Lessons

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........After a major defeat in battle Chandragupta  came to Acharya Chanakya; reported him the status and asked for some advice.

Acharya looked at him for a few seconds and told him to have some food before having a discussion. Chandragupta said that he was in no mood for the dinner because he was very uncomfortable/depressed after the defeat.

Acharya insisted and pointed his finger towards the plate. Looking at the serious gesture of Chanakya; Chandragupta could not resist anymore.

Chandragupta sat down for dinner and suddenly Chanakya said “I have thought of a wonderful plan; finish the food fast”.

The rice in the plate was very hot and Chandragupta found it quite difficult to pick that up with his hands. He nearly burnt his mouth and fingers in a desperate attempt.

Chanakya was watching him carefully and suggested that he must pick the rice from the corners instead of digging from the center. After finishing the dinner they both sat for the discussion.

Chandragupta said “So, Acharya, what you suggest for the victory”

The Kautilya (Chanakya) replied “The lesson is all-ready been taught “.

Moral of the story:

Attack an enemy at his weak points instead of engaging him at his strong holds. Just like its easy to pick the hot rice from corners of a plate than from its center

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Once, a Chinese traveller came to meet Kautilya (Chanakya). It was dusk and darkness had just started to set in. When the traveller entered Chanakya's room, he saw that Chanakya was busy writing some important papers under the lighting of an oil lamp. You know that there were no bulbs or tube lights in those days, since there was no electricity. So, in those days people used to light oil lamps. Chanakya smilingly welcomed his guest and asked him to sit. He then quickly completed the work that he was doing. 

But do you know what did he do on completing his writing work? He extinguished the oil lamp under which he was writing and lit another lamp. The Chinese traveller was surprised to see this. He thought that maybe this was a custom followed by Indians when a guest arrives at their home. He asked Chanakya, "Is this a custom in India, when a guest arrives at your house? I mean, extinguishing one lamp and lighting the other?" Chanakya replied, "No my dear friend. There is no such custom. Actually, when you entered, I was working. It was an official work, pertaining to my empire, my nation. The oil filled in that lamp has been bought from the money from the National treasury. Now, I am talking to you. This is a personal and friendly conversation, not related to my nation; so I cannot use that lamp now, as it will lead to wastage of the money of the national treasury. Hence, I extinguished that lamp and lit this other lamp, since the oil in this lamp has been bought from my personal money."

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Once, without consulting Acharya Chanakya, Chandragupta went to war and he successfully won the battle

After winning war he went near Chanakya with high excitation and informed about war. Chanakya replied I don’t know whether you won a war or not, just tell me how you arranged the food for the soldiers during war?  Chandragupta replied, with help of nearby village people, they gave their stocked food supply to us.

Chanakya said, did you gave anything to them after winning war

Chandragupta: No

Then Chanakya with anger said, you are incapable to be king, only winning war is not important, you should look after you people first,

Chadragupta realised his mistake and then went the people and gave them foods supply

Moral of the story:

Going for war and winning war is not at all important; it’s about how the king or leaders treat their citizens and how they look after them.

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Chadragupta came near to Acharya Chanakya and said that he is agreed to travel Asakya city  to fight against cruel ruler and ...........................there was a long pause in between them and by seeing Chandragupta`s eyes and speaking tone, Chanakya said I know what all feelings are happening in your heart and mind

Chandragupta in emotion tone explained about his fear and said so many people trusted on me and sacrificed their life and he keeps on blaming himself and he got emotionally broken inside

Chanakya reminded him about all difficulties he has faced in earlier days to come into this present position. And said,  take all your difficulties as your strength and get over your fear

For this behaviour of Chandragupta, Chanakya said never try to live for others wish. Never try to be good in eyes of others we come here alone and go alone.  What all happened is past, what will happen is future, never care about these things and just live in present and stand for it and do good karma. Your karma will definitively give a fruitful result.

Moral of the story;

Always be positive and Do good karma

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Chandragupta became silent and weak seeing this Acharya Chanakya said express all your feelings towards me

Chandragupta expressed his feeling of love for a girl (Daughter of Maghad ruler) and He says I am feelings something strange inside and its paining and hurting inside, I don`t know why this feeling came inside and I am not able to concentrate on anything, I don’t know what to do

Acharya Chanakya said, I gave all sort of lessons to you but failed to give lessons on balancing your feelings and emotions especially in love matter. You can learn whole world knowledge and knowledge of mathematics can be learnt by books but the feelings which come within you, can be taught by your experience. In order understand your heart feelings and get it in your control i can guide in different ways. The feeling which you got is not special it’s just attraction for man toward women. If you don’t control your attraction towards her it will results in dangerous way.

Then Chadragupta says, is it bad to having feelings toward a women then Chanakya replies, for normal people it’s okay but for people who have some great aims, for them it will become dangerous and it will distract them for achieving what they wanted in life. It’s like self suicide for achievers

Moral of the story:

For great achievers love should not be road breaker for their path. Always stay focused toward your work until you achieve your goal

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During his times in Takshshila University he faced much discrimination, and then Chandragupta went to Acharya Chanakya and explained about discrimination he faced and his difficulties in studying and not able to get opportunities to gain knowledge

After hearing this Chanakya said “For your problem you need to come to my room”;  Chandragupta started to followed him, as soon Chanakya entered room, he closed the door of room, Chandragupta left behind and he was loudly raised the voice to call Chanakya to open the door but there was no replay from Chanakya nor the  door has opened.

Chandragupta got surprised about his behaviour; he wanted to know why Chanakya did this to me. Then He planned to make ladder, from ladder he climbed up on the roof of the room, from the roof he entered Chanakya`s room

Chandragupta came near to Chanakya and asked Acharya Chanakya “you said that you will solve my problem but you did not allowed me to your room only”

Chanakya replied “you already found your answer”;

Chandragupta surprisingly asked “How?”  

Chanakya: if anyone tries to close the door of success or bring difficulties; then one who is in need of knowledge will find the way to gain it like “you wanted an answer from me so you found the way to meet me”.   

Moral of the Story:

Everyone must and should need to find their own path and should not depend on others. 

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Conversation of Chandragupta- Chanakya:

A conversation this morning seen while switching channels on a new tele-serial called “Upanishad Ganga“.

Chandragupta about to be anointed King of Magadha (as a first step towards integrating ‘Bharata’ into one undivided country) is talking to himself, frustrated, wondering if he is a real king or, whether he is a puppet in the hands of Acharya Vishnugupta (Chanakya) who decides what he must eat, do, who he should marry, how he must conduct his day, and so on. Engulfed in these thoughts he asks his minister to stop his Rajya-Abhishek (anointment as King) and decides he does not want all this. He says he feels like a “servant”, not a King.

Acharya when he gets to know counters him. Here’s the conversation as best i could capture:

Chandragupta: “I feel like a paid servant not a King. Do i not deserve to live according to my wishes and find some sukha (peace, pleasantness, happiness, pursuit of desires)?”

Chanakya: “I promised you a kingdom, not sukha. Can you really be sukhi until even one person in your kingdom is sukhi?. He goes on to say, “A king is nothing but a paid servant of the people he is ruling over”. And further, says “There is no sukha in the destiny of Teachers and Kings“.


Chandragupta falls at his feet, and is anointed King. He ofcourse goes on to establish one of the biggest kingdom in Jambudvip – the landmass of India as it has been known in ancient texts for thousands of years