Chanakya Neeti

by Radhakrishnan Pillai

Strategies for Success "An action contemplated shouldn't ever be advertised; But kept a secret like a mantra, and revealed in time." We all feel stuck at times. There could be many reasons for this-issues at work, unhappy family life, financial troubles or embarrassing social situations. Most of us could use a little advice in these circumstances. Chanakya Neeti provides precisely that guidance to face life's many daunting challenges. Chanakya, the great thinker and teacher, is well-known for his insights into the needs of both the privileged and the masses. The original Chanakya Neeti was written over two thousand years ago, but its brilliant verses are still applicable today because the basic quests of man remain the same-peace, prosperity and happiness. In this volume, Radhakrishnan Pillai offers a modern interpretation of Chanakya's crisp and practical maxims in his characteristic easy-to-follow and elegant prose. Imbibe Chanakya's wisdom to break loose from the web of troubles and create the life you desire on your terms.

Genres: India

332 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2019

Reviews

[Meen☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read

[Janardhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5.0 actually.
This is my first book on dr radhakrishnan pillai’s Chanakya books and wanted to read his neeti especially.
This is a book of many ancient morals and wisdom and it gives an image of the great political thinker Chanakya, he brings about sutras(formulas) by complete observation and linking them to the nature around with beautiful correlations.

I revere the author’s mission in writing Chanakya’s arthashastra into many modern day relevant topics.
This book gives many guidelines for a person to deal with oneself and the outer world, of course few are too conservative which can can be ignored .
But this ancient text in many ways also help for people in present times as the ideas are deathless and Chanakya is one of the very few scholars who saw his ideology and methods completely put to action in his time and nothing of his was utopian.

Finally take away from this is Action m is very important after acquiring knowledge.

[Shanmugam Ramasamy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very average book. The author seems to have added a lot more than what is present in some of the verses. The verses themselves sometimes seem contradictory to one and other. Nothing great in This book.

[Amrita Gudral · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Book-Shorts*

I have been reading quite a few self-help books in the recent past and this one fits right into my bookshelf and in life!
Comprised of the select few pearls of wisdom of the famous Chanakya Neeti written by Chanakya .... the author has wisely chosen the ones that fit aptly in these modern times and is applicable to all ... from a common man to a politician!

The best thing about the book is you could select any page and start reading as the content is exclusive of each other. Just like this little blue box in the picture, open any one and you find a verse which is readily served on the platter of life, waiting to be applied in principle. The author has broken down each verse and along with the translation, has also provided his interpretation and simple application techniques to daily life.

This book is for everybody! The language makes it a very simple to read and easy to understand. Keep this one whenever you want to upgrade your knowledge.

[richa ⋆.˚★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book in itself is excellent but then Pillai keeps adding these explaination that reduces the charm of the verses and makes it seem redundant.

[Bhagyashree (thebookishdoctor) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It is your mindset & quality of thoughts that determine your quality of life."- Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai, Chanakya Neeti.

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌠

Chanakya was an ancient Indian teacher, philosopher, economist and royal advisor. He assisted Chandragupta Maurya in his rise to power & played a prominent role is the establishment of the Maurya Empire. He wrote the Arthashastra consisting of 6000 sutras or formulas for Kings & leaders to provide them guidance in leadership & good governance. But what about the common man? So to guide the common man he wrote another book called Chanakya Neeti.

Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai in his book Chanakya Neeti had taken sutras from the original Chanakya Neeti (Engish translated by R. K. Sharma) & explained them in simplified terms for the common man with their application in our modern day to day life.

I found this book to be a surprisingly interesting read. Surprising because I don't usually read Self Help books or non-fictions much so was initially doubtful if I will even finish reading the book let alone liking it. It took me time to read the book but it didn't bore me for even a moment when I was reading it. The book doesn't just teach you how to live life but how to add value to your life. To never lose hope/give up when you are experiencing failure but also when you are successful to remain humble and thankful to God for it. As who knows when a person's fate is going to change. This and many such gems of wisdom are part of this book.
Overall the book was quite an inspiring & interesting read for me.

The review copy was provided to me by @thereaderstribe & the author in exchange of an honest review. The views & opinions expressed in the review are completely my own.

[Tanu Jindal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an average read. Many of the verses are contradictory to one another.

