Compiled by London Swaminathan 

Date: 26 DECEMBER 2017 

Time uploaded in London-9-54 am

Post No. 4549

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Canakya’s austere living is an indicator of his dislike for power and pelf and his incorruptibility. That made him an embodiment of high moral values.  a popular legend about him will bear it out. On taking up the assignment of Greek envoy at Pataliputra, Megasthenes expressed his wish to meet Canakya The appointment was fixed late evening. Canakya at that time was looking through some official papers. A lamp was on. As Megasthenes entered his chamber it was put out and another one in its place was lit. When Megasthenes wanted to know as to why this was done, C told him that when the earlier lamp was on he was looking through official papers. The oil in it was at state expense. Now that he was receiving him as a personal guest, the oil in it has to be at his personal expense. Hence the earlier lamp was put out and the new one was lit in its place. This was Canakya’s character. it is for no reason, therefore, that he was able to, in spite of being a poor Brahmin with no material resources, set up one of the greatest of the empires of the time.

Canakya is said to have continued, even after the installation of his protégé on the throne with his austere living in consonance with the Brahmin class to which he belonged, denying himself all comforts and the luxuries that the state power could have provide him.

This is how the chamberlain of Candragupta Maurya on reaching his house describes it:

Aho Rajadhirajamantrino vibhuthih:

uplasakalametad bhedakam gomayanam

bahubirupahrutanam barhisham stupametat

saranamapi samidibah sushyamanabirabi

virnamita patalatam drusyate jirnakudyam

III-15

“O the affluence of the minister of the king of kings!

Here is seen a piece of stone to break the cow-dung cakes with; there appears a heap of Kusa grass collected by young disciples; the shed too is seen with dilapidated walls and the corners of the roof are borne down with yonder sacrificial fagots that are drying”

Source:Canakyaniti by Satya Vrat Shastri

–subham–