The Essence of Ethics Declared by Brihaspati

Verse 1 (garuda.1.108.1)

सूत उवाच । नीतिसारं प्रवक्ष्यामि अर्थशास्त्रादिसंश्रितम् । राजादिभ्यो हितं पुण्यमायुः स्वर्गादिदायकम्

sūta uvāca nītisāraṁ pravakṣyāmi arthaśāstrādisaṁśritam rājādibhyo hitaṁ puṇyamāyuḥ svargādidāyakam

Suta said: I shall declare the essence of ethics, drawn from the Arthashastra and other treatises — beneficial for kings and others, meritorious, and granting long life, heaven, and the rest.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.108.2)

सद्भिः सङ्गं प्रकुर्वीत सिद्धिकामः सदा नरः । नासद्भिरिहलोकाय परलोकाय वा हितम्

sadbhiḥ saṅgaṁ prakurvīta siddhikāmaḥ sadā naraḥ nāsadbhirihalokāya paralokāya vā hitam

A man who desires success should always keep company with the good; company with the wicked is beneficial neither for this world nor the next.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.108.3)

वर्जयेत्क्षुद्रसंवादमदुष्टस्य तु दर्शनम् । विरोधं सह मित्रेण संप्रीतिं शत्रुसेविना

varjayetkṣudrasaṁvādamaduṣṭasya tu darśanam virodhaṁ saha mitreṇa saṁprītiṁ śatrusevinā

One should avoid petty gossip, but not avoid the sight of the faultless; discord with a friend, and intimacy with one who serves an enemy —

Verse 4 (garuda.1.108.4)

मूर्खशिष्योपदेशेन दुष्टस्त्रीभरणेन च । दुष्टानां संप्रयोगेण पण्डितोऽप्यवसीदति

mūrkhaśiṣyopadeśena duṣṭastrībharaṇena ca duṣṭānāṁ saṁprayogeṇa paṇḍito'pyavasīdati

through teaching a foolish pupil, supporting a wicked woman, and associating with the wicked, even a learned man comes to ruin.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.108.5)

ब्राह्मणं बालिशं क्षत्त्रमयोद्धारं विशं जडम् । शूद्रमक्षरसंयुक्तं दूरतः परिवर्जयेत्

brāhmaṇaṁ bāliśaṁ kṣattramayoddhāraṁ viśaṁ jaḍam śūdramakṣarasaṁyuktaṁ dūrataḥ parivarjayet

A foolish brahmin, a kshatriya who does not fight, a dull-witted vaishya, and a shudra versed in scripture — one should keep away from these.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.108.6)

कालेन रिपुणासन्धिः काले मित्रेण विग्रहः । कार्यकारणमाश्रित्य कालं क्षिपति पण्डितः

kālena ripuṇāsandhiḥ kāle mitreṇa vigrahaḥ kāryakāraṇamāśritya kālaṁ kṣipati paṇḍitaḥ

At the right time, peace with an enemy; at the right time, conflict even with a friend — relying on cause and effect, the wise man makes right use of time.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.108.7)

कालः पचति भूतानि कालः संहरते प्रजाः । कालः सुप्तेषु जागर्ति कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः

kālaḥ pacati bhūtāni kālaḥ saṁharate prajāḥ kālaḥ supteṣu jāgarti kālo hi duratikramaḥ

Time ripens all beings; time destroys creatures; time stays awake even among the sleeping; time indeed is hard to overcome.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.108.8)

कालेषु हरते वीर्यं काले गर्भे च वर्तते । कालो जनयते सृष्टिं पुनः कालोऽपि संहरेत्

kāleṣu harate vīryaṁ kāle garbhe ca vartate kālo janayate sṛṣṭiṁ punaḥ kālo'pi saṁharet

In due time it takes away vigor; in due time it abides in the womb. Time brings forth creation, and time again may destroy it.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.108.9)

कालः सूक्ष्मगतिर्नित्यं द्विविधश्चेह भाव्यते । स्थूलसंग्रहचारेण सूक्ष्मचारान्तरेण च

kālaḥ sūkṣmagatirnityaṁ dvividhaśceha bhāvyate sthūlasaṁgrahacāreṇa sūkṣmacārāntareṇa ca

Time, of subtle movement, is eternal, and is here considered twofold — through gross, collective motion, and through subtle, differentiated motion.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.108.10)

नीतिसारं सुरेन्द्राय इममूच बृहस्पतिः । सर्वज्ञो येन चेन्द्रोऽभूद्दैत्यान्हत्वाप्नुयाद्दिवम्

nītisāraṁ surendrāya imamūca bṛhaspatiḥ sarvajño yena cendro'bhūddaityānhatvāpnuyāddivam

Brihaspati, the all-knowing, spoke this essence of ethics to Indra, by which Indra, having slain the daityas, attained heaven.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.108.11)

