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Chanakya was an Indian teacher, philosopher and royal advisor. He managed the first Maurya emperor Chandragupta’s rise to power at a young age. He is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the Maurya Empire, which was the first empire in archaeologically recorded history to rule most of the Indian subcontinent.Chanakya is traditionally identified as Kautilya or Vishnu Gupta, who authored the ancient Indian poltical treatise called Arthasastra. As such, he is considered as the pioneer of the field of economics and political science in India, and his work is thought of as an important precursor to Classical Economics.Chanakya Neeti is a treatise on the ideal way of life, and shows Chanakya’s deep study of the Indian way of life. Chanakya also developed Neeti-Sutras (aphorisms—pithy sentences) that tell people how they should behave. Of these well-known 455 sutras, about 216 refer to rajaneeti (the do,s and don’ts of running a kingdom). Apparently, Chanakya used these sutras to groom Chandragupta and other selected disciples in the art of ruling a kingdom.SOME IMPORTANT SUTRAS In the common man’s affluence and happiness is the affluence and happiness of the king. In their welfare is the king’s welfare. The king’s mission should be to constantly make efforts for the welfare of his subjects. It is his duty to maintain orderly administration. Self-dependent economy is the best economy; it should not be entirely dependent on exports. Everyone in the society should be equal with equal opportunities. It is necessary to have an effective land management policy for the development of the resources. The State should keep a constant watch on the agricultural development. The law of the land should be uniform for everyone. The security of its residents should be a priority for the government.
Chanakya Neeti clearly shows the biased nature of society. I don't agree with many of his points regarding women, lower castes, kings etc. Chanakya was clearly a wise man born in a strongly patriarchal time which influenced his views towards women. But the times have changed now and hence many of his preachings cannot be considered wise today.
Strolling across the Daryaganj Market in Delhi, I found this one book incessantly flooding every book store I went in. At first glance, the book seemed harmless and I was reasonably excited about having a glimpse into the mindset of the much eulogised figure in Indian History whose status is almost mythical.
But the book proved to be extremely casteist, misogynist and impractical. There is not a single quote that I found useful and it's philosophy is very shallow. The quotes that made sense were common sensical and rarely anything insightful. It has quotes like-
1.5 A person who keeps company of a sharp-tongued woman, a sinful friend, also retains a traitorous and selfish servant, is playing with his life. Such a person can be consumed by death any time.
1.14 Even an ugly woman of upper caste is more suited for a scholar and an intelligent person. They should, therefore, marry an upper caste woman of equal status. Contrarily, marrying a beautiful woman of lower caste results in destruction of intellect and wisdom. Such relations are temporary and scholars should avoid them.
1.15 Sharp clawed beasts, long horned animals, rapidly flowing rivers, armed persons, women and relations of royalty are not trustworthy. In other words, they can deceive any time. People should not trust them.
Proving it to be a complete waste of time I left it at just the halfway point. Now I am sure that you might point out that the book was written in another era so it shouldn't be judged from the eyes of modern context. I completely agree with this point of view had the book been sold as a historic document but that was not the case as it is marketed as a self help book which many gullible people might try to live by. Many people in the review section have also written how they found the teachings of the book so useful. It's extremely dangerous.This is one of the few books that probably you should never read, unless you are a historian.
Quite a remarkably book that uses quotes from "Arthashastra" to explain the thoughts of Chanakya. Much of what Chanakya said is relevant even today though the context is different.
This is a brilliant read & I would rate this book highly. Very enriched, contextual & relevant knowledge for our day to day life. It kinds of declutter your mind, and also let you make decisions basis morals in many situations of uncertainty. Need to understand couple of things here: a. The mention of "lower caste" or "shudra" is not basis janm or karm. And hence Chankya has clearly described them basis the karma they perform and positioned in society.
b. The ladies are considered as the central pillar of any society. While they are the one who begin family (as mother, and hence are no. 1 teacher), they also play different roles throughout e.g. daughter (reflection of up-bringing, culture & thought process of family), wife (support system of husband, someone who manages not only home, but finances, civic duties, religious duties etc.), sister (again part of family & reflection of culture etc.). Hence Kautilya has very nicely tried to potray the right place, position, actions etc. If people are getting offended on these aspects (e.g. Women, Shudra etc.), then they need to understand, that these are authors view & language of Kautilya's teachings. Chankya may have mentioned these in a subtle or different tone.
