Muni's PlayChanakya Sutras: On Counsel (Mantra)
These sutras emphasize the importance of strategic deliberation, secrecy, and the role of wise counsel in governance.
| Sanskrit (Devanagari) & Transliteration | English Translation |
|---|---|
| नाऽसहास्य मन्त्रनिश्चयः ॥ nā-sahāsya mantra-niścayaḥ | Determination of counsel is not possible without help (associates). |
| मन्त्रमूलाः सर्वारम्भाः ॥ mantra-mūlāḥ sarvārambhāḥ | All undertakings are rooted in counsel. |
| मन्त्रसंवरणे कार्यसिद्धिर्भवति ॥ mantra-saṃvaraṇe kārya-siddhir bhavati | Success in an undertaking results from keeping counsel secret. |
| मन्त्रनिःस्रावः सर्वम् नाशयति ॥ mantra-niḥsrāvaḥ sarvam nāśayati | Leaking of counsel destroys everything. |
| सर्वद्वारेभ्यो मन्त्रो रक्षितव्यः ॥ sarva-dvārebhyo mantro rakṣitavyaḥ | Counsel should be protected from all doors (all possible sources of leaks). |
| कार्याकार्य प्रदीपो मन्त्रः ॥ kāryākārya-pradīpo mantraḥ | Counsel is the lamp that illuminates what is duty and what is not. |
| मन्त्रचक्षुषा परच्छिद्राण्यवलोकयन्ति ॥ mantra-cakṣuṣā para-cchidrāṇy avalokayanti | One observes the weaknesses of others through the eye of counsel. |
| मन्त्रकाले न मत्सरः कर्तव्यः ॥ mantrakāle na matsaraḥ kartavyaḥ | At the time of deliberation, one should not be envious. |
| षट्कर्णो मन्त्रश्छिद्यते ॥ ṣaṭkarṇo mantraś-chidyate | Counsel reaching six ears (three people) gets leaked. |
| अकामबुद्धयो मन्त्रतत्त्वार्थदर्शिनो मन्त्रिणः ॥ akāma-buddhayo mantra-tattvārtha-darśino mantriṇaḥ | Ministers should be those who see the essence of counsel with an unbiased mind. |
| राज्यतन्त्रेष्वायत्तौ मन्त्रावापौ ॥ rājya-tantreṣv-āyattau mantrāvāpau | Policy and diplomacy are dependent on the mechanisms of the state. |
| मन्त्रं स्वविषये कृत्येष्वायत्तम् ॥ mantraṃ svaviṣaye kṛtyeṣv-āyattam | Counsel is dependent on the specific functions within one’s own domain. |
Reference: Chanakya Niti