राजर्षिब्राह्मणैः कार्यं देवविप्रादिपूजनम् । अश्वमेधेन यष्टब्यं महापातकनाशनम्

rājarṣibrāhmaṇaiḥ kāryaṁ devaviprādipūjanam aśvamedhena yaṣṭabyaṁ mahāpātakanāśanam

Royal sages and brahmins should perform the worship of gods, brahmins, and the rest; one should sacrifice with the Ashvamedha, which destroys great sins.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.108.12)

उत्तमैः सह साङ्गत्यं पण्डितैः सह सत्कथाम् । अलुब्धैः सह मित्रत्वं कुर्वाणो नावसीदति

uttamaiḥ saha sāṅgatyaṁ paṇḍitaiḥ saha satkathām alubdhaiḥ saha mitratvaṁ kurvāṇo nāvasīdati

One who keeps company with the excellent, holds good conversation with the learned, and forms friendship with those free of greed, does not come to ruin.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.108.13)

परीवादं परार्थं च परिहासं परस्त्रियम् । परवेश्मनि वासं च न कुर्वीत कदाचन

parīvādaṁ parārthaṁ ca parihāsaṁ parastriyam paraveśmani vāsaṁ ca na kurvīta kadācana

Slander, coveting another's wealth, mockery of others, another's wife, and dwelling in another's house — these one should never engage in.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.108.14)

परोऽपि हितवाबन्धुर्बन्धुरप्यहितः परः । अहितो देहजो व्याधिर्हितमारण्यमौषधम्

paro'pi hitavābandhurbandhurapyahitaḥ paraḥ ahito dehajo vyādhirhitamāraṇyamauṣadham

Even a stranger who is well-disposed is a kinsman; even a kinsman who is ill-disposed is a stranger. A disease born in the body is unfriendly; a forest herb is a friend.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.108.15)

स बन्धुर्यो हिते युक्तः स पिता यस्तु पोषकः । तन्मित्रं यत्र विश्वासः स देशो यत्र जीव्यते

sa bandhuryo hite yuktaḥ sa pitā yastu poṣakaḥ tanmitraṁ yatra viśvāsaḥ sa deśo yatra jīvyate

He is a kinsman who is intent on one's welfare; he is a father who nurtures; that is a friend in whom there is trust; that is one's country where one can live.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.108.16)

स भृत्यो यो विधेयस्तु तद्बीजं यत्प्ररोहति । सा भार्या या प्रियं ब्रूते स पुत्रो यस्तु जीवति

sa bhṛtyo yo vidheyastu tadbījaṁ yatprarohati sā bhāryā yā priyaṁ brūte sa putro yastu jīvati

He is a servant who is obedient; that is good seed which sprouts; she is a true wife who speaks pleasantly; he is a true son who lives well.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.108.17)

स जीवति गुणा यस्य धर्मो यस्य स जीवति । गुणधर्मविहीनो यो निष्फल तस्य जीवनम्

sa jīvati guṇā yasya dharmo yasya sa jīvati guṇadharmavihīno yo niṣphala tasya jīvanam

He truly lives who has virtues; he whose life has dharma truly lives; one devoid of virtue and dharma — his life is fruitless.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.108.18)

सा भार्या या गृहे दक्षा सा भार्याया प्रियंवदा । सा भार्या या पतिप्राणा सा भार्या या पतिव्रता

sā bhāryā yā gṛhe dakṣā sā bhāryāyā priyaṁvadā sā bhāryā yā patiprāṇā sā bhāryā yā pativratā

She is a good wife who is skillful in household matters; she is a wife who speaks kindly; she is a wife whose life is her husband; she is a wife devoted to her husband.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.108.19)

नित्य स्नाता सुगन्धा च नित्यं च प्रियवादिनी । अल्पभुक्ताल्पभाषी च सततं मङ्गलैर्युता

nitya snātā sugandhā ca nityaṁ ca priyavādinī alpabhuktālpabhāṣī ca satataṁ maṅgalairyutā

Always bathed and fragrant, and always speaking kindly; eating little, speaking little, and constantly adorned with auspicious signs,

Verse 20 (garuda.1.108.20)

सततं धर्मबहुला सततं च पतिप्रिया । सततं प्रियवक्री च सततं त्वृतुकामिनी

satataṁ dharmabahulā satataṁ ca patipriyā satataṁ priyavakrī ca satataṁ tvṛtukāminī

always abounding in dharma, always devoted to her husband; always speaking pleasantly, and always desirous of union in the fertile season —

Verse 21 (garuda.1.108.21)

एतदादिक्रियायुक्ता सर्वसौ भाग्यवर्धिनी । यस्येदृशी भवेद्भाय्या स देवेन्द्रोन मानुषः

etadādikriyāyuktā sarvasau bhāgyavardhinī yasyedṛśī bhavedbhāyyā sa devendrona mānuṣaḥ

Endowed with these and other such qualities, such a woman increases all good fortune. He whose wife is such is like Indra himself, not a mere mortal.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.108.22)