All in all the morals, teachings are appreciable & one must practice them. The book Leads towards success and worthy lifestyle. And also, teach us to respect our culture, values,etc.
The book is full of casteist & misogynist remarks. Most of the tenets of Chanakya are anachronistic and it should not be read by anyone unless you are researching about those times. I was such a huge fan of Kautilya’s work and strategies that he used in order to help Chandragupta to achieve the throne, but after reading this book, I am so irate with his thoughts.
This is the most ever misogynist book I have ever read. I’ve had a pathetic experience reading this book. As I turned each page, the book kept on going worse.
This book is not at all suitable to the current times when we are moving towards caste & gender equality, as it presents a complete orthodox mindset. Men should not control women and tell them what to do, rather encourage & support them in their life matters as they want to pursue it.
This book draws a line in the right and wrong politics in modern world should be conducted. Chanakya normally does not get that much recognition internationally that much he deserves. It is hard to follow all his preaching but even just trying those will definitely improve world economy and politics standard.
It tells you a student atitude must be and how a person should see his responsibility. For sure someparts are not good like his prospective about women or society structure but hey that was as per ancient time.
"Chanakya Neeti" has a high place among Hindu Shastras. It's among the works of honored and celebrated Hindu Teacher, Philosopher, Economist, and Royal Guru - Chanakya. The original book is in the Sanskrit language and this book is the English translated version of that. Basically, it's the collection of advice extracted from Hindu Sculptures by Chanakya. What should a person do in what situation, what is Dharma, What should be the goal of life, How should one behave as a household or as a hermit, ideal duties of a husband and wife, How to survive in foreign, such advice are presented in form of Shlokas. The author has done a nice job decoding the ancient language. Few of the sayings might seem inappropriate, but we should not forget the time and period in which this book was written. Nice Read.
If you can take the good parts and leave all the misogyny, handle the religious aspects from a neutral perspective and decide for yourself, then this book is for you. Otherwise there are quite a few things that can offend a lot of people in the current world. Some good things to learn but a lot of things that need to be put in context. Overall I personally am slightly disappointed to say the least.
This book has literally changed my life spiritually. Found the real meaning in life, distinguish good from evil. Everyone should read this at a very early age. This book teaches the right path for the mankind and to caste away all evil thoughts and behavior from our mind.
It amazes me that such profound wisdom existed 2500 years ago. Couldn't agree with all of what is written, but it is contextual to the era it was written in. Short book to read and would highly recommend the practical guide to life ...
Chanakya neeti and many such books, texts, and literature treasure wisdom and not just knowledge.
Specifically talking about the Chanakya neeti, it gives a lot of good teachings. But at the same time, I would like to tell you that any text or literature is written in a particular era, which deals with that specific time and contemporary issues. Please don't go with its literal meaning whenever you read any such thing. Analyze it according to your time, era, and society. Otherwise, either you will develop an intense conflict between whatever you have learned till now and whatever is written there or will gain wrong knowledge.
World for me was totally different a few years ago as I was a science student and changing trade after 12th was heck tiring. But something caught my attention and I am thankful to my Professor who suggested I pick Chanakya Neeti to have a better understanding of the economy. While going through the book I realized how visionary Chanakya was back then. He developed principles that not only benefited the king and the people but it helped to shape the entire trade and commerce. His works talked about the people living during that era, how trade and commerce were put into use so as to regulate money in the market. Chanakya Neeti was actually the principles. Principles which is not limited to commerce and economy but there are concepts that hold much broader importance in one’s life, be it a teacher, a parent, a son, or a soul. Each element present of the earth, which is related to humans in any way, has been described by him. Chanakya always believed if one has to achieve all the set objectives in his life then it’s essential for him to follow these principles because they together served a prudent definition of a better human being who is capable of reaching the summit. This book contains all principles along with explanations and special notes by Chanakya. The book can be completed in one sting and is very gripping. This is a must-read book for a commerce student but I would also recommend t to everyone because following these principles would definitely make you a better man and you would not lose n any phase of life. Grapevine India has done a fantastic job while compiling this book, the way they put the things together has actually made me love this more. A great page-turner.
