim tree will not become sweet even if it is
 sprinkled from the top to the roots with milk and ghee.
7. Mental dirt cannot be washed away even by one-hundred baths in the
  sacred waters, just as a wine pot cannot be purified even by evaporating
 all the wine by fire.
8. It is not strange if a man reviles (Degrades) a thing of which he has no
  knowledge, just as a wild hunter's wife throws away the pearl that is
 found in the head of an elephant, and picks up a gunj(a type of seed
which poor tribals wear as ornaments).
9. He who for one year eats his meals silently (inwardly meditating upon
  the Lord's prasadam); attains to the heavenly planets for a thousand
 crore of years. ( Note: one crore equals ten million)
10. The student (brahmacari) should completely renounce the following
eight things -- his lust, anger, greed, desire for sweets, sense of
decorating the body, excessive curiosity, excessive sleep, and excessive
endeavour for bodily maintenance.

12. He alone is a true brahmana (dvija or "twice-born") who is satisfied
with one meal a day, who has the six samskaras (or acts of purification
such as garbhadhana, etc.) performed for him, and who cohabits with
his wife only once in a month on an auspicious day after her menses.
13. The brahmana who is engrossed in worldly affairs, brings up cows and
is engaged in trade is really called a vaishya.
14. The brahmana who deals in lac-die, articles, oil, indigo, silken cloth,
honey, clarified butter, liquor, and flesh is called a shudra.
15. The brahmana who thwarts the doings of others, who is hypocritical,
selfish, and a deceitful hater, and while speaking mildly cherishes
cruelty in his heart, is called a cat.
16. The brahmana who destroys a pond, a well, a tank, a garden and a
temple is called a mleccha.
17. The brahmana who steals the property of the Deities and the spiritual
preceptor, who cohabits with another's wife, and who maintains himself
by eating anything and everything s called a chandala.
18. The meritorious should give away in charity all that they have in excess
of their needs. By charity only Karna, Bali and King Vikramaditya
survive even today. Just see the plight of the honeybees beating their
legs in despair upon the earth. They are saying to themselves, "Alas!
We neither enjoyed our stored-up honey nor gave it in charity, and now
someone has taken it from us in an instant."

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Chanakya Neethi Part 10/17..

1. One destitute of wealth is not destitute, he is indeed rich (if he is
  learned); but the man devoid of learning is destitute in every way.
2. We should carefully scrutinise that place upon which we step (having
  it ascertained to be free from filth and living creatures like insects,
 etc.); we should drink water which has been filtered (through a clean
cloth); we should speak only those words which have the sanction of
the satras; and do that act which we have carefully considered.
3. He who desires sense gratification must give up all thoughts of
  acquiring knowledge; and he who seeks knowledge must not hope for
 sense gratification. How can he who seeks sense gratification acquire
knowledge, and he who possesses knowledge enjoy mundane sense
pleasure?
4. What is it that escapes the observation of poets? What is that act
  women are incapable of doing? What will drunken people not prate?
 What will not a crow eat?
5. Fate makes a beggar a king and a king a beggar. He makes a rich man
  poor and a poor man rich.
6. The beggar is a miser's enemy; the wise counsellor is the fool's
  enemy; her husband is an adulterous wife's enemy; and the moon is
 the enemy of the thief.
7. Those who are destitute of learning, penance, knowledge, good
  disposition, virtue and benevolence are brutes wandering the earth in
 the form of men. They are burdensome to the earth.
8. Those that are empty-minded cannot be benefited by instruction.
  Bamboo does not acquire the quality of sandalwood by being
 associated with the Malaya Mountain.
9. What good can the scriptures do to a man who has no sense of his
  own? Of what use is as mirror to a blind man?
10. Nothing can reform a bad man, just as the posterious cannot become a
   superior part of the body though washed one hundred times.
11. By offending a kinsman, life is lost; by offending others, wealth is
   lost; by offending the king, everything is lost; and by offending a
  brahmana one's whole family is ruined.
12. It is better to live under a tree in a jungle inhabited by tigers and
   elephants, to maintain oneself in such a place with ripe fruits and
  spring water, to lie down on grass and to wear the ragged barks of
 trees than to live amongst one's relations when reduced to poverty.
13. The brahmana is like tree; his prayers are the roots, his chanting of
   the Vedas are the branches, and his religious act are the leaves.
  Consequently effort should be made to preserve his roots for if the
 roots are destroyed there can be no branches or leaves.
14. My mother is Kamala devi (Lakshmi), my father is Lord Janardana
   (Vishnu), my kinsmen are the Vishnu-bhaktas (Vaisnavas) and, my
  homeland is all the three worlds.
15. (Through the night) a great many kinds of birds perch(Sit and rest) on
   a tree but in the morning they fly in all the ten directions. Why should
  we lament (Expression of sorrow) for that? (Similarly, we should not
 grieve when we must inevitably part company from our dear ones).
16. He who possesses intelligence is strong; how can the man that is
   unintelligent be powerful? The elephant of the forest having lost his
  senses by intoxication was tricked into a lake by a small rabbit. (this
 verse refers to a famous story from the niti-sastra called pancatantra
compiled by the pandit Vishnusharma 2500 years ago).
17. Why should I be concerned for my maintenance while absorbed in
   praising the glories of Lord Vishwambhara (Vishnu), the supporter of
  all. Without the grace of Lord Hari, how could milk flow from a
 mother's breast for a child's nourishment? Repeatedly thinking only in
this way, O Lord of the Yadus, O husband of Lakshmi, all my time is
spent in serving Your lotus feet.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 9/17..

1. My dear child, if you desire to be free from the cycle of birth and death,
  then abandon the objects of sense gratification as poison. Drink instead
 the nectar of forbearance, upright conduct, mercy, cleanliness and truth.
2. Those base men who speak of the secret faults of others destroy
  themselves like serpents who stray onto anthills.
3. Perhaps nobody has advised Lord Brahma, the creator, to impart
  perfume to gold; fruit to the sugarcane; flowers to the sandalwood tree;
 wealth to the learned; and long life to the king.
4. Nectar (amrita) is the best among medicines; eating good food is the
  best of all types of material happiness; the eye is the chief among all
 organs; and the head occupies the chief position among all parts of the
body.
5. No messenger can travel about in the sky and no tidings come from
  there. The voice of its inhabitants as never heard, nor can any contact be
 established with them. Therefore the brahmana who predicts the eclipse
of the sun and moon which occur in the sky must be considered as a
vidwan (man of great learning).
6. The student, the servant, the traveller, the hungry person, the frightened
  man, the treasury guard, and the steward: these seven ought to be
 awakened if they fall asleep.
7. The serpent, the king, the tiger, the stinging wasp, the small child, the
  dog owned by other people, and the fool: these seven ought not to be
 awakened from sleep.
8. Of those who have studied the Vedas for material rewards, and those
  who accept foodstuffs offered by shudras, what potency have they?
 They are just like serpents without fangs.
9. He who neither rouses fear by his anger, nor confers a favour when he
  is pleased can neither control nor protect. What can he do?
10. The serpent may, without being poisonous, raise high its hood, but the
show of terror is enough to frighten people -- whether he be venomous
or not.
11. Wise men spend their mornings in discussing gambling, the afternoon
discussing the activities of women, and the night hearing about the
activities of theft. (The first item above refers to the gambling of King
Yuddhisthira, the great devotee of Krishna. The second item refers to
the glorious deeds of mother Sita, the consort of Lord Ramachandra.
The third item hints at the adorable childhood pastimes of Sri Krishna
who stole butter from the elderly cowherd ladies of Gokula. Hence
Chanakya Pandits advises wise persons to spend the morning absorbed
in Mahabharata, the afternoon studying Ramayana, and the evening
devotedly hearing the Srimad-Bhagvatam.)
12. By preparing a garland for a Deity with one's own hand; by grinding
sandal paste for the Lord with one's own hand; and by writing sacred
texts with one's own hand -- one becomes blessed with opulence equal
to that of Indra.
13. ...
14. Poverty is set off by fortitude; shabby garments by keeping them clean;
bad food by warming it; and ugliness by good behaviour.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 8/17..

