Chanakya Sutras: The Foundations of Prosperity

These sutras describe a causal chain starting from the ultimate goal of happiness and tracing it back to its fundamental root in self-discipline and wisdom.

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Sanskrit (Devanagari) & Transliteration	English Translation
सुखस्य मूलं धर्मः ॥ sukhasya mūlaṃ dharmaḥ	Dharma (Righteousness) is the root of Happiness.
धर्मस्य मूलमर्थः ॥ dharmasya mūlam arthaḥ	Artha (Wealth) is the root of Dharma.
अर्थस्य मूलं राज्यम् ॥ arthasya mūlaṃ rājyam	The State (Good Governance) is the root of Artha.
राज्यमूलमिन्द्रियजयः ॥ rājyamūlam indriyajayaḥ	Mastery over the senses is the root of the State.
इन्द्रियजयस्य मूलं विनयः ॥ indriyajayasya mūlaṃ vinayaḥ	Discipline (Vinaya) is the root of Sense-Mastery.
विनयस्य मूलं वृद्धोपसेवा ॥ vinayasya mūlaṃ vṛddhopasevā	Service to the Wise is the root of Discipline.
वृद्धसेवाया विज्ञानम् ॥ vṛddhasevāyā vijñānam	Through service to the wise, one attains Wisdom.
विज्ञानेनात्मानं सम्पादयेत् ॥ vijñānenātmānaṃ sampādayet	One should perfect the Self through Wisdom.
सम्पादितात्मा जितात्मा भवति ॥ sampāditātmā jitātmā bhavati	One who has perfected the Self masters the Self.
जितात्मा सर्वार्थैः संयुज्यते ॥ jitātmā sarvārthaiḥ saṃyujyate	He who has mastered his Self attains all ends.

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The Causal Chain

1. Service to the Wise $\to$ Wisdom
2. Wisdom $\to$ Self-Perfection
3. Self-Perfection $\to$ Self-Mastery
4. Self-Mastery $\to$ Governance/Success $\to$ Prosperity $\to$ Dharma $\to$ Happiness

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Reference: Chanakya Niti