Chanakya neeti is a beautiful book. A great source of wisdom. Please do read it and enjoy :)
This book tells about the Chankya's Neeti which has been translated in English so that the reader can easily understand the meaning of the couplets. This book generally helps a person to become a leader in any stream by following his written couplets. It is believed that Chanakya assisted the first Mauryan emperor Chandragupta in his rise to power. He is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the Mauryan Empire. Chanakya served as the chief advisor to both emperors Chandragupta and his son Bindusara.
I've rated this book 4 stars just because Chanakya has criticized women a lot in this book but the main reason is that during ancient times there were so many orthodox about women so the reader can get the idea that the most knowledgeable person like Chanakya had written some couplets which are not believed in present day as women can do or achieve anything in life. Not only this but also women nowadays competing with men in every stream and excelling in their career.
There are 10 most intriguing couplets I found in this book, out of which I want to rephrase a few in my own words-
1) Whenever you start with any project begin it with full Thrust of your power and not to relax until the task is done.
2) Clever man always concentrate his attention on his goal.
3) Do not trust anyone Fully.
4) The most precious stage of one's life is their Youthfulness and one realises when it's gone.
5) Be a polite talker because everyone is endeared by a person who speaks sweetly.
At the end I'd like to say I enjoyed reading this book and it really motivated me to stay focused on my goal to excel in my career. If you're looking forward to read it so don't think about it and just dig into it because it was a delightful read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I think I expected more from this listed best seller on Amazon. There doesn’t seem to be any efforts made by the author. I am even doubting the translations after reading some reviews.
The book only contains translations of shlokas from Chanakya which are randomly placed and doesn’t give a flow while reading, making you wonder what purpose does grouping the quotes into those 17 chapters serve. Some quotes are repetitive and some contradicting to other quotes.
Things have obviously changed since 283 BC. Though most of the quotes are good, the author should have chosen quotes that suit the present day, as some of the quotes relating to religion, caste, women, sound baseless and in turn end up demoting Chanakya who otherwise is looked up to for his wisdom.
For the good part, it is more of a saintly self help than a Chanakya style wisdom on political science and economics.
I wonder why it is listed as a best seller on Amazon as there must be for sure better books on Chanakya.
Should be read with the context that it was written many centuries ago. Most of the things we see now did not exist nor was there a even possibility that they would appear anytime soon - the technology was primitive, a smaller, more disconnected and clustered population, far fewer scientific discoveries and a society with norms which were vastly different from what we see now. Read simply, Chanakya comes across as a misogynist, casteist yet principled asshole who largely makes sense. Some of the tenets induce cringe and shock while the very next one would probably make perfect sense. The "geist" of the times dictate what gets written in the books. A lot gets left out or lost too. Will have to read more how well these principles preached by Chanakya worked and if the indoctrination was successful.
These principles are so well explained and based on the true experiences of lives. Even though some of points shows biased thinking but still they are adoptable with some amendments. as Chanakya accumulated knowledge of all Vedas, Puranas and His life experiences in some life governing principles, and that is like extracting cream of milk by dewatering other less important ingredients so we should taste them without any hesitation for betterment. The principles are well proved for the social life and for societies so a man seeking respect/honor in society should follow them. I Loved it and learned many truthful fact about society and social being.
Chanakya was a great scholar and diplomat. He had clear ideas on what life is and how its to be lived. He was king maker and knew exactly how a king should behave and handle politics in general. What makes a good king and what decisions make him great.
According to me , Parts of this book make sense in todays time while some parts don't. Although book talks about life in general, what one should and should not do. Some parts of the book are amazing while some parts might be irrelevant in todays time.
