Arthashastra - The Nature of Calamities (Vyasana)

Devanagari

व्यसनयौगपद्ये सौकर्यतो यातव्यं रक्षितव्यं वेति व्यसनचिन्ता ॥
दैवं मानुषं वा प्रकृतिव्यसनमनयापनयाभ्यां सम्भवति ॥
गुणप्रातिलोम्यमभावः प्रदोषः प्रसङ्गः पीडा वा व्यसनम् ॥
व्यस्यत्येनं श्रेयस इति व्यसनम् ॥

Transliteration

vyasana-yaugapadye saukaryato yātavyaṃ rakṣitavyaṃ veti vyasana-cintā ||
daivaṃ mānuṣaṃ vā prakṛti-vyasanam-anayāpanayābhyāṃ sambhavati ||
guṇa-prātilomyam-abhāvaḥ pradoṣः prasaṅgaḥ pīḍā vā vyasanam ||
vyasyaty-enaṃ śreyasa iti vyasanam ||

Translation

The Study of Calamities (8.1.01): The consideration of calamities (Vyasana-cinta) involves deciding whether one should march (against an enemy) or protect (one’s own state) when several calamities occur simultaneously, based on the ease of remedy.

Source of Calamity (8.1.02): A calamity affecting the elements of the state is either providential (Fate) or human; it arises from bad luck (Anaya) or wrong policy (Apanaya).

Defining Vyasana (8.1.03 – 04): Vyasana is defined as the reversal of qualities, their absence, a defect (fault), an addiction (attachment), or a distress (injury). It is called Vyasana because it throws a person away from their highest good (Shreyas).

Term	Meaning in Context
गुणप्रातिलोम्यम् (Guṇa-prātilomyam)	The Inverse of Virtue: Doing the exact opposite of what is right (e.g., a king being cowardly instead of brave).
अभावः (Abhāvaḥ)	Absence: The simple lack of necessary qualities or resources.
प्रदोषः (Pradoṣaḥ)	Corruption: The presence of deep-seated defects or moral pollution.
प्रसङ्गः (Prasaṅgaḥ)	Addiction: Excessive attachment to worldly pleasures (hunting, gambling, wine, etc.).
पीडा (Pīḍā)	Affliction: Physical or environmental suffering (famine, fire, disease).
व्यसनम् (Vyasanam)	Calamity: Anything that makes a person or a state deviate from its objective (Artha).

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