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
14. Anger is a personification of Yama (the demigod of death); thirst is like
the hellish river Vaitarani; knowledge is like a kamadhenu (the cow of
plenty); and contentment is like Nandanavana (the garden of Indra).
15. Moral excellence is an ornament for personal beauty; righteous
conduct, for high birth; success for learning; and proper spending for
wealth.
16. Beauty is spoiled by an immoral nature; noble birth by bad conduct;
learning, without being perfected; and wealth by not being properly
utilised.
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.
18. Discontented brahmanas, contented kings, shy prostitutes, and
immodest housewives are ruined.
19. Of what avail is a high birth if a person is destitute of scholarship? A
man who is of low extraction is honoured even by the demigods if he is
learned.
20. A learned man is honoured by the people. A learned man commands
respect everywhere for his learning. Indeed, learning is honoured
everywhere.
21. Those who are endowed with beauty and youth and who are born of
noble families are worthless if they have no learning. They are just like
the kimshuka blossoms ( flowers of the palasa tree) which, though
beautiful, have no fragrance.
22. The earth is encumbered with the weight of the flesh-eaters, wine-
bibblers, dolts and blockheads, who are beasts in the form of men.
23. There is no enemy like a yajna (sacrifice) which consumes the kingdom
when not attended by feeding on a large scale; consumes the priest
when the chanting is not done properly; and consumes the yajaman (the
responsible person) when the gifts are not made.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 7/17..

1. A wise man should not reveal his loss of wealth, the vexation of his
  mind, the misconduct of his own wife, base words spoken by others,
 and disgrace that has befallen him.
2. He who gives up shyness in monetary dealings, in acquiring
  knowledge, in eating and in business, becomes happy.
3. The happiness and peace attained by those satisfied by the nectar of
  spiritual tranquillity is not attained by greedy persons restlessly moving
 here and there.
4. One should feel satisfied with the following three things; his own wife,
  food given by Providence and wealth acquired by honest effort; but one
 should never feel satisfied with the following three; study, chanting the
holy names of the Lord (japa) and charity.
5. Do not pass between two brahmanas, between a brahmana and his
  sacrificial fire, between a wife and her husband, a master and his
 servant, and a plough and an ox.
6. Do not let your foot touch fire, the spiritual master or a brahmana; it
  must never touch a cow, a virgin, an old person or a child.
7. Keep one thousand cubits away from an elephant, a hundred from a
  horse, ten from a horned beast, but keep away from the wicked by
 leaving the country.
8. An elephant is controlled by a goad (ankusha), a horse by a slap of the
  hand, a horned animal with the show of a stick, and a rascal with a
 sword.
9. Brahmanas find satisfaction in a good meal, peacocks in the peal of
  thunder, a sadhu in seeing the prosperity of others, and the wicked in
 the misery of others.
10. Conciliate a strong man by submission, a wicked man by opposition,
and the one whose power is equal to yours by politeness or force.
11. The power of a king lies in his mighty arms; that of a brahmana in his
spiritual knowledge; and that of a woman in her beauty youth and sweet
words.
12. Do not be very upright in your dealings for you would see by going to
the forest that straight trees are cut down while crooked ones are left
standing.
13. Swans live wherever there is water, and leave the place where water
dries up; let not a man act so -- and come and go as he pleases.
14. Accumulated wealth is saved by spending just as incoming fresh water
is saved by letting out stagnant water.
15. He who has wealth has friends and relations; he alone survives and is
respected as a man.
16. The following four characteristics of the denizens of heaven may be
seen in the residents of this earth planet; charity, sweet words, worship
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and satisfying the needs of
brahmanas.
17. The following qualities of the denizens of hell may characterise men on
earth; extreme wrath, harsh speech, enmity with one's relations, the
company with the base, and service to men of low extraction.
18. By going to the den of a lion pearls from the head of an elephant may
be obtained; but by visiting the hole of a jackal nothing but the tail of a
calf or a bit of the hide of an ass may found.
19. The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog which
neither covers its rear end, nor protects it from the bites of insects.
20. Purity of speech, of the mind, of the senses, and the of a compassionate
heart are needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform.
21. As you seek fragrance in a flower, oil in the sesamum seed, fire in
wood, ghee in milk, and jaggery (guda) in sugarcane; so seek the spirit
that is in the body by means of discrimination.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 6/17..

1. By means of hearing one understands dharma, malignity vanishes,
  knowledge is acquired, and liberation from material bondage is gained.
2. Among birds the crow is vile; among beasts the dog; the ascetic whose
  sins is abominable, but he who blasphemes others is the worst
 chandala.
3. Brass is polished by ashes; copper is cleaned by tamarind; a woman, by
  her menses; and a river by its flow.
4. The king, the brahmana, and the ascetic yogi who go abroad are
  respected; but the woman who wanders is utterly ruined.
5. He who has wealth has friends. He who is wealthy has relatives. The
  rich one alone is called a man, and the affluent alone are respected as
 pandits.
6. As is the desire of Providence, so functions one's intellect; one's
  activities are also controlled by Providence; and by the will of
 Providence one is surrounded by helpers.
7. Time perfects all living beings as well as kills them; it alone is awake
  when all others are asleep. Time is insurmountable.
8. Those born blind cannot see; similarly blind are those in the grip of lust.
  Proud men have no perception of evil; and those bent on acquiring
 riches see no sin in their actions.
9. The spirit soul goes through his own course of karma and he himself
  suffers the good and bad results thereby accrued. By his own actions he
 entangles himself in samsara, and by his own efforts he extricates
himself.
10. The king is obliged to accept the sins of his subjects; the purohit (priest)
suffers for those of the king; a husband suffers for those of his wife; and
the guru suffers for those of his pupils.
11. A father who is a chronic debtor, an adulterous mother, a beautiful wife,
and an unlearned son are enemies ( in one's own home).
12. Conciliate (dyq`qo`oTu`U) a covetous (|o]@&e \q@y`t) man by
means of a gift, an obstinate (o#<x@uPv`v) man with folded hands in
salutation, a fool by humouring him, and a learned man by truthful
words.
13. It is better to be without a kingdom than to rule over a petty one; better
to be without a friend than to befriend a rascal; better to be without a
disciple than to have a stupid one; and better to be without a wife than
to have a bad one.
14. How can people be made happy in a petty kingdom? What peace can
we expect from a rascal friend? What happiness can we have at home in
the company of a bad wife? How can renown be gained by instructing
an unworthy disciple?
15. Learn one thing from a lion; one from a crane; four from a cock; five
from a crow; six from a dog; and three from an ass.
16. The one excellent thing that can be learned from a lion is that whatever
a man intends doing should be done by him with a whole-hearted and
strenuous effort.
17. The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish
his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability.
18. To wake at the proper time; to take a bold stand and fight; to make a
fair division (of property) among relations; and to earn one's own bread
by personal exertion are the four excellent things to be learned from a
cock.
19. Union in privacy (with one's wife); boldness; storing away useful items;
watchfulness; and not easily trusting others; these five things are to be
learned from a crow.
20. Contentment with little or nothing to eat although one may have a great
appetite; to awaken instantly although one may be in a deep slumber;
unflinching devotion to the master; and bravery; these six qualities
should be learned from the dog.
21. Although an ass is tired, he continues to carry his burden; he is
unmindful of cold and heat; and he is always contented; these three
things should be learned from the ass.
22. He who shall practice these twenty virtues shall become invincible in
all his undertakings.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 5/17..

1. Agni is the worshipable person for the twice-born; the brahmana for the
  other castes; the husband for the wife; and the guest who comes for
 food at the midday meal for all.
2. As gold is tested in four ways by rubbing, cutting, heating and beating -
  - so a man should be tested by these four things: his renunciation, his
 conduct, his qualities and his actions.
3. A thing may be dreaded as long as it has not overtaken you, but once it
  has come upon you, try to get rid of it without hesitation.
4. Though persons be born from the same womb and under the same stars,
  they do not become alike in disposition as the thousand fruits of the
 badari tree.
5. He whose hands are clean does not like to hold an office; he who
  desires nothing cares not for bodily decorations; he who is only
 partially educated cannot speak agreeably; and he who speaks out
plainly cannot be a deceiver.
6. The learned are envied by the foolish; rich men by the poor; chaste
  women by adulteresses; and beautiful ladies by ugly ones.
7. Indolent application ruins study; money is lost when entrusted to others;
  a farmer who sows his seed sparsely is ruined; and an army is lost for
 want of a commander.
8. Learning is retained through putting into practice; family prestige is
  maintained through good behaviour; a respectable person is recognised
 by his excellent qualities; and anger is seen in the eyes.
9. Religion is preserved by wealth; knowledge by diligent practice; a king
  by conciliatory words; and a home by a dutiful housewife.
10. Those who blaspheme Vedic wisdom, who ridicule the life style
recommended in the satras, and who deride men of peaceful
temperament, come to grief unnecessarily.
11. Charity puts an end to poverty; righteous conduct to misery; discretion
to ignorance; and scrutiny to fear.
12. There is no disease (so destructive) as lust; no enemy like infatuation;
no fire like wrath; and no happiness like spiritual knowledge.
13. A man is born alone and dies alone; and he experiences the good and
bad consequences of his karma alone; and he goes alone to hell or the
Supreme abode.
14. Heaven is but a straw to him who knows spiritual life (Krsna
consciousness); so is life to a valiant man; a woman to him who has
subdued his senses; and the universe to him who is without attachment
for the world.
15. Learning is a friend on the journey; a wife in the house; medicine in
sickness; and religious merit is the only friend after death.
16. Rain which falls upon the sea is useless; so is food for one who is
satiated; in vain is a gift for one who is wealthy; and a burning lamp
during the daytime is useless.
17. There is no water like rainwater; no strength like one's own; no light
like that of the eyes; and no wealth more dear than food grain.
18. The poor wish for wealth; animals for the faculty of speech; men wish
for heaven; and godly persons for liberation.
19. The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth that
makes the sun shine and the winds blow; indeed all things rest upon
truth.
20. The Goddess of wealth is unsteady (chanchala), and so is the life
breath. The duration of life is uncertain, and the place of habitation is
uncertain; but in all this inconsistent world religious merit alone is
immovable.
21. Among men the barber is cunning; among birds the crow; among beasts
the jackal; and among women, the malin (flower girl).
22. These five are your fathers; he who gave you birth, girdled you with
sacred thread, teaches you, provides you with food, and protects you
from fearful situations.
23. These five should be considered as mothers; the king's wife, the
preceptor's wife, the friend's wife, your wife's mother, and your own
mother.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 4/17..

