Who is Chanakya?
I guess this needs not to be answered if the target audience is CA!
But continuing an outset legacy of the blogs, a little mention is MUST. Chanakya or Kautiliya or Vishnugupta was the real definition of a ‘KINGMAKER’ in the BCE times of GREAT INDIA. He is best known for his work ‘arthashastra’ that made him recognised far and wide for his contributions in political science and economics even before they were considered subjects of interest by most of the world.
According to Wikipedia, Chanakya was an ancient Indian polymath and who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist and royal advisor. So this citation makes it very apt that throughout his life Chanakya was involved in a teacher-student relationship throughout his life and thus making him the right candidate to decide how a student should be!
He has also specified various Nitis and Sutras throughout his life that have summarised his lifelong wisdom in them and thus can prove really helpful if you are really a seeker.
So here’s a handpicked bouquet of 9 Slokas with translations for CA Aspirants that can be really valuable to you!
#1 Sloka: The Real Meaning of Friendship
Sanskrit: आतुरे व्यसने प्राप्ते दुर्भिक्षे शत्रुसङ्कटे ।
राजद्वारे श्मशाने च यस्तिष्ठति स बान्धवः ॥
English Translation: 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).
#2 Sloka: The Real Meaning of Seeking & Finding
Sanskrit: शैले शैले न माणिक्यं मौक्तिकं न गजे गजे ।
साधवो न हि सर्वत्र चन्दनं न वने वने ॥
English Translation: 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.
#3 Sloka: The Real Meaning of Being a Student (Though things change but basic principles remain same, focus on them)
Sanskrit: कामं क्रोधं तथा लोभं स्वादं श्रृंगारकौतुके |
अतिनिद्रा अतिसेवे च विद्यार्थी हयष्ट वर्जयेत् ||
English translation: In Your Student Life abstain from
- Lust
- Anger
- Taste
- Sleep
- Makeup
- Play
- Excessive Service
#4 Sloka: Importance of Education
Sanskrit: माता शत्रुः पिता वैरी याभ्यां बाला न पाठिताः ।
सभामध्ये न शोभन्ते हंसमध्ये बको यथा ॥
English Translation: 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.
#5 Sloka: Health Tip even researched and revered till now!
Sanskrit: अजीर्णे भेषजं वारि जीर्णे वारि बलप्रदम् ।
भोजने चामृतं वारि भोजनान्ते विषापहम् ॥
English Translation: 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.
#6 Sloka: The Real Meaning of LIFE
Sanskrit: मुक्तिमिच्छसि चेत्तात विषयान्विषवत्त्यज ।
क्षमार्जवदयाशौचं सत्यं पीयूषवत्पिब ॥
English Translation: 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.
#7 Sloka: The Rightest Dealing
Sanskrit: नात्यन्तं सरलैर्भाव्यं गत्वा पश्य वनस्थलीम् ।
छिद्यन्ते सरलास्तत्र कुब्जास्तिष्ठन्ति पादपाः ॥
English Translation: Do not be very upright in your dealings, as you would see in the forest, the straight trees are cut down while the crooked ones are left standing.
#8 Sloka: The 1000s years old Recipe of Success
Sanskrit: कः कालः कानि मित्राणि को देशः कौ व्ययागमौ ।
कश्चाहं का च मे शक्तिरिति चिन्त्यं मुहुर्मुहुः ॥
English Translation: 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.
#9 Sloka: The Learning’s Significance
Sanskrit: श्लोकेन वा तदर्धेन तदर्धार्धाक्षरेण वा।
अबन्ध्यं दिवसं कुर्याद्दानाध्ययनकर्मभिः॥
English Translation: 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.
A moment of discretion is recommended while going through all these to accommodate the time frame changes!