Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 16,295
Date uploaded in London – 11 October 2026
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.
tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
xxxx
Chanakya and Manu agree with Vallluvar: Tirukkural Encyclopaedia Chapter 44 –Avoidance of Faults; குற்றங்கடிதல்
Part 62
xxxx
Go to Project Madurai website for all Tamil books; it is free and trouble free. No advertisements; no cookies!
****
Following Translations are used:
1.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933
2.S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD, Year 2000
3.Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886
4.Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB
5.EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986
6.H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931
7.Tamil Original
****
POINTS TO PONDER:
In Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the concept of Arishadvarga (or Shadripu) refers to the six internal enemies or detrimental vices of the human mind that a king must completely conquer to rule effectively. While traditionally viewed as obstacles to spiritual liberation (Moksha) in Hindu philosophy, Chanakya (Kautilya) repurposes them as political and practical imperatives for governance, leadership, and statecraft.
Chanakya famously emphasizes that “he is the most powerful person who has conquered himself”. In Book 1, Chapter 6 of the Arthashastra, he explicitly states that a king who fails to control these six internal enemies will ultimately destroy himself and his kingdom, regardless of how large his army or empire is.
The Six Internal Enemies (Arishadvarga) in Leadership
Vice (Sanskrit) Meaning Political Risk in the Arthashastra
Kama Lust / Uncontrolled Desire Leads the king to neglect state duties, squander resources on personal pleasures, or make decisions based on infatuation rather than merit.
Krodha Anger / Rage Causes impulsive, tyrannical decision-making, harsh punishments, and alienation of loyal subjects, ministers, or allies.
Lobha Greed / Avarice Results in over-taxing citizens, hoarding state wealth, or engaging in corrupt practices, which triggers internal rebellion.
Moha Delusion / Attachment Blinds the king to imminent threats, causes poor judgment, and creates biases toward preferred individuals or failing strategies.
Mada Arrogance / Ego Breeds complacency and overconfidence. An arrogant king ignores the sound advice of experienced ministers and underestimates external enemies.
Matsarya Envy / Jealousy Leads to distrust within the administration. The king may envy the capabilities of his own ministers or generals, destroying internal unity.
**
Kamandakiya Nitisara (also known as the Nitisara of Kamandaki or Kamantakam in certain regions like South India and Bali). It is an ancient Sanskrit treatise on statecraft and polity written as a metrical summary of Kautilya’s Arthashastra.
Summary of Chapter 1 (Verses 1–57)
The first section is dedicated to Indriyajaya (the control of the senses) and the foundational moral qualities required of a ruler.
तस्माद्व्युदस्य व्यसनं सर्वमेतदशेषतः ।
जितेन्द्रियो भवेद्रजा नीतिशास्त्रानुगः सदा ॥ ५६ ॥
tasmād vyudasya vyasanaṃ sarvam etad aśeṣataḥ |
jitendriyo bhaved rājā nītiśāstrānugaḥ sadā || 56 ||
Translation: Therefore, casting away all these vices entirely, a king must master his senses and always follow the dictates of the science of polity (Nitisara).
जितेन्द्रियस्य नृपतेर्नयमार्गानुसारिणः ।
भवन्त्यविचला लक्ष्म्यः कीर्तिश्च गगनस्पृशी ॥ ५७ ॥
jitendriyasya nṛpater naya-mārga-anusāriṇaḥ |
bhavanty avicalā lakṣmyaḥ kīrtiś ca gagana-spṛśī || 57 ||
Translation: For a king who has conquered his senses and walks the path of righteousness, royal fortune (Lakshmi) remains steadfast, and his fame touches the very heaven
**
Praise is poison; criticism is honey- Manu
A Brāhmaṇa should constantly shrink from honour as from poison, and always long for disrespect as from nectar.
MANU SMRITI
सम्मानाद् ब्राह्मणो नित्यम् उद्विजेत विषाद् इव ।
अमृतस्येव चाकाङ्क्षेद् अवमानस्य सर्वदा ॥ १६२ ॥
sammānād brāhmaṇo nิทyam udvijeta viṣāḍ iva |
amṛtasyeva cākāṅkṣed avamānasya sarvadā ||
• Sammāna (सम्मान): Honor or social respect; viewed here as hazardous and toxic (“like poison”) because it breeds pride and worldly attachment.
