In this article, I have aggregated 24 Best Chanakya Quotes that will change your life forever and will help you to reach greater heights in your life.
Chanakya, also known as Kauṭilya or Vishnugupta is one of the most prolific ancient Indian personalities and the author of “Arthashastra”, the science of politics.
He was the man behind creating the largest empire to have existed in the Indian subcontinent, “The Maurya Empire”.
Chanakya made an abandoned and orphaned boy “Chandragupta Maurya”, one of the greatest rulers to have ruled over the Indian Subcontinent.
Later on, his grandson, “Ashoka”, expanded his empire to present-day Afghanistan in the west and Bangladesh in the east and came to be known as “Ashoka the Great”.
I have written these Quotes by Acharya Chanakya in both English and Hindi. Also, I have added the Hinglish version of the quotes for those of you who cannot read Hindi but can understand it.
These Chanakya Quotes are taken from the book Chanakya Neeti. If you want to buy this book, then click here.
Please share this article on your social media (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc) so that it can reach as many people and help in transforming their lives for the better.
Table of Contents
- 1. Here are 24 Chanakya Quotes that will change your life forever and will help you to reach greater heights in your life:
- 1. “A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first.”
- 2. “The biggest Guru mantra is – Never share your secret with anybody. It will destroy you.”
- 3. “A man is great by deeds, not by birth.”
- 4. “Once you start working on something, don’t be afraid of failure and don’t abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.”
- 5. “Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions – why am I doing this, what the results might be and will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.”
- 6. “He who is overly attached to his family members experiences fear and sorrow, for the root of all grief is attachment. Thus one should discard attachment to be happy.”
- 7. “Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.”
- 8. “There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy.”
- 9. “One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the possession of others, can use neither his knowledge nor wealth when the need for them arises.”
- 10. “We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future. Men of discernment deal only with the present moment.”
- 1.11 MUST READ: 21 Puzzle Questions Answered By Gautama Buddha that you must read
- 11. “Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.”
- 12. “Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise council keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution.”
- 13. “The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end, nor protects it from the bites of insects.”
- 14. “As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.”
- 15. “Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.”
- 16. “The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.”
- 17. “There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.”
- 18. “Purity of speech, of the mind, of the senses, and of a compassionate heart are needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform.”
- 19. “The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability.”
- 20. “The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth that makes the sun shine and the winds blow; indeed all things rest upon truth.”
- 21. “The happiness and peace is attained by those who are satisfied by the nectar of spiritual tranquillity and by the greedy persons restlessly moving here and there.”
- 1.23 ALSO READ: The three gateways to hell according to Krishna – Bhagavad Gita
- 22. “Drop the idea that attachment and love are one thing. They are enemies. It is attachment that destroys the love.”
- 23. “Excessive attachment to sense pleasures leads to bondage, and detachment from sense pleasures leads to liberation. Therefore it is the mind alone that is responsible for bondage or liberation.”
- 24. “We should not feel pride in our charity, austerity, valor, scriptural knowledge, modesty, and morality for the world is full of the rarest gems.”
Here are 24 Chanakya Quotes that will change your life forever and will help you to reach greater heights in your life:
1. “A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first.”
Hindi: एक व्यक्ति को हद से ज्यादा ईमानदार नहीं होना चाहिए। क्योंकि सीधे पेड़ सबसे पहले काटते हैं और ईमानदार लोगों को सबसे पहले सताया जाता है।
Hinglish: Ek vyakti ko hadd se jyada imaandar nhi hona chahiye. Kyunki seedhe paid sabse pehle kat-te hain aur imaandar logo ko sabse pehle sataya jata hai.
2. “The biggest Guru mantra is – Never share your secret with anybody. It will destroy you.”
Hindi: सबसे बड़ा गुरु मन्त्र है – कभी भी अपने राज़ दूसरों ना बताएं। ये आपको बर्वाद कर देगा।
Hinglish: Sabse bada guru mantra hai – kabhi bhi apne raaz doosron ko na bataen. Ye aapko barbaad kar dega.
3. “A man is great by deeds, not by birth.”
Hindi: कोई भी व्यक्ति अपने कार्यों से महान होता है, अपने जन्म से नहीं।
Hinglish: Koi bhi vyakti apne karyon se mahan hota hai, apne janm se nhi.
4. “Once you start working on something, don’t be afraid of failure and don’t abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.”
Hindi: एक बार यदि आपने कोई काम करना शुरू कर दिया है, तो असफल होने से मत डरिये। जो लोग इमानदारी से काम करते हैं वे हमेशा खुश रहते है।
Hinglish: Ek baar yadi aapne koi kaam karna shuru kar diya hai toh asafal hone se mat dariye. Jo log imandari se kaam karte hain woh hamesha khush rehte hain.