1. These five: the life-span, the type of work, wealth, learning and the time
  of one's death are determined while one is in the womb.
2. Offspring, friends and relatives flee from a devotee of the Lord: yet
  those who follow him bring merit to their families through their
 devotion.
3. Fish, tortoises, and birds bring up their young by means of sight,
  attention and touch; so do saintly men afford protection to their
 associates by the same means.
4. As long as your body is healthy and under control and death is distant,
  try to save your soul; when death is immanent what can you do?
5. Learning is like a cow of desire. It, like her, yields in all seasons. Like a
  mother, it feeds you on your journey. Therefore learning is a hidden
 treasure.
6. A single son endowed with good qualities is far better than a hundred
  devoid of them. For the moon, though one, dispels the darkness, which
 the stars, though numerous, can not.
7. A still-born son as superior to a foolish son endowed with a long life.
  The first causes grief for but a moment while the latter like a blazing
 fire consumes his parents in grief for life.
8. Residing in a small village devoid of proper living facilities, serving a
  person born of a low family, unwholesome food, a frowning wife, a
 foolish son, and a widowed daughter burn the body without fire.
9. What good is a cow that neither gives milk nor conceives? Similarly,
  what is the value of the birth of a son if he becomes neither learned nor
 a pure devotee of the Lord?
10. When one is consumed by the sorrows of life, three things give him
relief: offspring, a wife, and the company of the Lord's devotees.
11. Kings speak for once, men of learning once, and the daughter is given
in marriage once. All these things happen once and only once.
12. Religious austerities should be practiced alone, study by two, and
singing by three. A journey should be undertaken by four, agriculture
by five, and war by many together.
13. She is a true wife who is clean (suci), expert, chaste, pleasing to the
husband, and truthful.
14. The house of a childless person is a void, all directions are void to one
who has no relatives, the heart of a fool is also void, but to a poverty
stricken man all is void.
15. Scriptural lessons not put into practice are poison; a meal is poison to
him who suffers from indigestion; a social gathering is poison to a
poverty stricken person; and a young wife is poison to an aged man.
16. That man who is without religion and mercy should be rejected. A guru
without spiritual knowledge should be rejected. The wife with an
offensive face should be given up, and so should relatives who are
without affection.
17. Constant travel brings old age upon a man; a horse becomes old by
being constantly tied up; lack of sexual contact with her husband brings
old age upon a woman; and garments become old through being left in
the sun.
18. Consider again and again the following: the right time, the right friends,
the right place, the right means of income, the right ways of spending,
and from whom you derive your power.
19. For the twice-born the fire (Agni) is a representative of God. The
Supreme Lord resides in the heart of His devotees. Those of average
intelligence (alpa-buddhi or kanista-adhikari) see God only in His sri-
murti, but those of broad vision see the Supreme Lord everywhere.

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Essence of Bhagavatha ..Part 1 (teachings of Baba)

The name Bhagavatha can be applied to every account

of the experiences of those who have contacted God

and the Godly (Bhagavan and Bhaktha). God

assumes many Forms and enacts many activities. The name

Bhagavatha is given to the descriptions of the experiences

of those who have realised Him in those Forms and of those

who have been blessed by His Grace and chosen as His

Instruments.

The great Work known by that name is honoured by all

masters of the Vedas. It is a panacea which cures physical,

mental and spiritual illnesses. The Bhagavatha is saturated

with sweetness of nectar, it shines with the splendour of God.

The principle of Avathara or the Descent of God on

Earth, the Incarnation of the Formless with Form, for the Uplift of Beings—this is the basic fact that makes the

Bhagavatha authentic. By Bhagavatha we also mean those

with attachment to God, those who seek the companionship

of God. For such, the book, Bhagavatha, is most precious;

it is the breath of their life. To be in the midst of such

Bhagavathas is to foster one’s own devotion. Unless you

have a taste for Godward thoughts, you will not derive joy

therefrom. To create that taste, the Bhagavatha relates stories

relating to incarnations to the earnest inquirer. Then, one

develops the yearning to experience the thrill of God, through

all the levels of consciousness. He who has this intense

yearning can be a true Bhagavatha.

People believe that incarnations of God happen only

for two reasons: the punishment of the wicked and the

protection of the righteous. But those represent only one

aspect of the Task. The granting of peace and joy, of a

sense of fulfilment to seekers who have striven long—this

too is the Task.

The Avatar, or Form Incarnate, is only the concretisation

of the yearning of the seekers. It is the solidified sweetness

of the devotion of godly aspirants. The formless assumes

the Form for the sake of these aspirants and seekers.

They are the prime cause. The cow secretes milk for

the sustenance of the calf. That is the chief beneficiary. But

as we see, others too benefit from that milk. So too, though

the Bhakthas are the prime cause and their joy and sustenance

the prime purpose, other incidental benefits also accrue,

such as the fostering of Dharma, the suppression of evil,

the overwhelming of the wicked.

There is no compulsive rule that incarnations should

occur only on the earth and in human form. Any place, any

form, can be chosen by the Fully-free. Whichever place,

whatever Form, promotes the purpose of fulfilling the

yearning of the devotee, that Place and that Form are chosen

by the Will of God. God is above and beyond the limits of

Time and Space. He is beyond all characteristics and

qualities; no list of such can describe Him fully. For Him,

all beings are equal. The difference between man, beast,

bird, worm, insect and even a god is but a difference of the

‘vessel’ (the Upadhi).

It is like the electric current that flows through various

contrivances and expresses itself in many different activities.

There is no distinction in the current; it is the same. To

speak of it as different is to reveal one’s ignorance (Ajnana).

So too, the one single God activates every vessel or Upadhi

and gives rise to manifold consequences. The wise see only

the one uniform current. The ignorant feel that they are all

distinct. God appreciates the consciousness of Unity, as

the basic motive of acts. He does not appreciate the activity

itself being one, without variety; it is suited to the various

needs. The fruits of karma or activity appeal only to those

who identify themselves with the body and not for the

others, who know that they are the indestructible Atma (soul,

inner motive force in everything).

Again, you must know that there is no end to the

incarnations that God indulges in. He has come down on

countless occasions. Sometimes He comes with a part of

His glory, sometimes with a fuller equipment of splendour,

sometimes for a particular task, sometimes to transform an

entire era of time, an entire continent of space.

It is the story of the last of these that the Bhagavatha

elaborates. The drama enacted by the Avatara, and the

Bhakthas drawn towards Him, is the subject matter of the

Bhagavatha. Listening to it promotes the realisation of God.

Many sages have testified to its efficacy and extolled the

Bhagavatha, which they helped preserve for posterity.

Generally speaking, man gets drawn to sense objects

for he is the victim of instincts. Instincts easily seek sense

objects. They come along with the body and are not derived

by any training. The infant seeks milk from the mother’s

breast; the new-born calf nestles at the udder. No training is

needed for this. But for the infant to walk and talk, some

training is necessary. The reason is that they are not

automatic. They are socially prompted, by example and by

imitation of others.