• Avamāna (अवमान): Disrespect, scorn, or dishonor; viewed here as beneficial (“like nectar”) because it keeps the mind humble, detached, and free from ego.
XXXX
Chapter 44- Eschewing of Faults; Avoidance of Faults; குற்றங்கடிதல்
*******
431.There is a grace about the riches of the king who is free from pride, anger and lust –A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933
***
431.Freedom from Arrogance, Anger and Meanness
Spells dignity in greatness– S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD, Year 2000
***
431
Who arrogance, and wrath, and littleness of low desire restrain,
To sure increase of lofty dignity attain.
Truly great is the excellence of those (kings) who are free from pride, anger, and lust.- Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886
***
431.Plenty is their prosperity
Who’re free from wrath pride lust petty. Suddhananda Bharathiyar – SB
***
431.Exalted in nature is the greatness of them that have neither pride nor anger nor meanness –EVS Publishers, Singapore – EVS, Year 1986
***
431. செருக்குஞ் சினமும் சிறுமையும் இல்லார்
பெருக்கம் பெருமித நீர்த்து.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
432.Niggardliness, overweening pride, and sensuality are grievous faults in a king– ANM+2
***
432.Parsimony born out of greed, selfish pride and excessive pleasure seekin,
All three are faults in a prince- SMD
***
432
A niggard hand, o’erweening self-regard, and mirth
Unseemly, bring disgrace to men of kingly brith.
Avarice, undignified pride, and low pleasures are faults in a king. – GUP
***
432.Mean pride, low pleasure, avarice
These add blemishes to a prince. – SB
***
432.Miserliness, overbearing, pride and vulgar pleasures are faults to a leader- EVS
***
432. இவறலும் மாண்பிறந்த மானமும் மாணா
உவகையும் ஏதம் இறைக்கு.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
433.Faults, small as a millet seed, loom as big as a giant palm in the eyes of those who are jealous of their reputation– ANM+2
***
433.People, who fear disgrace, should avoid even tiny millet sized faults,
Treating them as of major dimension like a palm tree- SMD
***
433
Though small as millet-seed the fault men deem;
As palm tree vast to those who fear disgrace ’twill seem.
Those who fear guilt, if they commit a fault small as a millet seed, will consider it to be as large as a palmyra tree. – GUP
***
433.Though millet-small their faults might seem
Men fearing disgrace, Palm-tall deem. – SB
***
433.Those who fear guilt, were they to commit a fault as small as millet seed would consider it to be as large as a palmyra nut- EVS
***
433.When men who fear dishonour a fault commit, though small as millet seed,
They will always think it great as palm tree’s bulky fruit – H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931
***
433. தினைத்துணையாங் குற்றம் வரினும் பனைத்துணையாக்
கொள்வர் பழிநாணு வார்.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
434.Beware of your faults, for they are a deadly enemy– ANM+2
***
434.As faults are one’s worst enemy leading to ultimate ruin,
It is wise to guard against all faults- SMD
***
434
Freedom from faults is wealth; watch heedfully
‘Gainst these, for fault is fatal enmity.
Guard against faults as a matter (of great consequence; for) faults are a deadly enemy. – GUP
***
434.Watch like treasure freedom from fault
Our fatal foe is that default. – SB
***
434.Let a man guard against faults, holding them serious;
They alone are the foes that bring about a fall- EVS
***
434. குற்றமே காக்க பொருளாகக் குற்றமே
அற்றம் தரூஉம் பகை.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
435.Behold the man who does not nobly plan out the future and protect himself against coming evils; he perishes like a
heap of straw before a consuming fire– ANM+2
***
435.The life of a man who does not guard against untoard developments,
Will be like a haystack before an advancing fire- SMD
***
435
His joy who guards not ‘gainst the coming evil day,
Like straw before the fire shall swift consume away.