5. “Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions – why am I doing this, what the results might be and will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.”
Hindi: कोई भी काम शुरू करने से पहले अपने आप से ये तीन सवाल ज़रूर पूछें – मैं ये काम क्यूँ कर रहा हूँ, इसके नतीजे में मुझे क्या मिलेगा और क्या मैं इसमें सफल हो सकता हूँ? और जब गहन सोच विचार के बाद आपको इन तीन सवालों के संतोषजनक जवाब मिल जाएँ तभी आगे बड़ें।
Hinglish: Koi bhi kaam shuru karne se pehle apne aap se ye teen sawal jaroor poochiye – mein ye kaam kyun kar rha hoon, iske nateeje mein mujhe kya milega aur kya mein isme safal ho sakta hoon? Aur jab aapko gehen soch vichar ke baad aapko in teen sawalon ke santoshjanak jawab mil jaen tabhi aage bhaden.
6. “He who is overly attached to his family members experiences fear and sorrow, for the root of all grief is attachment. Thus one should discard attachment to be happy.”
Hindi: वह व्यक्ति जो अपने परिवार से अति लगाव रखता है भय और दुख में जीता है। सभी दुखों का मुख्य कारण लगाव ही है, इसलिए खुश रहने के लिए लगाव का त्याग अनिवार्य है।
Hinglish: Veh vyakti jo apne parivaar se ati lagav rakhta hai, bhay aur dukh mein jeeta hai. Sabhi dukhon ka mukhya karan lagav hi hai, isliye khush rehne ke liye lagav ka tyag anivarya hai.
7. “Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.”
Hindi: ज्ञान आपका सबसे अच्छा मित्र है। ज्ञानी व्यक्ति का हर कोई सम्मान करता है और यह आपकी खूबसूरती और जवानी से भी अधिक महत्वपूर्ण है।
Hinglish: Gyaan aapka sabse accha mitra hai. Gyaani vyakti ka har koi samman karta hai aur yeh aapki khoobsoorti aur jawani se bhi adhik mahatvapurn hai.
8. “There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy.”
Hindi: एक संतुलित मन के बराबर कोई तपस्या नहीं है और संतोष के बराबर कोई खुशी नहीं है। लोभ के जैसी कोई बिमारी नहीं है और दया के जैसा कोई सदाचार नहीं है।
Hinglish: Ek santulit mann ke barabar koi tapasya nhi hai aur santosh ke barabar koi khushi nhi hai. Lobh ke jaise koi beemari nhi hai aur daya jaisa koi sadachar nhi hai.
9. “One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the possession of others, can use neither his knowledge nor wealth when the need for them arises.”
Hindi: जिसका ज्ञान किताबों में सिमट गया है और जिसने अपनी दौलत दूसरों के सुपुर्द कर दी है वह जरूरत आने पर ज्ञान या दौलत कुछ भी इस्तेमाल नहीं कर सकता।
Hinglish: Jiska gyaan kitaboon mein simat gya hai aur jisne apni daulat doosron ke supurd kar di hai veh jaroorat aane par gyaan ya daulat kuch bhi istemaal nhi kar sakta.
10. “We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future. Men of discernment deal only with the present moment.”
Hindi: हमें ना तो उसके लिए पछताए चाहिए जो बीत गया है और ना ही हमें भविष्य की चिंता करनी चाहिए। विवेक बुद्धि रखने वाले लोग केवल वर्तमान में जीते है।
Hinglish: Hume na toh uske pachtana chahiye jo beet gya hai aur na hi hume bhavishya ki chinta karni chahiye. Vivek buddhi rakhe wale log keval vartman mein jeete hain.
MUST READ: 21 Puzzle Questions Answered By Gautama Buddha that you must read
11. “Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.”
Hindi: अगर सांप जहरीला ना भी हो तो भी उसे खुद को जहरीला दिखाना चाहिए।
Hinglish: Agar saanp jehrela na bhi ho to bhi use khud ko jehrela dikhana chahiye.
12. “Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise council keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution.”
Hindi: इस बात को व्यक्त मत होने दीजिये कि आपने क्या करने का सोचा है, बुद्धिमानी से इसे रहस्य बनाये रखिये और इस काम को करने के लिए दृढ रहिये।
Hinglish: Iss baat ko vyakt mat hone deejiye ki aapne kya karne ka socha hai, buddhimani se ise rahasya banaye rakhiye aur iss kaam ko karne ke liye dridh rahiye.
13. “The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end, nor protects it from the bites of insects.”
