ଚାଣକ୍ଯ ନୀତି - ଚତୁର୍ଥୋଽଧ୍ଯାଯଃ

The span of one's life, the nature of one's actions, one's wealth, the level of one's learning, and the time of one's death—these five are already determined while the soul is still in the mother's womb.

Friends, sons, and relatives will eventually turn away from a person at the time of death. Only those good deeds performed in the name of righteousness will accompany the soul on its onward journey.

Just as the fish, the tortoise, and the bird nurture their offspring through sight, meditation, and physical touch respectively, the company of virtuous people nourishes and protects a person.

As long as the body is healthy and death is far away, one should strive for the welfare of the soul; what can one possibly do once the final breath has arrived?

Knowledge is like the wish-fulfilling cow (Kamadhenu); it bears fruit even in difficult times. Like a mother, it provides care during journeys, and it is regarded as the most concealed and valuable wealth.

It is better to have one virtuous son than a hundred who are worthless. A single moon dispels darkness, whereas a thousand stars together cannot achieve the same.

It is better to have a child who dies at birth than one who lives a long life as a fool; the former causes only brief sorrow, while the latter causes pain throughout one's entire life.

Living in a wretched village, serving someone of low character, eating bad food, having an ill-tempered wife, having a foolish son, and a widowed daughter—these six consume the body like a fire without flames.

What is the use of a cow that neither gives milk nor produces calves? Similarly, what is the value of a son who is neither learned nor devoted?

For those scorched by the miseries of this worldly existence, there are three sources of solace: one's children, a devoted spouse, and the association with wise and righteous people.

Kings speak their word only once, learned men speak their word only once, and a daughter is given in marriage only once. These three actions are performed only once.

Penance is best performed alone, studying is best done in pairs, and singing is best in a group of three. A journey is best undertaken by four, agriculture by five, and war by a multitude.

She is a true wife who is pure and skillful, she is a true wife who is devoted to her husband, she is a true wife who finds joy in her husband, and she is a true wife who is always truthful.

The home of a man without a son is empty, the directions are empty to one who has no relatives, the heart of a fool is empty, and poverty is empty of everything.

Knowledge not put into practice is poison, food eaten when there is indigestion is poison, a social gathering for a poor man is poison, and a young wife for an old man is poison.

One should abandon a religion that lacks compassion, a teacher who lacks knowledge, a wife who is always angry, and relatives who lack affection.

A long journey is the aging factor for the body, lack of water is the aging factor for mountains, lack of marital relations is the aging factor for women, and constant exposure to the sun is the aging factor for clothes.

What is the time, who are my friends, what is this place, what are my income and expenditures, who am I, and what is my capacity—these are things one should constantly reflect upon.

For the learned, God dwells in the sacrificial fire; for the sages, God dwells in the heart; for those with little wisdom, God dwells in idols; but for those who see the truth, God is everywhere.