Swaveda

Arthashastra · Chapter 6

Book 1 (Concerning Discipline), Chapter VI: RESTRAINT OF THE ORGANS OF SENSE

Translated by R. Shamasastry (1915, public domain), 1915. Public domain.

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    The Shaking off of the Aggregate of the Six Enemies.

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    RESTRAINT of the organs of sense, on which success in study and discipline depends can be enforced by abandoning lust, anger, greed, vanity (mdna), haughtiness (mada), and overjoy (harsha).

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    Absence of discrepancy (avipratipatti) in the perception of sound, touch, colour, flavour, and scent by means of the ear, the skin, the eyes, the tongue, and the nose, is what is meant by the restraint of the organs of sense. Strict observance of the precepts of sciences also means the same; for the sole aim of all the sciences is nothing but restraint of the organs of sense.

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    Whosoever is of reverse character, whoever has not his

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    organs of sense under his control, will soon perish, though possessed of the whole earth bounded by the four quarters.

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    For example: Bhoja, known also by the name, Ddndakya, making a lascivious attempt on a Brdhman maiden, perished along with his kingdom and relations;

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    So also Kardla, the Vaideha. Likewise Janamejaya under the influence of anger against Brdhmans, as well as Tdlajangha against the family of Bhrigus.

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    Aila in his attempt under the influence of greed to make exactions from Brahmans, as well as Ajabindu, the Sauvira (in a similar attempt);

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    Ravana unwilling under the influence of vanity to restore a stranger's wife, as well as Duryodhana to part with a portion of his kingdom; Dambhodbhava as well as Arjuna of Haihaya dynasty being so haughty as to despise all people;

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    Vátápi in his attempt under the influence of overjoy to attack Agastya, as well as the corporation of the Vrishnis in their attempt against Dvaipdyana.

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    Thus these and other several kings, falling a prey to the aggregate of the six enemies and having failed to restrain their organs of sense, perished together with their kingdom and relations. Having driven out the aggregate of the six enemies, as well as Ambarisha of Jamadagnya famous for his restraint of the organs of sense Nábhága long enjoyed the earth.

Commentary

Book 1 of Kauṭilya's Arthaśāstra, Chapter VI. 11 paragraphs from Shamasastry's 1915 English translation. The Arthaśāstra is a treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy attributed to Kauṭilya (Cāṇakya), advisor to Chandragupta Maurya. Shamasastry's translation, the first into English, was published from his discovery of a 4th-century manuscript at the Government Oriental Library in Mysore. Modern critical editions (Olivelle 2013, Kangle 1965) are more philologically rigorous; we cite them but do not reproduce.