Training is essential even for the proper pursuit of sense

pleasure, for it is the wild untrained search for such pleasure

that promotes anger, hatred, envy, malice, conceit. To train

them along salutary lines and to hold them under control,

certain good disciplines like Japa (recital of name of the

Lord), Dhyana (meditation), Upavasa (fasts)

Sandhyavandana (worship at dawn and dusk), etc. are

essential. But however much their value may be praised and

their practice recommended people do not develop a taste

for them. This is because the desire for sensory pleasure

has struck deep roots in the human heart. When one is asked

to do spiritually salutary acts, one has no inner prompting

at all. Still one should not give up in despair. Until the taste

sprouts, the disciplines have to be strictly followed. This

taste is the result of training; no one has it from the very

beginning. Constant practice will create the zest.

The infant does not know the taste of milk. By taking

it daily, it develops an attachment for it which is so deep

that when milk is to be given up and rice substituted, it

starts to protest. But the mother does not despair. She

persuades the child to take small quantities of cooked rice

daily and by this process it starts liking rice and it gives up

milk. Milk was once its natural food. By practice, rice became

its natural food, so natural that if no rice is available for a

single day, it becomes miserable.

So too, though sense-pleasures are “natural” at first,

by means of practice and training and listening to the

commendation of the wise, slowly the greater and more

lasting pleasure derivable from the glories of the Lord and

their recapitulation is grasped. Thereafter, one cannot exist

without that atmosphere even for a minute. One feels that

there is nothing as sweet as the experience of listening to

the splendour of the Lord. The company of the worldly

who chatter about the senses and the sense-objects will no

longer attract. The company which exults in praising the

Lord will draw and hold.

This is the real hallmark of the good. Sadhakas

(spiritual aspirants) and votaries of the Lord are to be judged

by these, not by external apparel or appearances. If one

mixes with men who revel in sensory talk and activities then,

he puts himself out of court. Spend your time in the company

of the godly, engaged in godly affairs. Avoid getting mixed

with the company of the ungodly. Do not see their activities

or listen to their accounts. Only those who avoid them can

be called Bhagavathas, or God’s own.

Reading and enjoying the stories of the glory of Krishna

in some sacred spot or some temple or prayer-hall shrine or

hermitage of a saint or sage, or in the company of the virtuous

and the good—that is a source of great inspiration and joy.

It makes people forget everything else. Else, one can

approach pious men and serving them, listen to their

exposition of the glories of God. Taste for such wholesome

literature is the result of accumulated merit and endeavour.

It is that merit that rewards one with such company. Listening

will be enough in the beginning. Later, the stories will arouse

interest in the nature and characteristics of God and the

aspirant will seek and find for himself the path to realisation.

Listening to expositions by the wise is much better

than reading oneself; or, one can be looking into the text

while listening. It is preferable to listen in company, rather

than alone. Of course, it is excellent to listen with a number

of earnest aspirants. If the person who expounds has had

the thrill of genuine experience, then it is the most supreme

luck, for it yields best results. For, his face will blossom

into joy, his eyes will shed tears of joy at the very

contemplation of the glory of the Lord. Those who listen to

him will catch that inspiration. They will experience the joy

themselves. In the midst of a group that weeps, tears will

spring out of the eyes of those who have come in. When an

infant smiles, those around will also smile in unison. So

too, the words of those who are saturated with devotion to

God will saturate the hearts of those who listen. It is

impossible to measure the profit that one can derive while

in the company of the great.

Through that process of listening, a dirt-laden heart

will be transformed into a clean, illumined heart, shining

with genuine light. To the foul odours of sense-pursuits,

keenness to listen to the glories of God is a valuable

disinfectant, besides being in itself so full of sweet fragrance.

The listening will cleanse the heart through the prompting it

gives for good work.

Such a cleansed heart is the most appropriate altar, or

tabernacle. In that fragrant bower, the Lord will establish

Himself. At that very moment, another incident too will

happen. The group of six vices that had infested the place

will quit without so much as a farewell.

When these vices quit, the wicked retinue of evil

tendencies and vulgar attitudes which live on them will break

camp and disappear without leaving even their addresses!

Then, man will shine in his native splendour of Truth and

Love (Sathya and Prema). He will endeavour without

hindrance to realise himself; and finally, he will succeed in

merging with the Universal and Eternal. He will liberate himself

from the tangle of ignorance, or Maya. His mind will fade

away. The long-hidden secret will be revealed to him. He

will discover his Madhavathwa (Divinity).

Man’s nature is Prema, Love. He cannot survive a

moment, when deprived of Love. It is the very breath of his

life. When the six vices, to which he was attached so long,

disappear, Love is the only occupant of the heart; but Love

has to find an object, a Loved one. It cannot be alone. So,

it is directed to the dark-blue Divine Child, the charming

cowherd Boy, who is Purity Personified, who is the

embodiment of service, sacrifice and selflessness, who has

taken residence in that cleansed Altar. There is no scope

now for any other attachment to grow. So, step by step,

this Love for Madhava becomes deeper, purer, more self-

denying, until at last, there is no other need for thought and

the individual is merged in the Universal.

When Vaasudeva enters the heart of man, vasudeva

has no longer a place therein. In other words, when the

deva of vasu or wealth is seated in the heart, the divine

Vaasudeva or Krishna cannot dwell therein.

Any attempt to accommodate both in the heart is bound

to fail. Darkness and light cannot exist at the same time and

in the same place; they cannot continue together. Dhanam

and Daivam cannot be joint ideals. When Dhanam or riches

are sought, Daivam or God cannot also be achieved. If

both are sought by man what he will achieve will be neither

Dhanam nor Daivam but Dayyam (the Devil).

It is creditable if man behaves as man. It is laudable if

he behaves as the Madhava, he really is. But to behave as a

demon or as a beast is despicable indeed. For, man was

long born a mineral and died a mineral. Then, he promoted

himself as a tree. He was long born a tree and died as a tree;

but in the process, he got promoted as an animal; but he

has now risen into the status of man. This rise from one

scale to another has been acknowledged by science and

spiritual experience. Now alas, he is born as man and dies

as man. It is a greater shame if he slides into the beast or a

beastly ogre. Praise is his due, only if he rises to the Divine

status. That is real fulfilment of his destiny.

Therefore, avoid contact with vices; develop

attachment to virtues; transmute the heart into an altar for

the Lord. Destroy all the shoots and sprouts of desire; then,

your Manasa sarovaram (the Lake of your Inner

Consciousness) will be sublimated into a Ksheerasagara,

(the Pure Ocean of Milk, whereon the Lord reclines on the

Serpent-couch). Your real Self will, like the Celestial Hamsa

(swan), revel in the placid waters of that Lake, thus

transformed. It will discover endless delight.

Who can mark the beginning of the continuous waves

of the ocean? It is an impossible task. If anyone decided to

do so, the wave with which he starts the calculation will be

considered as the beginning, the wave with which he stops

his calculation will be for him the last, the end. There is a

beginning and an end for his count. There is no beginning

or end for the process. No one can visualise either, in that

boundless illimitable expanse. God’s Glory is the shoreless

ocean. When one starts describing it, it begins for him. When

he finishes his description it is the end, so far as he is

concerned. But His Glory is beyond space and time. Only

little minds, limited minds, will argue that God’s Glory has

a beginning and an end. The stage on which He plays (His

Leela) has no boundaries.

The story of His Leela is all Nectar; it has no other

component, no other taste, no other content. Everyone can

drink his fill, from any part of that Ocean of Nectar. The

same sweetness exists everywhere, in every particle. There

is nothing inferior to mar the sweetness.

The love of god and the love for god are both eternally

sweet and pure, whatever the method of your accepting or

attaining them. Such love is holy and inspiring. Sugar is

sweet when eaten during day or during the night. For it is

night or day for the person who eats, not for the sugar.

Sugar behaves uniformly always.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 3/17..