Author gives great examples about different kinds of people and how to deal with them. different kinds of situations and how to handle them more efficiently.
Overall its a good one time read. Personally chapter 6 is my favorite and I would read it again an again.
Now I know how we became a male oriented society. I think some of Sanskrit lines are not translated properly like kama doesn't mean only sexual pleasure it is a word which represents the pleasure we seek from all forms. So we can't blantly say it's a sexual pleasure. Then the meaning of the whole context would be changed. And the teachings may be worked till 200 years ago. Now it cannot be carry forwarded cos we have change a lot, Ok not lot entirely. Form this book we can know about the way they lived on that time. And also we can definitely take some advice from him like about cleanliness, food habits kind off things... I have highlighted more points in this books some which I liked some which I just needed a reference.
I started this book back in October 2022 and DNFed it after reading a couple of chapters. As a part of an activity I’m doing this year I’ve picked some DNFed book to finish and so I picked this one again and continued reading it. The philosophies in this book is absurd, contradictory and patriarchal! Few words they use to describe womanhood is unacceptable. As an Indian I’ve grown up hearing people say Chanakya neeti is an intellectual piece of doctrines that helps you steer through life! NO! Not at all! Atleast not in today’s world! So no rating from me. And don’t read this book to feel awful at the end.
Chanakya, also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta, was an ancient Indian teacher, philosopher, and royal advisor who played a pivotal role in shaping the Maurya Empire. His teachings, compiled in the Arthashastra and Chanakya Neeti, continue to inspire and influence individuals across generations.
This book delves into the timeless wisdom of the legendary scholar and philosopher, Chanakya. His profound insights on politics, strategy, and life resonate powerfully, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking invaluable guidance in navigating the complexities of the world (But yes read it with grain of salt)
The people assuming legend chanakya to be a biased conservative person will continue to ruin there life as they had till now, no doubt in that. How can a person who don't know the meaning of castes, judge someone talking about it based on the "biased" views for conservatives and the definition of caste famous in this dumb world? They should not be ashamed of their lack of knowledge. It can never be a crime. The thing wrong with them is believing the common rumors and not having a scientific mindset to check it out yourself.
Book me Chanakya ke bicharo ko share kiya hai jo hamari life ke har topic par hai jese, pyaar, pesa, ijjat, kaam, khrod, Daya, jiwan, maran, khusi, dukh, dhoka, emandari, human nature, health, success etc.. Har topic par Chanakya ke kya bichar hai wo share kiye hai.
*Book me kuch point kaise bhi hai jispar ham agree nahi karege.. Par hame ye bhi nahi bhulna cahiye ye bichar 2000 saal se bhi jada purane hai. Specially Women's ko lekar.
Though there are a few points that are relevant and can be useful even today, most of this book comes across as regressively casteist, misogynist and overall anti-progressive. This may just be a case of dangerously outdated culture being pushed towards revival. So the only way to read this book is by objectively and consciously ignoring parts that were the norm centuries ago, but which we don't want our future generations to be influenced by.
It's a concise version of human life that teaches what one should and should not practice in this life in order to improve the next life or the life on the other side. Many of Chanakya's teachings are still relevant and practicable. Every evolving being needs to learn these best practices.
Chanakya... The most revered thinkers of all time. This books gives a perfect collection of excerpts from Chanakyas teachings. Even though the excerpts are from ancient Vedic scriptures, vishnugupta compiled the most noble ones for everyones read.
Except the blunt misogyny and other mistruths like not to drink water right after the meal, etc are some things which the reader must ignore as products of the age in which the author lived. Apart from these types of things, certainly, there is much practical knowledge to gain from Chanakya's aphorisms.
Compilation of 2,500+ years old philosophical sayings on life by Kautilya, also known as the Indian Machiavelli.
Men that seek to alleviate their lives and awaken the Kings within ought to read this without fail. Only reading it isn't enough, one has to embody the very sayings into his own life.
I highly recommend this book to every person who is in learning phase of their life as the book contains many valuable lessons on character building and understanding the basic tactics and traits of the society!