Muni's PlayChanakya Sutras: On Associates (Sahaya)
These sutras highlight the necessity of having trusted companions and assistants (associates) in any significant undertaking, comparing the solo effort to a single wheel that cannot move a carriage.
| Sanskrit (Devanagari) & Transliteration | English Translation |
|---|---|
| सम्पाद्यात्मानमन्विच्छेत् सहायान् ॥ sampādyātmānam-anvicchet sahāyān | Having perfected oneself, one should seek associates. |
| सहायः समो दुःखसुखयोः ॥ sahāyaḥ samo duḥkha-sukhayoḥ | An associate is one who remains equal in both sorrow and joy. |
| नाऽसहास्य मन्त्रनिश्चयः ॥ nā-sahāsya mantra-niścayaḥ | There is no firm determination of counsel for one who lacks associates. |
| नैकं चक्रं परिभ्रमति ॥ naikaṃ cakraṃ paribhramati | A single wheel does not rotate (on its own as a carriage). |
| असहायः पथि न गच्छेत् ॥ asahāyaḥ pathi na gacchet | One without an associate should not travel on a path. |
| कार्यार्थिनामुपाय एव सहायः ॥ kāryārthinām-upāya eva sahāyaḥ | For those seeking to accomplish a task, the means itself is the associate. |
| आपत्सु स्नेहयुक्तं मित्रम् ॥ āpatsu snehayuktaṃ mitram | A friend is one who remains affectionate in times of distress. |
| मित्रसंग्रहणे बलं सम्पद्यते ॥ mitrasaṃgrahaṇe balaṃ sampadyate | Strength is attained by gathering (the support of) friends. |
Reference: Chanakya Niti