यस्य भार्या विरूपाक्षी कश्मला कलहप्रिया । उत्तरोत्तरवादा स्या सा जरा न जरा जरा

yasya bhāryā virūpākṣī kaśmalā kalahapriyā uttarottaravādā syā sā jarā na jarā jarā

He whose wife is ugly-eyed, filthy, fond of quarreling, and always talking back — she is old age itself; no ordinary old age compares to that.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.108.23)

यस्य भार्या श्रितान्यञ्च परवेश्माभिकाङ्क्षिणी । कुक्रिया त्यक्तलज्जा च सा जरा न जरा जरा

yasya bhāryā śritānyañca paraveśmābhikāṅkṣiṇī kukriyā tyaktalajjā ca sā jarā na jarā jarā

He whose wife inclines toward others, longs for another's house, engages in wicked conduct, and has abandoned modesty — she too is old age itself; no ordinary old age compares to it.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.108.24)

यस्य भार्या गुणज्ञा च भर्तारमनुगामिनी । अल्पाल्पेन तु सन्तुष्टा सा प्रिया न प्रिया प्रिया

yasya bhāryā guṇajñā ca bhartāramanugāminī alpālpena tu santuṣṭā sā priyā na priyā priyā

He whose wife knows his virtues, follows her husband faithfully, and is content with even the smallest things — she is truly beloved; no ordinary beloved compares to that.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.108.25)

दुष्टा भार्या शठं मित्रं भृत्यश्चोत्तरदायकः । ससर्पे च गृहे वासोमृत्युरेव न संशयः

duṣṭā bhāryā śaṭhaṁ mitraṁ bhṛtyaścottaradāyakaḥ sasarpe ca gṛhe vāsomṛtyureva na saṁśayaḥ

A wicked wife, a deceitful friend, a servant who talks back, and dwelling in a house with a snake — these are indeed death itself, without doubt.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.108.26)

त्यज दुर्जनसंसर्गं भज साधुसमागमम् । कुरु पुण्यमहोरात्र स्मर नित्यमनित्यताम्

tyaja durjanasaṁsargaṁ bhaja sādhusamāgamam kuru puṇyamahorātra smara nityamanityatām

Abandon the company of the wicked; cultivate association with the good; perform meritorious deeds day and night; always remember the impermanence of life.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.108.27)

व्यालीकण्ठप्रदेशाह्यपि च फणभृद्भाषणा या च रौद्री या कृष्णा व्याकुलागी रुधिरनयनसंव्याकुला व्याघ्रकल्पा । क्रोधे यैवोग्रवक्त्रा स्फुरदनलशिखा काकजिह्वा कराला सेव्या न स्त्री विदग्धा परपुरगमना भ्रान्तचित्ता विराक्त

vyālīkaṇṭhapradeśāhyapi ca phaṇabhṛdbhāṣaṇā yā ca raudrī yā kṛṣṇā vyākulāgī rudhiranayanasaṁvyākulā vyāghrakalpā krodhe yaivogravaktrā sphuradanalaśikhā kākajihvā karālā sevyā na strī vidagdhā parapuragamanā bhrāntacittā virākta

A woman who speaks fearsomely like a hooded serpent, terrible, dark-skinned, with agitated limbs, bloodshot and angry eyes, tiger-like, whose face turns fierce in anger, with a flame-like tongue, cruel — such a deceitful woman, one who goes to another's house, of fickle and estranged mind, should not be resorted to. (This verse's reading is uncertain owing to its highly compressed compound syntax.)

Verse 28 (garuda.1.108.28)

सक्तिः सुतोके सुकृतं कृतघ्ने शतिं च वह्नौ (सीतापहौ ह्यतपयैव)?हैमे । उत्पद्यते दैववशात्कदाचिद्वेश्यासु रागो न भवेत्कदाचित्

saktiḥ sutoke sukṛtaṁ kṛtaghne śatiṁ ca vahnau (sītāpahau hyatapayaiva)?haime utpadyate daivavaśātkadācidveśyāsu rāgo na bhavetkadācit

Attachment to one's own child, a good deed done for an ingrate, wealth cast into fire — such futile things may sometimes arise by the force of fate; but affection for courtesans should never arise. (The source text's reading in the bracketed portion is uncertain.)

Verse 29 (garuda.1.108.29)

भुजङ्गमे वेश्मनि दृष्टिदृष्टे व्याधौ चिकित्साविनिवर्तिते च । देहे च बाल्यादिवयोऽन्विते च काला वृतोऽसौ लभते धृतिं कः

bhujaṅgame veśmani dṛṣṭidṛṣṭe vyādhau cikitsāvinivartite ca dehe ca bālyādivayo'nvite ca kālā vṛto'sau labhate dhṛtiṁ kaḥ

When a snake is seen in the house, when a disease has resisted treatment, and when the body, subject to the ages beginning with childhood, is overtaken by time — who indeed attains composure in such circumstances?