sloka:ns

Synonyms ātma-mātā — one's own mother; guroḥ-patnī — the wife of the guru; brāhmaṇī — the wife of a brāhmaṇa; rāja-patnikā — the wife of a king; dhenuḥ — the cow; dhātrī — the nurse; tathā — thus; pṛthvī — the earth; sapta etā — these seven; mātaraḥ — mothers; smṛtāḥ — should be remembered as.

Translation One's own mother, the wife of the guru, the wife of a brāhmaṇa, the wife of a king, the cow, the nurse, and the earth are known as the seven mothers of a man. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms avidyām — without knowledge; jīvanam — life; śūnyam — empty or void; dik-śūnyāḥ — all directions are void; ca — and; abāndhavāḥ — persons without family or friends; putra-hīnam — without a son; gṛham — the home; śūnyam — void; sarva-śūnyā — that which makes everything void; daridratā — poverty.

Translation Life without knowledge is empty, and all directions are void for those without friends. Household life without a son is void, and for the poor the whole world is void. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms āyuṣaḥ — of life; kṣaṇaḥ — a moment; ekaḥ — one; api — even; na — not; labhyaḥ — obtainable; svarṇa-koṭibhiḥ — for millions of gold coins; na cet — if not; nirarthakam — useless; nītiḥ — behavior; kā — what; ca — and; hāniḥ — loss; tataḥ — than that; adhikā — greater.

Translation Even one moment of life spent cannot be regained for millions of gold coins. Therefore, what greater loss is there than time spent uselessly? (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita śloka 34)

Synonyms durjanaḥ — an evil man; parihartavyo — should be avoided; vidyayā — by knowledge; alaṅkṛtaḥ — decorated; api — although; san — being; maṇinā — by a jewel; bhūṣitaḥ — adorned; sarpaḥ — a snake; kim asau — is that; na — not; bhayaṅkaraḥ — fearful.

Translation An evil man should be avoided, even though he may be decorated with great knowledge. He is just like a venomous serpent adorned with a jewel on his hood. Is not such a snake fearful? (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms duṣṭā — wicked; bhāryā — wife; śaṭham — deceitful; mitram — friend; bhṛtyaḥ — servant; ca — and; uttara-dāyakaḥ — impertinent; sa-sarpe — with serpents; ca — and; gṛhe — in the house; vāsaḥ — residence; mṛtyuḥ — death; eva — certainly; na — not; saṁśayaḥ — doubt.

Translation A man whose wife is wicked, whose friends are deceitful, and whose servants are impertinent dwells in a house infested with serpents. Death is certain. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms ekena — by one; api — only; ku-vṛkṣeṇa — bad tree; koṭara-sthena — in the hollow; vahninā — by a fire; dahyate — is burned; tat — of that; vanam — the forest; sarvam — entire; ku-putreṇa — by a bad son; kulam — family; yathā — just as.

Translation Just as an entire forest is reduced to ashes by a fire burning in the hollow of a tree, similarly, one bad son can destroy an entire family. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms kaḥ-arthaḥ — what is the value; putreṇa — with a son; jātena — born; yaḥ — who; na — not; vidvān — learned; na — not; dhārmikaḥ — religious; kāṇena-cakṣuṣā — with a blind eye; kiṁ vā — or; cakṣuḥ — eye; pīḍā — pain; eva — certainly; kevalam — only.

Translation What is the value of a son who is neither learned nor religious? Such a son is compared to a blind eye that is only a source of pain. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms lālayet — one should fondle; pañca-varṣāṇi — for five years; daśa-varṣāṇi — for ten years; tāḍayet — one should punish; prāpte — when he has reached; tu — but; ṣoḍaśe varṣe — the sixteenth year; putram — unto the son; mitra-vat — like a friend; ācaret — one should act.

Translation One should fondle his son up to the point of five years old. Thereafter one should administer punishment for the next ten years. But when one's son reaches the age of sixteen one should act as a friend towards him. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms lālane — in fondling; bahavaḥ — many; doṣāḥ — faults; tāḍane — in administering punishment; bahavaḥ — many; guṇāḥ — good qualities; tasmāt — therefore; putram — a son; ca — and; śiṣyam — a student; ca — and; tāḍayet — should punish; na — not; tu — but; lālayet — should fondle.

Translation Leniency encourages bad qualities in a student or son, and strictness helps develop good qualities. Therefore, a teacher or parent should not pamper a child but administer punishment for bad behavior. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms mātā — an affectionate mother; yasya — who; gṛhe — in the home; na — not; asti — there is; bhāryā — a wife; ca — and; priya-vādinī — unkind, harsh speech; araṇyam — forest; tena — by him; gantavyam — one should go; yathā — so as; araṇyam — the forest; tathā — so; gṛham — the home.

Translation If one does not have an affectionate mother at home or one's wife does not speak sweetly and lovingly one should go to the forest [take sannyāsa] because the home is already a desolate place. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms mūrkha — fools; yatra — where; na — not; pūjyante — are worshiped; dhānyam — grain; yatra — where; susañcitam — nicely stocked; dampatyoḥ — of husband and wife; kalahaḥ — quarrel; na — not; asti — is; tatra — there; śrīḥ — goddess of fortune; svayam — personally; āgatāḥ — has come.

