ON DEPENDANCE AND ON KINGS

ON DEPENDANCE AND ON KINGS

1. ON DEPENDANCE
2. Foolishness is indeed painful, and verily so is youth, but more painful by far than either is being obliged in another person's house. (CNS: 2.8).
3. There is no water like rainwater; no strength like one's own; no light like that of the eyes; and no wealth more dear than food grain. (CNS: 5.17).

• It is better to live under a tree in a jungle inhabited by tigers and elephants, to maintain oneself in such a place with ripe fruits and spring water, to lie down on grass and to wear the ragged barks of trees than to live amongst one's relations when reduced to poverty. (CNS: 10.12).The moon, who is the abode of nectar and the presiding deity of all medicines, although immortal like amrta and resplendent in form, loses the brilliance of his rays when he repairs to the abode of the sun (day time). Therefore, will not an ordinary man be made to feel inferior by going to live at the house of another? (CNS: 15.14).
  ON KINGS
• Trees on a river bank, a woman in another man's house, and kings without counsellors go without doubt to swift destruction. (CNS: 2.15). Kings gather round themselves men of good families, for they never forsake them either at the beginning, the middle or the end. (CNS: 3.4).
• A brahmana's strength is in his learning, a king's strength is in his army, a vaishya's strength is in his wealth and a shudra's strength is in his attitude of service. (CNS: 2.16). The power of a king lies in his mighty arms; that of a brahmana in his spiritual knowledge; and that of a woman in her beauty youth and sweet words. (CNS: 7.11).
• The subject has to fosake a king that cannot defend him, the birds a tree that bears no fruit, and the guests a house after they have finished their meals. (CNS: 2.17).
• Kings speak for once, men of learning once, and the daughter is given in marriage once. All these things happen once and only once.(CNS:4.11).
• The king is obliged to accept the sins of his subjects; the purohit (priest) suffers for those of the king; a husband suffers for those of his wife; and the guru suffers for those of his pupils. (CNS: 6.10).
• It is better to be without a kingdom than to rule over a petty one; better to be without a friend than to befriend a rascal; better to be without a disciple than to have a stupid one; and better to be without a wife than to have a bad one. (CNS 6.13). How can people be made happy in a petty kingdom? What peace can we expect from a rascal friend? What happiness can we have at home in the company of a bad wife? How can renown be gained by instructing an unworthy disciple? (CNS: 6.14).
• He who forsakes his own community and joins another perishes as the king who embraces an unrighteous path. (CNS: 11.2).
• If the king is virtuous, then the subjects are also virtuous. If the king is sinful, then the subjects also become sinful. If he is mediocre, then the subjects are mediocre. The subjects follow the example of the king. In short, as is the king so are the subjects. (CNS: 13.8).
• It is ruinous to be familiar with the king, fire, the religious preceptor, and a woman. To be altogether indifferent of them is to be deprived of the opportunity to benefit ourselves, hence our association with them must be from a safe distance. (CNS: 14.10).
• We should always deal cautiously with fire, water, women, foolish people, serpents, and members of a royal family; for they may, when the occasion presents itself, at once bring about our death. (CNS: 14.11).
• A king, a prostitute, Lord Yamaraja, fire, a thief, a young boy, and a beggar cannot understand the suffering of others. The eighth of this category is the tax collector. (CNS: 17.19).