Lakshmi Bai, Queen of Jhansi, MP, 19th Century
Chapter - 16 of Chanakya's Treatise on Policies for Kings & Ministers
 

Translation:
The person who neither meditated on god to become free from the cycle of re-birth in the world, nor performed religious acts to open the doors of heaven, nor did embrace the hard breasts of a woman even in dream; such a person has only been an axe to pierce the youth of his mother.

Commentary:
[This verse again tells us the 4 aims in human life - moksha, dharma, kama, artha. Life of person who hasn't moved towards any of them is a waste. Mother's youth is destroyed with each childbirth as she ages, still she feels blessed if her child has good qualities. However, if the child doesnot achieve any of the 4 aims, then the only thing it has achieved is destruction of mother's youth. This verse mentions only 3 aims but omits fourth - artha or accumulation of wealth. BY leading a balanced lifewe make efforts to progress in all 4 aspects. Four aims of life are important principles of Hindu philosophy. It is also the foundation of successful Stress Management & Life Management as stated under verses 3.20 & 13.09.]

Translation:
She talks to one person, gives flirtatious sideways glance to another, and dwells in her heart upon still another person; her affection is not for one person alone.

Commentary:
[This verse describes the nature of a varangana, in other words, a prostitute. She talks to the man who is paying her. She is looking flirtatiously sideways at another man, worrying that he should not get annoyed and go away because of lack of attention. She dwells in her heart upon still another man whom she truly loves. Her attitude is conditioned towards earning money. One should keep away from such a woman.]

Translation:
The fool who becomes attached to the desirable woman and starts believing that she is in love with him, falls under her control and dances like a toy-bird in her hands.

Commentary:
[This verse tells the consequence of becoming attached to a varangana, in other words, a prostitute.]

Translation:
Who did not become proud on obtaining wealth? Which lustful person's unhappiness has come to an end? Whose heart has not been broken by a woman? Which person has become permanently dear to the king? Who has been missed by time, i.e. who has not died? Which beggar has got honor? Which person has came out unharmed after being entangled in bad qualities of criminal people?

Commentary:
[Wealth brings pride, lustfulness brings troubles, women break heart, no one is permanently dear to king, all die, criminal people always cause harm.]

Translation:
No one has made a deer of gold, nor seen in the past, nor heard of it; still there was desire in King Rama's heart. When destined time for destruction arrives, the mind of a person works against him.

Commentary:
[This verse recognizes the irrationality in human beings. Sometimes we are unable to read the writing on the wall as if our mind has turned against us. This is illustrated from a story in Hindu mythology. King Rama and his wife were living in exile in a jungle. She saw a deer of gold pass near by their hut and asked King Rama to kill it so that she could have the skin. No one has ever made a deer of gold, or seen one, or heard of one.King Rama ignores this fact and goes in the direction the dear went, to kill it for pleasing his wife. In the process his wife was left behind alone and is kidnapped by another King Ravana, who was besought by her.]

Translation:
Qualities make a person outstanding, not sitting on a high seat; crow does not become Garuda, the bird which is the vehicle of God Vishnu in Indian mythology, by sitting on peak of the king's palace.

Commentary:
[Person becomes great only due to qualities. In absence of qualities one can temporarily get a high position but not permanently.]

Translation:
Qualities are worshipped everywhere but not wealth. Is the full moon worshiped in the world in same way as the spotless expanding moon?

Commentary:
[The full moon is big but it has spots. The moon seen on second day of lunar fortnight is small but spotless. People worship the small spotless moon rather than the full moon. Similarly, a wealthy man may be bigger, but the person with good qualities is respected and worshipped by people.]

Translation:
When other people praise even a person lacking in qualities, he becomes great. On praising his own qualities even Indra, the King of Gods, becomes smaller.

Commentary:
[Do not praise yourself. Persons become great only when praised by others. This was also stated verse in 9.12.]

Translation:
Good abilities & qualities look better when they are possessed by a wise person, just as jewels look brighter when they are embedded in gold.

Commentary:
[Good abilities & qualities possessed by a bad person will only enhance his disrepute and do not shine. Jewels embedded in iron will not shine as much.]

Translation:
A person with qualities also becomes unhappy in absence of support, just as even the faultless jewel requires support of an ornament or crown.

Commentary:
[In ancient times, kings supported the arts and sciences. The highly learned people were part of king's court and thus he paid them a salary. The kings also remunerated master craftsmen and artists for services like building temples & creating sculpture. The artists, authors, scientists needed the support of such patron or else they could become unhappy due to the frustration from not being able to express their talent.]

Translation:
Let me not get wealth by means which involve too much quarrelling & suffering of others, or crossing the boundaries of religion, or taking the shelter of enemy.

Commentary:
[What is right way of earning and what is not? Here is a simple test!]

Translation:
What is the use of Lakshmi (wealth) which is kept hidden in the home like the bride? Or which is like a prostitute whom ordinary traveler can also enjoy?

Commentary:
[There is no use of wealth which lies locked up in home of a miser. There is also no use of the wealth which is squandered on one and all. Former is compared to the newly wedded bride who is kept away from public gaze in Hindu custom. Latter is compared with a prostitute and such wealth is often used by unethical people for unethical purposes. Wealth should be put to proper use by spending it is for social aims and investing with good people.]

Translation:
All living creatures have left this world in the past, are leaving, and will continue to leave in times to come desiring more of wealth, longevity, women, and food.

Commentary:
[Desire for these four is never satiated in any one. These are never enough!]

Translation:
The effect of donations like yagya, (a ceremony to worship God with fire lighted in a pit prepared as per specified rules), offerings made during the yagya, animals sacrificed at the time of yagya, becomes weak over time. The effect of donation given to the deserving person and abhayadaan (telling a person who is fearing immediate death that he or she has nothing to fear) does not become weak.

Commentary:
[Donations should be given to deserving persons. Person pardoned and granted life will always remain grateful.]

Translation:
Straw is light, cotton is lighter than straw, lighter than cotton is the beggar. Why doesn't wind blow away the beggar? Because the wind is afraid that "he will ask something from me."

Commentary:
[There is no work lower than begging. The wind does not blow the beggar because it is afraid that he would beg from it also while being blown away.]

Translation:
(Same as 10.12)

Translation:
Sweet speech gives satisfaction to all human beings, thus always speak that way only. No one is poor in words.

Commentary:
[Sweet speech does not cost you anything. So why not be liberal in using them?]

Translation:
In this world, which is like a bitter tree, there are two fruits like nectar. One is elegant speech and second is likable company of good & saintly people.

Commentary:
[One should speak well & eloquently and keep company of good people as per our taste.]

Translation:
In birth after birth one must practice donating, studying, and religious austerity. Due to this practice the human being does these again & again in present life also.

Commentary:
[These qualities are not acquired in a single birth but over several births.]

Translation:
The knowledge in books and money entrusted to another person cannot be used when circumstances arise in which these can be put to work.

Commentary:
[Knowledge in books and money lent to others are not useful when needed].

Lakshmi Bai, Queen of Jhansi, MP, 19th Century

References


[1] Chanakya Neeti, Ashwini Parashar, New Delhi, 1998.
[2] Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, R.S. McGregor (Edited), New Delhi, 1999.
[3] Bhargava's Concise Dictionary of the English Language (Anglo-Hindi Edition), R. C. Pathak (Edited), Varanasi, 1995