1. In this world, whose family is there without blemish? Who is free from
  sickness and grief? Who is forever happy?
2. A man's descent may be discerned by - his conduct, his country by his
  pronunciation of language, his friendship by his warmth and glow, and
 his capacity to eat by his body.
3. Give your daughter in marriage to a good family, engage your son in
  learning, see that your enemy comes to grief, and engage your friends
 in dharma. (Krsna consciousness).
4. Of a rascal and a serpent, the serpent is the better of the two, for he
  strikes only at the time he is destined to kill, while the former at every
 step.
5. Therefore kings gather round themselves men of good families, for they
  never forsake them either at the beginning, the middle or the end.
6. At the time of the pralaya (universal destruction) the oceans are to
  exceed their limits and seek to change, but a saintly man never changes.
7. Do not keep company with a fool for as we can see he is a two-legged
  beast. Like an unseen thorn he pierces the heart with his sharp words.
8. Though men be endowed with beauty and youth and born in noble
  families, yet without education they are like the palasa flower which is
 void of sweet fragrance.
9. The beauty of a cuckoo is in its notes, that of a woman in her unalloyed
  devotion to her husband, that of an ugly person in his scholarship, and
 that of an ascetic in his forgiveness.
10. Give up a member to save a family, a family to save a village, a village
to save a country, and the country to save yourself.
11. There is no poverty for the industrious. Sin does not attach itself to the
person practicing japa (chanting of the holy names of the Lord). Those
who are absorbed in maunam (silent contemplation of the Lord) have
no quarrel with others. They are fearless who remain always alert.
12. ...
13. What is too heavy for the strong and what place is too distant for those
who put forth effort? What country is foreign to a man of true learning?
Who can be inimical to one who speaks pleasingly?
14. As a whole forest becomes fragrant by the existence of a single tree
with sweet-smelling blossoms in it, so a family becomes famous by the
birth of a virtuous son.
15. As a single withered tree, if set aflame, causes a whole forest to burn, so
does a rascal son destroy a whole family.
16. As night looks delightful when the moon shines, so is a family
gladdened by even one learned and virtuous son.
17. What is the use of having many sons if they cause grief and vexation? It
is better to have only one son from whom the whole family can derive
support and peacefulness.
18. Fondle a son until he is five years of age, and use the stick for another
ten years, but when he has attained his sixteenth year treat him as a
friend.
19. He who runs away from a fearful calamity, a foreign invasion, a terrible
famine, and the companionship of wicked men is safe.
20 He who has not acquired one of the following: religious merit
(dharma), wealth (artha), satisfaction of desires (kama), or liberation
(moksa) is repeatedly born to die.
21. Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, comes of Her own accord where fools
are not respected, grain is well stored up, and the husband and wife do
not quarrel.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 2/17..

1. Untruthfulness, rashness, guile, stupidity, avarice, uncleanliness and
  cruelty are a women's seven natural flaws.
2. To have ability for eating when dishes are ready at hand, to be robust
  and virile in the company of one's religiously wedded wife, and to have
 a mind for making charity when one is prosperous are the fruits of no
ordinary austerities.
3. He whose son is obedient to him, whose wife's conduct is in accordance
  with his wishes, and who is content with his riches, has his heaven here
 on earth.
4. They alone are sons who are devoted to their father. He is a father who
  supports his sons. He is a friend in whom we can confide, and she only
 is a wife in whose company the husband feels contented and peaceful.
5. Avoid him who talks sweetly before you but tries to ruin you behind
  your back, for he is like a pitcher of poison with milk on top.
6. Do not put your trust in a bad companion nor even trust an ordinary
  friend, for if he should get angry with you, he may bring all your secrets
 to light.
7. Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise council
  keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution.
8. Foolishness is indeed painful, and verily so is youth, but more painful
  by far than either is being obliged in another person's house.
9. There does not exist a ruby in every mountain, nor a pearl in the head of
  every elephant; neither are the sadhus to be found everywhere, nor
 sandal trees in every forest.
10. Wise men should always bring up their sons in various moral ways, for
children who have knowledge of niti-sastra and are well-behaved
become a glory to their family.
11. Those parents who do not educate their sons are their enemies; for as is
a crane among swans, so are ignorant so are ignorant sons in a public
assembly.
12. Many a bad habit is developed through overindulgence, and many a
good one by chastisement, therefore beat your son as well as your pupil;
never indulge them. ("Spare the rod and spoil the child.")
13. Let not a single day pass without your learning a verse, half a verse, or
a fourth of it, or even one letter of it; nor without attending to charity,
study and other pious activity.
14. Separation from the wife, disgrace from one's own people, an enemy
saved in battle, service to a wicked king, poverty, and a mismanaged
assembly: these six kinds of evils, if afflicting a person, burn him even
without fire.
15. Trees on a river bank, a woman in another man's house, and kings
without counsellors go without doubt to swift destruction.
16. A brahmana's strength is in his learning, a king's strength is in his
army, a vaishya's strength is in his wealth and a shudra's strength is in
his attitude of service.
17. The prostitute has to forsake a man who has no money, the subject a
king that cannot defend him, the birds in a tree that bears no fruit, and
the guests in a house after they have finished their meals.
18. Brahmanas quit their patrons after receiving alms from them, scholars
leave their teachers after receiving education from them, and animals
desert a forest that has been burnt down.
19. He who befriends a man whose conduct is vicious, whose vision
impure, and who is notoriously crooked, is rapidly ruined.
20. Friendship between equals flourishes, service under a king is
respectable, it is good to be business-minded in public dealings, and a
handsome lady is safe in her own home.

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Chanakya Neethi Part 1/17..

1. Humbly bowing down before the almighty Lord Sri Vishnu, the Lord of
  the three worlds, I recite maxims of the science of political ethics (niti)
 selected from the various satras.
2. That man who by the study of these maxims from the satras acquires a
  knowledge of the most celebrated principles of duty, and understands
 what ought and what ought not to be followed, and what is good and
what is bad, is most excellent.
3. Therefore with an eye to the public good, I shall speak that which, when
  understood, will lead to an understanding of things in their proper
 perspective.
4. Even a pandit comes to grief by giving instruction to a foolish disciple,
  by maintaining a wicked wife, and by excessive familiarity with the
 miserable.
5. A wicked wife, a false friend, a saucy servant and living in a house with
  a serpent in it are nothing but death.
6. One should save his money against hard times, save his wife at the
  sacrifice of his riches, but invariably one should save his soul even at
 the sacrifice of his wife and riches.
7. Save your wealth against future calamity. Do not say, "What what fear
  has a rich man of calamity?" When riches begin to forsake one even the
 accumulated stock dwindles away.
8. Do not inhabit a country where you are not respected, cannot earn your
  livelihood, have no friends, or cannot acquire knowledge.
9. Do not stay for a single day where there are not these five persons: a
  wealthy man, a brahmana well versed in Vedic lore, a king, a river and
 a physician.
10. Wise men should never go into a country where there are no means of
earning one's livelihood, where the people have no dread of anybody,
have no sense of shame, no intelligence, or a charitable disposition.
11. Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty,
a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune.
12. He is a true friend who does not forsake us in time of need, misfortune,
famine, or war, in a king's court, or at the crematorium (smasana).
13. He who gives up what is imperishable for that which perishable, loses
that which is imperishable; and doubtlessly loses that which is
perishable also.
14. A wise man should marry a virgin of a respectable family even if she is
deformed. He should not marry one of a low-class family, through
beauty. Marriage in a family of equal status is preferable.
15. Do not put your trust in rivers, men who carry weapons, beasts with
claws or horns, women, and members of a royal family.
16. Even from poison extract nectar, wash and take back gold if it has
fallen in filth, receive the highest knowledge (Krsna consciousness)
from a low born person; so also a girl possessing virtuous qualities
(stri-ratna) even if she be born in a disreputable family.
17. Women have hunger two-fold, shyness four-fold, daring six-fold, and
lust eight-fold as compared to men.

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Wisdom words of Vidhura (Mahabharatham)

TRAYA EVADHANA RAAJAN BHARYAA DAASASTATHA SUTAH ||
YATTE SAMADHIGACHCHHANTI YASYA TE TASYA TADDHANAM ||

(Vidur says to king Dhritarashtra that wife, son and servant do not have the authority over the wealth, they earn because they themselves are under the authority of Husband, Father and Master respectively).
HARNAM CHA PARSWAANAAM PARDAARABHIMARSHANAM ||
SUHRIDASCHA PARITYAAGASTRAYO DOSHAH KSHAYAVAHAH ||

(One who takes away others wealth by deceit, developed intimacy with women other than his own wife and abandons a kind and gentle friend is doomed) 

TRIVIDHAM NARKASYEDAM DWAARAM NAASHANMAATMANAH ||
KAAMAH KRODHASTATHA LOBHASTASMAADETATTRAYAM TYAJET ||

(KAAMA (LUST), KRODHA (ANGER) AND LOBHA (GREED) must be shunned by a man as these three destroy the AATMA (soul) and are the three doors of the Hell)

VARPRADAANAM RAAJYAM CHA PUTRAJANM CHA BHARAT ||
SHATROSHCHA MOKSHANAM KRICHCHHRAATTRIINI CHAIKAM CHA TATSAMAM ||

(The joys of getting a boon, acquiring a state and birth of a son even if combined cannot match the joy of being released from the ruthless clutches of an enemy)

DEVATANAM CHA SANKALPAMANUBHAVAM CHA DHEEMATAAM ||
VINAYAM KRITVIDDYAANAAM VINASHAM PAAPAKARMANAAM || 

(Resolution made to realize god, influence of an intelligent person, humility of a learned person and annihilation of the sinners give instant results)

ABANDONMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF FOUR THINGS

CHATWARI RAAGYA TU MAHAABALEN, VARJYAANYAAHUH PANDITAASTAANI VIDDYAAT ||
ALPAPRAGYAI SAHA MANTRAM NA KURYANNA DEERGHASUTTRAI RABHASAISHCHAARNAISCCHA ||
(Vidur says to Yudhishtir that one must not take secret advice from an intelligent, a procrastinator, a man who is always in hurry and a false admirer. These four are worth abandoning for an emperor. A learned man must recognize these people)

CHATWARI TE TAAT GRIHE VASANTU SHRIYAABHI JUSHTASYA GRIHASTHADHARME ||
VRIDDHO GYATIRVASANNAH KULINAH SAKHA DARIDRO BHAGINI CHAANPATYAA || 

(Vidur says to Dhritarashtra ” O King, Goddess Laxmi showers blessings on such homes where senior most member of the family is protected, where a high caste man fallen in bad times, a money-less friend and a childless sister are given refuge and shelter)

FRIEND 

ARCHAYEDEVA MITRANI SATI VAASATI VAA DHANE ||
NAANARTHAYAN PRAJAANAATI MITRAANAAM SAARPHALGUTTAM ||

(Whether one has or does not have wealth, he must be hospitable to his friends. One should never demand anything from their friends, trying to examine their worthiness) 

USELESSNESS OF SORROW (SANTAAPA)

SANTAAPAAD BHRASHYATE ROOPAM ||
SANTAAPAADA BHRASHYATE BALAM ||
SANTAAPAADA BHRASHYATE GYAANAM ||
SANTAAPAADA VYAADHIMRICHCHHATI ||
(Sorrow destroys beauty (Roopa), Power (Balaa) is destroyed by SANTAAPA (sorrow), GYAN (KNOWLEDGE) is destroyed by sorrow. Due to sorrow, man becomes diseased (ROGI))
ANAVAAPYAM CHA SHOKEN SHAREERAM CHOPATAPYATE ||
AMITRAASHCHA PRAHRISHYANTI MAA SMA SHOKE MANAHKRITHAAH ||
(One does not get aspired things by mourning about it, it only causes pain to the body and ones enemies rejoice. Hence your heart should be free of sorrow)
SUKHAM CHA DUHKHAM CHA BHAVAABHAVOW CHA ||
LAABHAALAABHO MARANAM JEEVITAM ||
PARYAAYASHAH SARVAMETE SPRISHANTI ||
TASMAADA DHEERO NA CHA HRISHYENNA SHOCHET CHA ||
(Everyone undergoes the cycle of Joy- Sorrow, creation-destruction, gain-loss and life-death one by one. Hence a DHEERA (patient) man must not either be happy for them or mourn for them)
CAUTION 

NA VISHVAASAAJJAATU PARASYA GEHE ||
GACCHENNARASCHETAYAANO VIKAALE ||
NA CHATVARE NISHI TISHTHENNIGOODHO ||
NA RAAJKAAMYAAM YOSHITAM PRARTHAYEETA|| 

(An alert man should never visit such a man’s home during the evenings who is untrustworthy. He should not try to hide himself at the cross road, in the night as there is a chance of getting caught and he should not try to acquire that woman in which the king is interested as there is a certainty of persecution)

EIGHT QUALITIES OF A MAN

ASHTAOW GUNAAH PURUSHAM DEEPAYANTI ||
PRAGYAA CHA KAOULYAM CHA SHRUTAM DAMASHCHA ||
PARAAKRAMASHCHAABAHUBHAASHITAA CHA ||
DAANAM YATHASHAKTI KRITAGYATAA CHA ||
(The following eight qualities increases the SHOBHA (splendour) of a man- BUDDHI (intelligence), KULINTAA (nobility), SHASTRAGYAAN-knowledge of scriptures, INDRIYANIGRAHA (control of the senses), PARAKRAMA (Bravery), Little talk, charity according to his ability and KRITAGYATAA (gratefulness)
ADVANTAGES OF BATHING DAILY

GUNAA DASHA SNAANSHEELAM BHAJANTE ||
BALAM ROOPAM SWARAVARNAPRASHUDDHIH ||
SPARSHASHCHA GANDHASHCHA VISHUDDHTAA CHA ||
SHRIH SAOUKUMAARYAM PRAVARAASHVA NAARYAH ||
(One who takes his bath daily increases his BALA (power), ROOPA (beauty and splendour), gets sweet voice, becomes fairer, achieves KOMALTAA (tenderness), SUGANDHA (fragrance), PAVITRATAA (purity), SHOBHA (splendour) and SUKUMARATAA (delicacy)
THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING FOOD MODERATELY

GUNAASHCHA SHANMITABHUKTAM BHAJANTE ||
AAROGYAMAAYUSHCHA BALAM SUKHAM CHA ||
ANAAVILAM CHAASYA BHAVATYAPATYAM ||
NA CHAINAMAADDYOON ITI KSHIPANTI ||

(One who has food moderately has the following six advantages, not only is he healthy, gets long life (AAYU), strength (BALA) and HAPPINESS (SHUKHA), but also his children are blesse with beauty and no one makes fun of him for eating too much)

DUTY OF A MAN 

UTPAADDYA PUTRAANANRINAANSHCHA KRITVAA ||
VRITTIM CHA TEBHYONUVIDHAAYA KAANCHIT ||
STHAANE KUMAAREEH PRATIPAADDYA SARVAA ||
ARANYASAMSTHOTHA MUNIRBUBHUSHET ||

(After giving birth to a son, clearing all their debts, managing a means of earning a livelihood for them, then after arranging the marriages of his daughters, he should lead the life of a recluse in the forest) 

MEANESS (ADHAMATAA)

NA SHRADDHAATI KALYAANAM PAREBHYOPYAATMASHAMKITAH ||
NIRAAKAROTI MITRAANI YO VAI SO DHAMAPURUSHAH ||
(One who does not believe in KALYAAN (benediction) done by others because of his disbelief in himself keeps his friends away and undoubtedly is an ADHAM (mean) man.)
UTTAMAANEVA SEVETA PRAAPTAKAALE TU MADHYAMAAN ||
ADHAMAANSTU NA SEVETA YA ICHCHHEDA BHUTIMAATMANAH ||

(One who wants his own advancement must do service UTTAM (supreme, best) quality man, If situation so arises, he can also do service to the MADHYAMA (medium) man, but he must never serve an ADHAMA (mean) man)

DEVADRAVYAVINAASHENA BRAHMSVAHARANEN CHA ||
KULAANYAKULATAAM YAANTI BRAHMANAATIKRAMENA CHA ||

(Destroying wealth concerned with the deities, stealing a Brahmin’s wealth and dishonouring him makes the highest caste, a KOOLA and mean (ADHAMA)

AKASMAADEVA KUPYANTI PRASEEDANTYANIMITTATAH ||
SHEELAMETADASAADHUNAAMBHRAM PAARIPLAVAM YATHA ||

(The nature of a wicked man is restless (CHANCHAL) like the clouds, all of a sudden, they become angry and happy without any apparent reason)

INFLUENCES 

YADI SANTAM SEVATI YADDASANTAM ||
TAPASVINAM YADI VAA STENAMEVA ||
VAASO YATHA RANGAVASHAM PRAYAATI ||
TATHAA SA TESHAAM VASHAMBHYUPAITI ||

(Just as clothes can be coloured in whichever colour, one wishes, similarly if a man serves a SAJJANA (gentleman), ASSAJANA (evil man), TAPASVI (an ascetic) or an evil, he gets influenced by each of them that is man is influenced by the company he keeps)

DONT’S

NAAKROSHI SYANNAAVAMAANEE PARASYA ||
MITRADOHEE NOTA NEECHOPASEVEE ||
NA CHAABHIMAANEE NA CHA HEENAVRITTO ||
RUKSHAAM VAACHAM RUSHATEEM VARJAYEETA ||

(Neither use foul language on others nor show disrespect to him. Never have enmity with MITRA (friends) and never do a SEVA (service) to a NEECHA (degenerate man), never be lacking in SADAACHAAR, morality and arrogant (ABHIMAAN). Shun dry and angry speech (VAANI))

ARUNTUDAM PARUSHAM RUKSHAVAACHAM ||
VAAKKANTAKAIRVITUDANTAM MANUSHYAAN ||
VIDDYADALAKSHMIKATAMAM JANAANAAM ||
MUKHE NIBADDHAAM NIRRITIM VAI VAHANTAM ||