Translation The goddess of fortune personally comes to that place where fools are not worshiped, where grains are carefully stocked, and where there are no quarrels between husband and wife. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms viṣād — from poison; api — even; amṛtam — nectar; grāhyam — is to be taken; amedhyāt — from an impure place; api — even; kāñcanam — gold; nīcāt — from a lowborn person; api — even; uttamam — the best; jñānam — knowledge; strī-ratnam — a jewel of a woman; duṣkulāt — from a low family; api — even.

Translation One would accept nectar even from poison and gold even from a filthy place. One should accept knowledge even from a low-born person, and a good wife even if she comes from a low family. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms varam — better; ekaḥ — one; guṇī — good qualities; putraḥ — a son; na — not; ca — and; mūrkhā-śatair — hundreds of fools; api — even; ekaḥ — one; candraḥ — moon; tamo — darkness; hanti — destroys; na — not; ca — and; tārā-gaṇaiḥ — innumerable stars; api — even.

Translation It is better to have one son with good qualities than to have one hundred foolish sons. Innumerable stars cannot dissipate the darkness, but one moon can illuminate the darkness of night. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms viśvāsaḥ — trust; na — never; eva — certainly; kartavyaḥ — should be done; strīṣu — unto a woman; rāja-kuleṣu — a politician; ca — and.

Translation One can never trust a politician or a woman. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms ṛṇa-kartā — a debtor; pitā — father; śatruḥ — an enemy; mātā — mother; ca — also; vyabhicāriṇī — unfaithful; bhāryā — wife; rūpavatī — beautiful; śatruḥ — an enemy; putraḥ — a son; śatruḥ — enemy; apaṇḍitaḥ — ignorant.

Translation There are four kinds of enemies in household life: a father who is a debtor, an unchaste wife, a beautiful wife, and a foolish, ignorant son. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms śaṭhe — in a cheating situation (i.e. when dealing with a cheat); śāṭhyam — like a cheat; ācaret — one should behave.

Translation This is politics, “Tit for tat.” Çaṭhe śāṭhyam ācaret. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says. “If somebody is ṣaṭha” (ṣaṭha means very cunning) “so you should be also cunning.” (Śrīla Prabhupāda: This is politics, “Tit for tat.” Çaṭhe śāṭhyam ācaret. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says. “If somebody is ṣaṭha” (ṣaṭha means very cunning) “so you should be also cunning.”)

Synonyms ātma-mātā — one's own mother; guroḥ-patnī — the wife of the guru; brāhmaṇī — the wife of a brāhmaṇa; rāja-patnikā — the wife of a king; dhenuḥ — the cow; dhātrī — the nurse; tathā — thus; pṛthvī — the earth; sapta etā — these seven; mātaraḥ — mothers; smṛtāḥ — should be remembered as.

Translation One's own mother, the wife of the guru, the wife of a brāhmaṇa, the wife of a king, the cow, the nurse, and the earth are known as the seven mothers of a man. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms avidyām — without knowledge; jīvanam — life; śūnyam — empty or void; dik-śūnyāḥ — all directions are void; ca — and; abāndhavāḥ — persons without family or friends; putra-hīnam — without a son; gṛham — the home; śūnyam — void; sarva-śūnyā — that which makes everything void; daridratā — poverty.

Translation Life without knowledge is empty, and all directions are void for those without friends. Household life without a son is void, and for the poor the whole world is void. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms āyuṣaḥ — of life; kṣaṇaḥ — a moment; ekaḥ — one; api — even; na — not; labhyaḥ — obtainable; svarṇa-koṭibhiḥ — for millions of gold coins; na cet — if not; nirarthakam — useless; nītiḥ — behavior; kā — what; ca — and; hāniḥ — loss; tataḥ — than that; adhikā — greater.

Translation Even one moment of life spent cannot be regained for millions of gold coins. Therefore, what greater loss is there than time spent uselessly? (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita śloka 34)

Synonyms durjanaḥ — an evil man; parihartavyo — should be avoided; vidyayā — by knowledge; alaṅkṛtaḥ — decorated; api — although; san — being; maṇinā — by a jewel; bhūṣitaḥ — adorned; sarpaḥ — a snake; kim asau — is that; na — not; bhayaṅkaraḥ — fearful.

Translation An evil man should be avoided, even though he may be decorated with great knowledge. He is just like a venomous serpent adorned with a jewel on his hood. Is not such a snake fearful? (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms duṣṭā — wicked; bhāryā — wife; śaṭham — deceitful; mitram — friend; bhṛtyaḥ — servant; ca — and; uttara-dāyakaḥ — impertinent; sa-sarpe — with serpents; ca — and; gṛhe — in the house; vāsaḥ — residence; mṛtyuḥ — death; eva — certainly; na — not; saṁśayaḥ — doubt.

