6.Chanakya: The Visionary Thinker of Ancient India

 

Chanakya, also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta, was a brilliant thinker, teacher, jurist, economist, and royal advisor who lived in India during the 4th century BCE. His magnum opus, the Arthashastra, is regarded as the first authoritative text on political science and economics. Although his works were lost during the decline of the Gupta Empire, they were rediscovered in the 20th century. Chanakya played a pivotal role as the teacher and chief advisor to Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire, and later to his successor, Bindusara. Let us delve into some key incidents from Chanakya’s remarkable life.

1. Love for His Mother

Born into a modest family, Chanakya faced hardship early in life with the loss of his father. His mother’s unwavering support shaped his education and character. Chanakya’s love for his mother was profound, and he valued her above all else. One notable incident highlights this bond: Chanakya had distinctive, healthy front teeth. An astrologer predicted that this feature indicated he would become a king but would be separated from his mother. Upon hearing this, Chanakya knocked out his own teeth with a stone, declaring he would never live apart from his mother nor desire kingship.

2. Chanakya’s Education

During Chanakya’s time, Takshashila was the largest university in the world, renowned for its exceptional education in various fields, including law, medicine, and martial arts. Only students above sixteen were admitted. Chanakya excelled at Takshashila, earning a reputation for his extraordinary intellect. Teachers and peers alike admired his brilliance, and he became known by multiple names, including Vishnugupta, Kautilya, and Chanakya.

3. From Takshashila to Pataliputra

After completing his education, Chanakya returned to Takshashila as a teacher. However, his concerns about the fragmented and vulnerable state of India prompted him to leave. At the time, northern India was divided into small kingdoms, and foreign invasions loomed. Chanakya moved to Pataliputra, a key centre of knowledge and power, where he encountered the cruel and greedy king, Dhanananda. Dhanananda’s excessive taxation and misrule motivated Chanakya to intervene in state affairs. Despite his attempts to reform the administration, a dispute led to his expulsion from the city.

As Chanakya walked through the streets of Pataliputra, his anger simmering, he began uprooting blades of grass, symbolizing his resolve to destroy Dhanananda. During this time, he met a young Chandragupta Maurya, who impressed him with his potential. Chanakya took Chandragupta under his guidance, and together they built the Maurya Empire, uniting much of northern India. Chandragupta’s martial prowess, combined with Chanakya’s strategic genius, proved an unstoppable force.

4. The Official and Personal Lamps

One day, a Chinese traveller visited Chanakya while he was engrossed in official work. After finishing, Chanakya extinguished the lamp he was using and lit another before greeting the traveller. Curious, the traveller asked about the change of lamps. Chanakya explained, “The oil in the first lamp was state property, used for official work. Now that we are speaking privately, I am using oil bought with my personal funds. This is not a custom but a principle.”

5. The Thief in Chanakya’s House

Despite being the chief advisor to the king, Chanakya lived modestly in a small hut. One night, a thief broke in, searching for valuables. Finding nothing but a bundle of new woollen clothes meant for distribution to the poor, the thief attempted to steal them. Chanakya caught him and asked why he had stolen the wool. The thief replied, “Why do you, a king’s advisor, use old, torn wool when you have new ones?” Chanakya replied, “These new clothes are meant for the poor. I have no right to use them. I use only what belongs to me, even if it is old.”

6. Even a Non-Poisonous Snake Should Appear Dangerous

Chanakya often shared wisdom passed down by his mother. One parable highlights the importance of perception: A venomous snake in a village bit anyone it saw, terrorizing the community. A monk, witnessing this, warned the snake to stop harming people. The snake agreed and refrained from biting. When the monk returned, he saw the snake, now weak and beaten by children. The snake lamented, “I followed your advice, and this is the result.” The monk replied, “I told you not to bite, but I did not tell you to appear weak. Even a harmless snake should project strength to survive.”

7. The End of Chanakya

Chanakya nurtured Chandragupta from a young age, moulding him into a great emperor. To protect the king from assassination by poison, Chanakya added minute amounts of poison to his food daily to build immunity. Tragically, Chandragupta unknowingly shared poisoned food with his pregnant wife, leading to her death. Chanakya saved their unborn child, who became Bindusara, Chandragupta’s successor.

Later, jealous courtiers misled Bindusara into believing that Chanakya had killed his mother. Though Bindusara eventually learned the truth and sought Chanakya’s forgiveness, betrayal struck. Under the guise of reconciliation, a conspirator murdered Chanakya, ending the life of one of India’s greatest minds.

Some Timeless Advice from Chanakya

1.    Behind all friendships lies self-interest. Friendship cannot exist without it.

2.    Never share your secrets with others; doing so may lead to your ruin.

3.    Self-respect can guide the selfish, madness can be controlled by giving freedom, and the intelligent can be influenced by truth.

4.    Before undertaking a task, ask yourself: Why am I doing this? What will be the result? Will I succeed? Proceed only if the answers satisfy you.

5.    Once you start a task, do not let success or failure deter you. Complete what you begin, and you will find happiness and satisfaction.

6.    A ruler’s ultimate goal should be the welfare of the people. They must govern with fairness and treat all citizens equally.

7.    A ruler’s focus should be the happiness of the common man, not their personal comfort.