POWER OF SPEECH

ROHTE SAAYAKAIRVIDDHAM VANAM PARASHUNAA HATAM ||
VAACHA DURUKTAM BIBHATSAM NA SANROKSHATI VAAKSHATAM ||

(A forest even if pierced with arrows and cut with the axe flourishes again but a wound caused by bitter speech never heals)

VAAKSAAYAKAA VADANAANNISHPATANTI YAIRAAHATAH SHOCHITA RAATRYAHAANI ||
PARASYA NAAMARMASU TE PATANTI TAAN PANDITO NAAVASRIJET PAREBHYAH ||

(The VACHANA (SPEECH) is like a BAANA (ARROW). Both of them hurt the heart of a man, as a result of which, the man who has been hurt is badly affected day and night. Hence a learned man should be cautious while speaking) 

LIES

YADI SANTAM SEVATI YADDASANTAM ||
HANTI JAATAANJAATAANSHCHA HIRANYAARTHENRITAM VADAN ||
SARVAM BHOOMYANRITE HANTI MAA SMA BHOOMYANTRITA VADEH || 

(One who tells a lie to acquire gold, sends all his past and future generations into hell. One who tells a lie to acquire BHOOMI (land) and STHREE (woman) looses everything and is doomed)

IDENTIFICATION OF A MAN 

TRINOLKAYAA GYAYATE JAATARUPAM ||
VRITTEN BHADRO VYAVAHAAREN SAADHUH ||
SHOORO BHAYESHVARTHAKRICHCHHRESSHU DHEERAH ||
KRICHCHHRESHVAAPATSU SUHRIDASHCHAARAYASHCHA|| 

(Gold is tested in the fire for identification. A virtuous man is identified by his SADAACHAAR (morality). A sage (SAADHU) is identified by his VYAVAHAAR (behaviour). A brave man is identified in BHAYA (fear) that is in dangerous and challenging situation, a DHEERA (patient) man is identified when he is confronted by economic problems, enemies and friends are identified in difficult and trying times)

FOOD

SAMPANNATARAMEVAANNAM DARIDRA BHUNJATE SADAA ||
KSHUT SWADUTAAM JANAYATI SAA CHAADHYESHU SUDURLABHAA||
(Poor (Daridra) people always have tasty food because the intensity of hunger in them is greater than the rich people. On the contrary, rich people, inspite of having all the varieties of food lack hunger)
PRAAYEN SHRIMATAAM LOKE BHOKTUM SHAKTIRNA VIDDYATE ||
JEERYANTYAPI HI KAASHTHANI DARIDRAANAAM MAHEEPATE ||

(Vidur says to king Dhritarashtra that O king, in this world, the rich people do not have the power of hunger whereas the poor people can digest even a piece of wood that is hunger is directly related to physical activities) 

AVRITTIRBHAYAMANTYAANAAM MADHYAANAAM MARNAAD BHAYAM ||
UTTAMAANAAM TU MARTYAANAAMAVAMAANAAT PARAM BHAYAM ||

(The lowest type of people fear the absence of means of earning their livelihood, the medium type fear death but the highest type fear disgrace and dishonour) 

SELF CONTROL 

VASHYENDRIYAM JITAATMAANAM DHRITADANDAM VIKAARISHU ||
PAREEKSHYA KAARINAM DHEERMATYANTAM SHRINIRSHEVATE ||

(Laxmi, (Goddess of fortune) is always in the service of three types of people. One whose senses are under control, one who gives punishment to the wrong doers and who does work with great examination and inspection)

RATHAH SHAREERAM PURUSHASYA RAAJANNAATMAA NIYANTENDRIYAANYASYA CHAASHVAAH ||
TAIRAPRAMATTAH KUSHALEE SADASHVAIRDAANTAIH SUKHAM YAATI RATHEEVA DHEERAH || 

(Vidur says to Dhritarashtra that O king, man’s body is just like a RATHA (chariot), INTELLIGENCE (BUDDHI) like a charioteer (SAARATHI) and senses are its horses. One, who controls all these three travels happily in this world, just like the charioteer who has controlled the horses of the chariot)

ETAANYANIGRIHEETAANI VYAAPAADYITUMAPYALAM ||
AVIDHEYAA IVAADAANTAA HAYAAH PATHI KUSAARATHIM ||

(Just like the untrained and uncontrollable horses overthrow the charioteer on the path, similarly the senses if uncontrollable have the capacity to kill a man)

DHARMAARTHO YAH PARITYAJYA SYAADINDRIYAVASHAANUGAH ||
SHRIPRAANADHANADAAREBHYAH KSHIPRAM SA PARIHEEYATE ||

(One who is under the influence of the senses, after abandoning religion (DHARMA) and its meaning (ARTHA) looses AISHWARYA (fortune), PRAN (life), DHAN (wealth) and STREE (wife) quickly)

AATMANAAMAANAMANVICHCHHENMANOBUDDHEENDRIYAIRYATAIH ||
AATMAA HYEVAATMANO BANDHURAATMAIVA RIPURAATMANAH ||

(One should try to understand his real self by controlling MANA (mind), BUDDHI (intelligence), INDRIYA (senses) because the soul only is one’s friend and enemy)

IMPORTANCE OF ‘FIVE’

PANCHAIVA PUJAYAMLLOKE YASHAH PRAPNOTI KEVALAM ||
DEVAAN PITRIN MANUSHYAANSHCHA BHIKSHUNATITHIPANCHAMAAN ||

(A man must always be in the service of FIVE Agnis that is MOTHER, FATHER, FIRE, SOUL AND PRECEPTOR as all these five are worth revering like Agni (Fire)

(Laxmi, (Goddess of fortune) is always in the service of three types of people. One whose senses are under control, one who gives punishment to the wrong doers and who does work with great examination and inspection)

PANCHA TVAANUGAMISHYANTI YATRA YATRA GAMISHYASI ||
MITTRAANYAMITTRAA MADHYASTHAA UPAJEEVYYOWPAJEEVINAH ||

(Being in the service of DEVATA (DEITIES), PITAR (ANCESTORS), MANUSHYA (MAN), SANYASI (HERMIT) AND ATITHI (GUEST) helps to achieve fame and admiration)

PANCHENDRIYASHCHA MATYARSHCHA CHIDRAM CHEDEKAMINDRIYAM ||
TATOSYA SRAVATI PRAGGYA DRITAH PATTRADIVODAKAM ||

(Just as a hole in MASHAK (a leather water bag) results in a leakage of water, in the same way, if any of the five sensory organs become faulty, then the intelligence is affected)

ABANDOMENT OF SIX BLEMISHES

SHAD DOSHAH PURUSHENEH HAATAVYA BHUTIMICHCHHTAA ||
NIDRA TANDRA BHAYA KRODH AALASYAM DIIRGHASUUTRATAA ||

(Six faults must be abandoned, NIDRA (SLEEP), TANDRA (NAP), BHAYA (FEAR), KRODHA (ANGER), AALASYA (LAZINESS) and DIIRGHASUUTRATA (PROCRASTIANTION)

SHADIMAAN PUROSHO JAHYAAD BHINNAN NAAVAMIVAARNAVE ||
APRAVAKTTAARAMAACHAARYAMANDHIYAANMRITVIJAM ||
ARAKSHITAAR RAAJAANAM BHAARYAAM CHAAPRIYAVAADINIIM ||
GRAAMAKAAMAM CHA GOPAALAM VANAKAAMAM CHA NAAPITAM ||

(One must abandon a non-preaching master (one who does not chant sacred mantras while doing oblations in the sacrificial fire (HOTA). A king who is not protective, a milkman who has a desire to live in the village that is he does not want to go out of the village to graze his cattle, an impetuous woman and a barber who has a desire to live in a forest, in the same way as a person abandons a sinking boat)

ACCEPTANCE OF SIX QUALITIES

SHADAIVA TU GUNAA PUNSAA NA HAATAVYAH KADAACHAN ||
SATYA DAAN MANAALASYAM ANASUUYAA KSHAMAA DHRITIH ||

(A man must never abandon Satya (Truth), Daan (charity), Karmanyataa (Activity), Anusuyaa (habit of finding faults even in the good qualities of others), Kshama (forgiveness) and Dhairya (Patience)

ARTHAAGAMO NITYAMAROGITAA CHA PRIYAA CHA BHAARYAA PRIYAVAADINI CHA ||
VASHYASHCHA PUTTRORTHAKAREE CHA VIDDYA SHAD JEEVALOKASHYA SUKHANI RAAJAN ||

(A man is fortunate if he has wealth, good health and non-diseased body, a favouring and loving wife and obedient son and a Vidya (knowledge) which is capable of earning money and wealth. These six things makes his life happy and full of joy) 