Translation A man whose wife is wicked, whose friends are deceitful, and whose servants are impertinent dwells in a house infested with serpents. Death is certain. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms ekena — by one; api — only; ku-vṛkṣeṇa — bad tree; koṭara-sthena — in the hollow; vahninā — by a fire; dahyate — is burned; tat — of that; vanam — the forest; sarvam — entire; ku-putreṇa — by a bad son; kulam — family; yathā — just as.

Translation Just as an entire forest is reduced to ashes by a fire burning in the hollow of a tree, similarly, one bad son can destroy an entire family. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms kaḥ-arthaḥ — what is the value; putreṇa — with a son; jātena — born; yaḥ — who; na — not; vidvān — learned; na — not; dhārmikaḥ — religious; kāṇena-cakṣuṣā — with a blind eye; kiṁ vā — or; cakṣuḥ — eye; pīḍā — pain; eva — certainly; kevalam — only.

Translation What is the value of a son who is neither learned nor religious? Such a son is compared to a blind eye that is only a source of pain. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms lālayet — one should fondle; pañca-varṣāṇi — for five years; daśa-varṣāṇi — for ten years; tāḍayet — one should punish; prāpte — when he has reached; tu — but; ṣoḍaśe varṣe — the sixteenth year; putram — unto the son; mitra-vat — like a friend; ācaret — one should act.

Translation One should fondle his son up to the point of five years old. Thereafter one should administer punishment for the next ten years. But when one's son reaches the age of sixteen one should act as a friend towards him. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms lālane — in fondling; bahavaḥ — many; doṣāḥ — faults; tāḍane — in administering punishment; bahavaḥ — many; guṇāḥ — good qualities; tasmāt — therefore; putram — a son; ca — and; śiṣyam — a student; ca — and; tāḍayet — should punish; na — not; tu — but; lālayet — should fondle.

Translation Leniency encourages bad qualities in a student or son, and strictness helps develop good qualities. Therefore, a teacher or parent should not pamper a child but administer punishment for bad behavior. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms mātā — an affectionate mother; yasya — who; gṛhe — in the home; na — not; asti — there is; bhāryā — a wife; ca — and; priya-vādinī — unkind, harsh speech; araṇyam — forest; tena — by him; gantavyam — one should go; yathā — so as; araṇyam — the forest; tathā — so; gṛham — the home.

Translation If one does not have an affectionate mother at home or one's wife does not speak sweetly and lovingly one should go to the forest [take sannyāsa] because the home is already a desolate place. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms mūrkha — fools; yatra — where; na — not; pūjyante — are worshiped; dhānyam — grain; yatra — where; susañcitam — nicely stocked; dampatyoḥ — of husband and wife; kalahaḥ — quarrel; na — not; asti — is; tatra — there; śrīḥ — goddess of fortune; svayam — personally; āgatāḥ — has come.

Translation The goddess of fortune personally comes to that place where fools are not worshiped, where grains are carefully stocked, and where there are no quarrels between husband and wife. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms viṣād — from poison; api — even; amṛtam — nectar; grāhyam — is to be taken; amedhyāt — from an impure place; api — even; kāñcanam — gold; nīcāt — from a lowborn person; api — even; uttamam — the best; jñānam — knowledge; strī-ratnam — a jewel of a woman; duṣkulāt — from a low family; api — even.

Translation One would accept nectar even from poison and gold even from a filthy place. One should accept knowledge even from a low-born person, and a good wife even if she comes from a low family. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms varam — better; ekaḥ — one; guṇī — good qualities; putraḥ — a son; na — not; ca — and; mūrkhā-śatair — hundreds of fools; api — even; ekaḥ — one; candraḥ — moon; tamo — darkness; hanti — destroys; na — not; ca — and; tārā-gaṇaiḥ — innumerable stars; api — even.

Translation It is better to have one son with good qualities than to have one hundred foolish sons. Innumerable stars cannot dissipate the darkness, but one moon can illuminate the darkness of night. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms viśvāsaḥ — trust; na — never; eva — certainly; kartavyaḥ — should be done; strīṣu — unto a woman; rāja-kuleṣu — a politician; ca — and.

Translation One can never trust a politician or a woman. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms ṛṇa-kartā — a debtor; pitā — father; śatruḥ — an enemy; mātā — mother; ca — also; vyabhicāriṇī — unfaithful; bhāryā — wife; rūpavatī — beautiful; śatruḥ — an enemy; putraḥ — a son; śatruḥ — enemy; apaṇḍitaḥ — ignorant.

Translation There are four kinds of enemies in household life: a father who is a debtor, an unchaste wife, a beautiful wife, and a foolish, ignorant son. (Cāṇakya Paṇḍita)

Synonyms śaṭhe — in a cheating situation (i.e. when dealing with a cheat); śāṭhyam — like a cheat; ācaret — one should behave.

Translation This is politics, “Tit for tat.” Çaṭhe śāṭhyam ācaret. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says. “If somebody is ṣaṭha” (ṣaṭha means very cunning) “so you should be also cunning.” (Śrīla Prabhupāda: This is politics, “Tit for tat.” Çaṭhe śāṭhyam ācaret. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says. “If somebody is ṣaṭha” (ṣaṭha means very cunning) “so you should be also cunning.”)