[Abhilash Ruhela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since childhood, I have always been given reference of Chanakya and the words he has spoken on several topics to convey a message to me. I don’t know how many of them were even said by Chanakya or the elders just wanted to convey what was in their heart in the name of Chanakya. Haha! When I first got to know about the author, Radhakrishnan Pillai, and his specialty of using the verses or words spoken by Chanakya and then moulding it in his own way to deliver its relation with today’s lifestyle- I just wanted to read all the books written by him but could only read two till date and I have just finished the 3rd and his latest book today which is named “Chanakya Neeti” itself and I believe is his deepest book on Chanakya until now.

The book published in around 325 pages by Jaico Publishers is one of the great books which everyone must go through at least once. The commendable part about this book is that it is relevant for individuals belonging in every age group and of any class. There is something for everyone in this book. Author, Radhakrishnan Pillai, has very beautifully designed the whole book which makes it easier for you as a reader to read it. You can directly open any page and read that one section and that shall make you learn something new. The book, though, mentions in the beginning that every verse is written in a series but I believe you can read any page as per your convenience and still enjoy the same.

Each section initially mentions the verse written by Chanakya which is not in a very reader-friendly language but is then summarized by the author and then broken into parts and explained to us. Author has taken extra efforts here to sometimes explain the same to us in relevance to today’s nature of society. This is one of the few books where you just can’t highlight one or two sentences in a page but every word and sentence has deep meaning and insights which can change your outlook towards things. As I have read many such books, not everything was new for me, but still there are few things which I do in life considering them moral as per me but when I read Chanakya warning against doing that and through the explanations, I kept realizing the kind of mistake I have been committing. Many verses in the book were like an eye-opener for me.

Now, talking about the drawbacks of the book- I must say that author should have skipped the verses or modified them extensively which are subjected only to women as - as already mentioned by author himself that Chanakya belonged to an era where women were treated as 2nd to men hence reading those verses and their explanation infuriated me some times. Secondly, the book could have been edited for one more round as I found many grammatical and spelling errors which are skipped. Also, there are few verses which are contradictory with one another where I felt author should have given little more explanation as to why it is so which has been skipped thoughtlessly.

Overall, this book is empowering and gives you different insights than any other self-help or self-improvement books. I give this one 4.25 stars out of 5.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA

[Tushar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chanakya Niti: Strategies for Success is written by Radhakrishnan Pillai. He has written 15 books till now. Chanakya was born in the 4th century B.C. Chanakya was also called Vishnugupta, and Kautilya. His father's name was Chanak. He was the advisor of Dhanananda, King of Maghad. Chanakya wrote Arthashatra for Kings. And Chanakya Niti for common people like us. Dhanananda was a corrupt king. So that people were unhappy with him. Chanak told about his corruption to the Public and because of that Chanak was murdered and Chanakya had to flee to Takshashila. In Takshashila he became the teacher of political science like his father. He came back to Patilputra, the Capital of Magadh to take revenge.
Chanakya says, he wrote Chanakya Niti for the welfare of the common people. He says you should be self-aware. Think with your head, not your heart. This does not mean you should not have emotions. it just means don't let your emotions influence your decisions. He also says to read the scriptures daily. It makes you strong spiritually and internally. Scriptures contain a code of conduct. Scriptures were not written by ordinary people. It is written by great Rishis.
Chanakya says show gratitude in life. Be prayerful and serve others. so that you become happy. Be content in life whatever it is. Have faith in yourself. Without faith, we don't have the motivation to move forward. That's why faith is important. People see the same things differently because of their perspective. The person who sees God everywhere is wise and noble. God is omnipresent.
One should be calm in every situation. He should be in his control. The man should be content with his life. It should be from within. No external situation can make men happy. Don't be greedy. If you become greedy you will become unsatisfied. God is in each person. Treat each person with respect. Chanakya says work hard towards your goals. Count your blessings. Let the things which are not in your control left to destiny. Leave in the present moment and have an egoless mind. Master your mind. Control your thoughts. Do meditation. If you conquer the mind, you conquer the world. Acquire knowledge. Read books but implement what you read in your life. Never be angry because anger burns yourself. Enjoy your own company, because you were born alone and you will die alone.
The book is good to read. It is written in simple English. I enjoyed the book.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is Chanakya? To be honest, he was a phenomenon.