The prosperity of him who does not timely guard against faults, will perish like straw before fire. – GUP
***
435.Who fails to guard himself from flaw
Loses his life like flame-lit straw. – SB
***
435.One must guard oneself against coming evil; or not,
Life will be lost like straw before fire- EVS
***
435. வருமுன்னர்க் காவாதான் வாழ்க்கை எரிமுன்னர்
வைத்தூறு போலக் கெடும்.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
.JPG)
436.He is a perfect king who, blameless himself, scans the faults of others– ANM+2
***
436.Faultless will be the king, who correct himself
Before he goes on to spot other’s faults- SMD
***
436
Faultless the king who first his own faults cures, and then
Permits himself to scan faults of other men.
What fault will remain in the king who has put away his own evils, and looks after the evils of others. – GUP
***
436.What fault can be the king’s who cures
First his faults, then scans others. – SB
***
436.Let a man cure his faults and then scan others’. Who then can find fault with him? – EVS
***
436.What fault can that king ever commit
Who first his own and then the faults of others checks? H A Popley – HAP
***
436. தன்குற்றம் நீக்கிப் பிறர்குற்றம் காண்பிற்பின்
என்குற்ற மாகும் இறைக்கு
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
437. Close fisted parsimony, which is blind to its welfare, goes to rack and ruin– ANM+2
***
437.The miser, who does not put his money to legitimate and purposeful use,
Will find his wealth decline and vanish- SMD
***
437
Who leaves undone what should be done, with niggard mind,
His wealth shall perish, leaving not a wrack behind.
The wealth of the avaricious man, who does not expend it for the purposes for which he ought to expend it will waste away and not continue. – GUP
***
437.That miser’s wealth shall waste and end
Who would not for a good cause spend. – SB
***
437.The wealth of a miser who fails to do what should be done, perishes without growth- EVS
***
437. செயற்பால செய்யா திவறியான் செல்வம்
உயற்பால தன்றிக் கெடும்.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
438.Miserliness is the darkest of all faults and stands out in sinister isolation– ANM+2
***
438.Avarice, which is the denial of all charitable inclinations in man,
Is not just a vice; it is the worst- SMD
***
438
The greed of soul that avarice men call,
When faults are summed, is worst of all.
Griping avarice is not to be reckoned as one among other faults; (it stands alone – greater than all). – GUP
***
438.The gripping greed of miser’s heart
Is more than fault the worst apart. – SB
***
438.The close -fisted greed of a miser is the worst, apart from all other defaults- EVS
***
438. பற்றுள்ளம் என்னும் இவறன்மை எற்றுள்ளும்
எண்ணப் படுவதொன் றன்று.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
439.Allow not the spirit of self-complacency to get the better of you; embark not on vain enterprises– ANM+2
***
439.Never indulge in self- praise; nor should you go in
For activities that produce no good results- SMD
***
439
Never indulge in self-complaisant mood,
Nor deed desire that yields no gain of good.
Let no (one) praise himself, at any time; let him not desire to do useless things. – GUP
***
439.Never boast yourself in any mood
Nor do a deed that does no good. – SB
***
439.Never extoll yourself in any mood nor do any act that is good for nothing- EVS
***
439. வியவற்க எஞ்ஞான்றும் தன்னை நயவற்க
நன்றி பயவா வினை.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
440.Let your heart’s desires be hidden from your enemy, lest you should fall a prey to their machinations– ANM+2
***
440.If the king is resourceful enough to enjoy his delights in secret
His enemies’’ machinations will be of no avail- SMD
***
440
If, to your foes unknown, you cherish what you love,
Counsels of men who wish you harm will harmless prove.
If (a king) enjoys, privately the things which he desires, the designs of his enemies will be useless. – GUP
***
440.All designs of the foes shall fail
If one his wishes guards in veil. – SB
***
440.The schemes of enemies shall be frustrated if you work out your design in calm, secretly – EVS
***
440. காதல காதல் அறியாமை உய்க்கிற்பின்
ஏதில ஏதிலார் நூல்.
–subham—
Tags- Chanakya and Manu, agree with Vallluvar, Tirukkural Encyclopaedia, Chapter 44 ,Avoidance of Faults; குற்றங்கடிதல்