SHASHNAAMAATMANI NITYAANAAMAISHVARYA YODHIGACHCHHATI ||
NA SA PAPAIH KUTONARTHAIRYUJYATE VIJITENRIYAH ||

PANCHENDRIYASHCHA MATYARSHCHA CHIDRAM CHEDEKAMINDRIYAM ||
TATOSYA SRAVATI PRAGGYA DRITAH PATTRADIVODAKAM ||

(Six enemies which are ever present in our minds must be controlled KAAM (LUST), KRODHA (ANGER), LOBHA (GREED), MOHA (ATTACHMENT), MADA (ARROGANCE) AND MAATSARYA (JEALOUSY). This control saves us from being a sinner)
(The following six types of persons earn their livelihood from six types CHOR (THIEF) earns from a careless person, VAIDYA (DOCTOR) earns from a sick person, women full of lust from lusty men, a priest from the YAJAMANA (HOST), a king from his subjects and a learned man from Ignorants)
IIRSHYEE GHRINEE SANTUSHTAH KRODHANO NITYASHANKITAH ||
PARBHAAGYOPAJEEVII CHA SHADETE NITYADUKHITAA || 

(Six types of persons are always in misery. IRSHYA (one who is envious), one who hates, an unsatisfied man, one who is always angry, one who is always suspicious and one who lives on the fortunes of others) 

SHADETE HYAVAMANYANTE NITYAM PURVOPAKAARINAM ||
AACHAARYAM SHIKSHITAAH SHISHYAAH KRITADAARAASHCHA MAATARAM ||
NAARIIM VIGATAKAAMAASTU KRITAARTHAASHCHA PRAYOJAKAMA ||
NAAVAM NISTEERNAKAANTAARAA AATURAASHCHA CHIKITSAKAM || 

(The following six people show disrespect to their benefactors. A student to his teacher, after the completion of his studies, a married son to his mother, a man to a woman after his sexual urges are satisfied, KRIITKAARYA PURUSH (a man who has satisfactorily discharged his duties to his assistant, a man who has crossed the river to the boat and a sick man to the doctor after his ailment is cured) 

AAROGYAMAANRINYAMAVIPRAVAASAH ||
SADBHIRMANUSHYAIH SAHA SAMPRAYOGAH ||
SVAPRATYAYAA VRITIRABHEETAVAASAH
SHAD JEEV LOKASYA SUKHAANI RAAJAN ||
(Vidur explains to king Dhritarashtra that there are six happenings, to be free of diseases, not to be in debt, not to be forced by the circumstances to live in an alien land, being fortunate to have company of good people to earn livelihood by the help of his profession and living without any fear) 

SEVEN DEMERITS OF A KING

SAPTADOSHAAH SADAA HAATAVYAA VYASANODAYAAH ||
PRAAYASHAA YAIVIRNASHYANTI KRITMOOLAA APEESHVARAA ||
STRIYOKSHAA MRIGAYAA PAANAM VAAKPAARUSHYAM CHA PANCHAMAM ||
MAHACHHA DANDAPAARUSHYAMARTHADUSHANAMEVA CHA ||
(A king should abandon his lust for women, gambling, hunting, intoxication, speaking harshly, giving severe punishment and misusing wealth otherwise even well established kingdom is doomed)
NINE 

NAVADWAARMIDAM VESHMA TRISTHUNAM PANCHASAAKSHIKAM ||
KSHETRAGYAADHISHTHITAM VIDVAAN YO VEDA SA PARAH KAVIH ||

(One who considers the body which has nine openings that is eye, ear etc. three pillars VAATA (WIND), PITTA (BILE) AND KAFA (PHLEGM) and five witnesses (sensory organs) as the home of the Atma (soul is the real GYANI (KNOWER)

TEN (IGNORANCE) 

DASHA DHARMAM NA JANANTI DHRITRAASHTRA NIBODHATAAN ||
MATTAH PRAMATTA UNMATTAH SHRAANT KRUDDHO BUBHUKSHITAH ||
TVARMAANASHCHA LUBDHASHCHA BHEETAH KAAMI CHA TE DASHA ||
TASMAADETESHU SARVESHU NA PRASAJJETA PANDITAH ||
(Vidur says to Dhritarashtra that ten types of persons are ignorant about religion, an intoxicated man, an incautious man, a mad man, a tired man, an angry man, a hungry man, a man in a hurry, greedy man, a man full of fear and a lustful man. Hence a learned man should not develop intimacy with these type of people)
MAINTAINING SECRECY 

CHIKEERSHITAM VIPRAKITAM CHA YASYA ||
NAANYE JANAAH KARMA JAANANTI KINCHIT ||
MANTRE GUPTE SAMYAGANUSHTHITE CHA ||
NAALPOPYASYA CHYAVATE KASCHIDARTHAH ||

(One who conceals his thoughts in his heart which are favourable to him and unfavourable to others that is he wants to accomplish some task and others do not want it to be accomplished and who maintain secrecy of his mantras, get their work accomplished without any hindrance)

PATIENCE 

PRAAPYAAPADAM NA VYATHATE ||
KADAACHIDUDDYOGAMANVICHCHHATI CHAAPRAMATTAH ||
DUKHAM CHA KAALE SAHATE MAHAATMA ||
DHURANDHARASTASYA JITAAH SAPATNAAH ||

(One who is not dejected in times of any calamity but tries to endeavour his way out of that calamity and who has the capacity to bear pain, no enemy can defeat him)

MORALITY (SADACHAR) 

NA SVE SUKHE VAI KURUTE PRAHARSHAM ||
NAANYASYA DOOHKHE BHAVATI PRAHRISHTAH ||
DATTVA NA PASHCHAATKURUTENUTAAPAM SA KATHYATE ||
SATPURUSHARYASHEELAH ||
(One who does not become happy in his own happiness who does not
rejoice in others misery is called a moral man)

FOOD

BHAKSHAYOTTAMPRATICHCHHANNAM MATSYO VADISHAMAAYASHAM ||
LOBHABHIPAATEE GRASATE NAANUBANDHAMAVEKSHATE ||
YACHCHHAKYAM PRASITUM GRASYAM GRASTAM PARINAMECHCHA YAT ||
HITAM CHA PARINAAME YAT TADADDYAM BHOOTIMICHCHHATAA ||

(Just as a fish is lured by the bait without realizing the consequences of its action, in the same way man should eat only those kinds of food that are worth eating and which can be digested and also has a good effect on the body that is devouring food indiscriminately has bad effects on the body. He should not be like a fish otherwise he will meet the same fate)

POLICY (NEETI)

YADTAPTAM PRANAMATI NA TAT SANTAAPAYANTYAPI ||
YACHCHA SWAYAM NATAM DAARU NA TAT SANNAMAYANTYAPI ||

(Those metals which can be moulded even without heating are not heated that is an intelligent man should never confront a person who has more strength than him)

SATYEN RAKSHYATE DHARMO VIDDYA YOGEN RAKSHYATE ||
MRIJAYAA RAKSHYATE ROOPAM KULAM VRITTEN RAKSHYATE || 

(Satya (Truth) protects the Dharma (religion), Yoga protects the VIDDYA (knowledge), cleanliness protects the beauty and MORALITY (SADAACHAR) protects the Kula (generation)

YA IIRSHUH PARVITTESHU ROOPE VIRYE KULAANVAYE ||
SUKHASAUBHAGYASATKAARE TASYA VYADHIRANANTAKAH ||

(One who envies others DHAN (wealth) ROOPA (beauty), PARAKRAMA (bravery), KULINTAA (nobility), SUKH (pleasures), SAUBHAGYA (good fortune),SAMMAAN (respect). This ailment of his is incurable)

AADHYAANAAM MAANSAPARAMAM MADHYAANAAM GORASOTTARAM ||
TAILOTTARAM DARIDRAANAAM BHOJANAM BHARATARSHABHA ||

(Vidur says to Dhritarashtra that the chief constituent of the food taken by the rich people, intoxicated by the power of their wealth is MAANSA (MEAT), the medium class people’s food mainly consists of GORASA (MILK) and the chief ingredients of the poor people’s food is TAILA (OIL))

CONTROLLING EXCESSIVE ANGER AND JOY 

SANNIYACCHATI YO VEGAMUTTHITAM KRODHAHARSHAYOH ||
SA SHRIYO BHAAJANAM RAAJAN YASHCHAAPATSU NA MUHYATI ||

(Vidur says to Dhritarashtra O King, one who controls the forces of KRODHA (ANGER) AND JOY (HARSHA) and not lose his patience (DHAIRYA) even in the time of any calamity (AAPATTI), has the right of possessing wealth and fortune (RAAJALAKSHAMI))

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