A legend, a master strategist, a teacher and a philosopher, all rolled into one.

We can hardly find any parallels in world history that come close to him. He could take up any field and become a master of it.

When he studied political science, he became one of the greatest statesmen India has ever produced. When he decided to study military science, he could defeat Alexander on his way to conquer the world. When he decided to dethrone Dhanananda, the strongest king of his time, he made sure he achieved it. He chose an ordinary village child, Chandragupta Maurya, and made him one of the greatest emperors of all time. Gemmology, Ayurveda, espionage, crime, law, punishments—no subject was difficult for him. He was a master of all subjects and became a master of many kings.

He had a kind of magic wand in his hand. Whatever he touched turned into gold.

‘Chanakya Niti’ is, in fact, this great thinker’s pithy observation to impart the practical wisdom to the people of his time. But these teachings are so fundamental that its relevance is almost everlasting, enshrined in the simple sense.

Written in simple lucid language with clear thoughts, these observations have not only withstood the test of time but many of phrases, like and have become the oft-quoted proverbs of our attempt has been to bring out their full meaning and interpret them in the context of the modern times so that their undecaying relevance may be fully appreciated. To bring home the fundamentality of these sayings, we have also compared them with the prevailing modern concept.

The need for these rather lengthy explanations was felt owing to the occasional terseness of these observations.

When he decided to write a book, he made it an all-time bestseller. The Chanakya Neeti, penned in the 4th century BC, sells in large numbers even today. Imagine a book being on a bestseller list for 2400 years and still going strong!

When he decided to teach, he became a teacher whom all teachers could look up to as a role model.

His principles of ‘good governance’ continue to inspire leaders across the globe. His administrative models are still followed. His accounting systems were flawless.

One even wonders if there ever lived such a man in flesh and blood.

But then, we know for sure that there lived such a man who walked the earth, taught in universities and created leaders, setting standards for others to live up to.

[Figin Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 Unlock Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living! 🌟

Ever reminisced about the timeless wisdom shared by our parents and grandparents? Imagine a book that compiles these nuggets, carefully chosen to guide you towards a better life.

🔍 Chanakya Neeti: A Journey to Wisdom:
Transport yourself to the 4th century BC with Chanakya – a thinker, philosopher, and political maestro. His "Arthashastra" was crafted for kings but holds profound relevance for us all. Enter "Chanakya Neeti," tailored for the common man.

📘 Modern Interpretation:
In this riveting read, the author unravels 6000 sutras from Chanakya, relating them to our contemporary world. The beauty lies in their timelessness, transcending the centuries since Chandragupta Maurya.

💡 Beyond Politics:
"Neeti" isn't just about politics. Chanakya Neeti is a guide for the common man, offering insights for a successful and peaceful life. Each verse is a treasure, born of life experiences and keen observation.

🌈 Your Path to Enlightenment:
Immerse yourself in this enlightening journey. Every verse resonates with relatable experiences, offering a profound connection to your own life. 🌟

📖 Personal Recommendation:
Don't miss out on this captivating read! Chanakya Neeti isn't just a book; it's a roadmap to success intertwined with serenity. 🚀

#ChanakyaNeeti #WisdomForLife #AncientWisdom #ModernLiving #BookRecommendation #LifeLessons 📚✨

[litwithneha ( Neha Modi ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't we all grown up listening to snippets of wisdom from our parents and grandparents which have some historical relevance. Either they have been picked up from mythology or from the era of kings and queens or from their own life experiences.
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What if you find a book which not only has a collection of these snippets but also a lot many of them, handpicked especially to help you lead a better life.
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Chanakya was a great thinker, philosopher, statesman and political strategist who lived in the fourth century BC. He wrote Arthashastra for kings and leaders which had 6000 sutras. Though these sutras were written keeping kings and leaders in mind, nonetheless, they are relevant for the common man as well. The book written for the common man was known as Chanakya Neeti.
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The author has taken these sutras and explained them in relation to the present scenario. The beauty of these sutras is their relevance now despite being written during Chandragupta Maurya's era.
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The author has written 15 books based on the teachings of Chanakya which reinforces the vastness and depth of his teachings.

[pooja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially it says, chanakya wrote the book by keeping the men in the world in mind so 80% of the statement has been given as per men’s mental statement.
And when wisdom started it started the devotion of god and ended with it, today’s life hell, heaven don’t make sense. Earlier days just to scare people many traditions were created which ppl follow blindly till today which doesn’t have any benefits, still ppl crime over that . Few of the thoughts were really useful and ppl can implement in there life. Representation of a women is only in the form of a material not in a form of being with a lot of potential and importance to the society. The whole book is around men and how a wife should be with her husband. Few of the topics are well said some of them are not so good

[A · Rating 1 out of 5]

Chanakya Neeti

First read of the year. Claimed to be about the teachings of a legendary politician, strategist, and guru, among other things of ancient India. The essence of his teachings is modified to be understood in today’s time. While the book had quite a lot of lessons, which one may follow in daily life, much of it seemed very basic, with little novel ideas to inspire from. Further, the style of writing, with the paras and their meaning, was something quite mundane, reducing the joys of a pleasurable or intriguing time spent reading. An overall disappointment, but I stand with hope for an intriguing and exciting time on my next read.

[Oindrila Majumder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archaic views on women and contrasting verses. Can't blame him times we're archaic too. He did his best. About the contrasting verses. It portrays the gray area of life. I believe quite a lot of meaning has been lost in translation (because Sanskrit is a very robust language) which could otherwise explain the contradicting verses. Although some verses look like it was written on a whim specifically verse 7.21, first two lines. I laughed out loud. Idk if he meant humor or was that frustration that came out like that😂

Anyway a good read. Found it insightful. This makes me want to give the "Arthashastras" a try.

[Jayraj Mulani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very simple to read book, teaching life long lessons in the form of small poems. Must read for everyone including students or professionals, home makers or businessmen. It teaches us how to live a good life, how to maintain relationships, how to act in situations, how to learn from everyone, what to eat, what to do to stay healthy, how to manage and grow businesses, how to behave... The list is practically endless. I will let you find out yourself the amazing mantras it carries, which are already shaping my life for better.

[Anu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read Chanakya neeti in Sanskrit as well as Hindi growing up. I loved it so much that I wanted to reread it. Sadly, I should've stuck to those languages and not gone for this translation. Perhaps, it is the language and not the translator. The verses don't have the same feeling or gravity in English as they do in other two languages.
It was a very dry read. Tbh couldn't complete the book. Just didn't think it was worth my time.

[Pransu Khakurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why did I put myself into this utterly boring unnecessarily long read? Extremely disappointed with how Dr. Pillai elongates the essence of Chanakya Neeti losing the charm of the actual messages they try to give.

Well I loved how Chanakya used metaphors for understanding but the explanation by Dr. Pillai led to the loss of actual charm.

Most disappointing read!

[Vaishnavi. Bangera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly begining was good but as I kept on reading it mostly felt like repeatative in nature & didn't feel like finishing off but anyway just went through it randomly. I would not really suggest anyone to read this book since there are lot of other good books in this genre you can anyday pick it up.

[Sushmita Chaturvedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chanakya neeti has to be amongst the best read books of this year. I could not contain my mind and heart while reading this one. I hope every human gets his/her hands on this gem. Highly recommended for the understanding of life principles.

[Jovita Mendonca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not against the wisdom but there's no creative writing. It's just a rule book with Chanakaya's quotes followed by a paragraph explaining each quote, listed down one after the other. There are no stories or examples of any sort.

[Sandeep Thakur]

GREAT BOOK TO READ

[sandeep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent Book.

It's an ok sort of book. Basic and lot of simple info. Read if you gave no idea of Chanakya Neeti. Might be good for youngsters

[Niraj Shah · Rating 1 out of 5]

It has been a long time I haven't read a bad book. This one tops the list.

[Vysakh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has some basic lessons about how to have a disciplined character in the society.

[Nikki Punjabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Worth the read. It just got harder over a period of time to finish as it got a little boring. However, the teachings are very good to remember it in our life.

[David Valdez · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to read about the Indian culture.

[Tareesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's nothing like a 'wow' in this book most of the info is known already,and all topics are to be dealed on your own the book won't say what is correct it only says see yourself

[Aayushi Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging and relatable

Thoughtful and a good read to go through our daily challenges .This book can serve as a guide where you can go and refer again

[Vaibhav Sherekar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some things are good some are outdated. But a one time read for all the young people