Hindi: एक अनपढ़ व्यक्ति का जीवन उसी तरह बेकार होता है जिस तरह किसी कुत्ते की पूछ जो न ही उसके पीछे का भाग ढकती है और न ही उसे कीड़ों से बचाती है।
Hinglish: Ek anpadh vyakti ka jeevan usi tarah bekar hota hai jis tarah kisi kutte ki pooch jo na hi uske peeche ka bhaag dhakti hai aur na hi use keedon se bachati hai.
14. “As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.”
Hindi: जैसे ही डर निकट आए, हमला कीजिए और इसे नष्ट कर दीजिए।
Hinglish: Jaise hi darr nikat aaye, hamla kijiye aur ise nasth kar dijiye.
15. “Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.”
Hindi: किताबें एक मुर्ख आदमी के लिए उतनी ही उपयोगी है, जैसे एक नेत्रहीन व्यक्ति के लिए आइना।
Hinglish: Kitaben ek moorkh aadmi ke liye utni hi upyogi hai, jaise ek netraheen vyakti ke liye aaina.
16. “The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.”
Hindi: फूलों की खुशबू हवा की दिशा में ही फैलती है, लेकिन एक व्यक्ति की अच्छाई चारों तरफ फैलती है।
Hinglish: Phoolon ki khushboo hawa ki disha mein hi failti hai, lekin ek vyakti ki achhai charoon taraf failti hai.
17. “There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.”
Hindi: हर दोस्ती के पीछे कोई ना कोई स्वार्थ होता है। ऐसी कोई दोस्ती नहीं जिसमे स्वार्थ ना हो। यह कड़वा सच है।
Hinglish: Har dosti ke peeche koi na koi swarth hota hai. Aise koi dosti nahi jisme swarth na ho. Yeh kadwa sach hai.
18. “Purity of speech, of the mind, of the senses, and of a compassionate heart are needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform.”
Hindi: जो लोग परमात्मा तक पहुंचना चाहते हैं उन्हें वाणी, मन, इन्द्रियों की पवित्रता और एक दयालु ह्रदय की आवश्यकता होती है।
Hinglish: Jo log parmatma tak pahunchna chahte hain unhe vani, mann, indriyon ki pavitrata aur ek dayalu hriday ki aavashyakata hoti hai.
19. “The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability.”
Hindi: एक समझदार व्यक्ति को सारस की तरह होश से काम लेना चाहिए और जगह, वक्त और अपनी योग्यता के अनुसार अपने कार्य को सिद्ध करना चाहिए।
Hinglish: Ek samajhdar vyakti ko saras ki tarah hosh se kaam lena chahiye aur jagah, vakt aur apni yogyata ke anusar apne karya ko siddha karna chahiye.
20. “The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth that makes the sun shine and the winds blow; indeed all things rest upon truth.”
Hindi: पृथ्वी सत्य पे टिकी हुई है। ये सत्य की ही ताक़त है, जिससे सूर्य चमकता है और हवा बहती है। वास्तव में सभी चीज़ें सत्य पे टिकी हुई हैं।
Hinglish: Prithvi satya pe tiki hui hai. Ye satya ki hi takat hai, jisse surya chamakta hai aur hawa behti hai. Vaastav mein sabhi cheezen satya pe tiki hui hain.
21. “The happiness and peace is attained by those who are satisfied by the nectar of spiritual tranquillity and by the greedy persons restlessly moving here and there.”
Hindi: जो सुख और शांति का अनुभव आध्यात्मिक शांति को प्राप्त करने से होता है, वैसा अनुभव लालची लोगों को नहीं होता जो धन के लोभ में यहाँ वहाँ भटकते रहते है।
Hinglish: Jo sukh aur shanti ka anubhav aadhyatmik shanti ko prapt karne se hota hai, waisa anubhav lalchi logon ko nhi hota jo dhan ke lobh mein yahan wahan bhatakte rehte hain.
ALSO READ: The three gateways to hell according to Krishna – Bhagavad Gita
22. “Drop the idea that attachment and love are one thing. They are enemies. It is attachment that destroys the love.”
Hindi: ये मत सोचो की प्यार और लगाव एक ही चीज है। दोनों एक दूसरे के दुश्मन हैं। ये लगाव ही है जो प्यार को खत्म कर देता है।
Hinglish: Ye mat socho ki pyaar aur lagav ek hi cheez hai. Dono ek doosre ke dushman hain. Ye lagav hi hai jo pyaar ko khatm kar deta hai.
23. “Excessive attachment to sense pleasures leads to bondage, and detachment from sense pleasures leads to liberation. Therefore it is the mind alone that is responsible for bondage or liberation.”
Hindi: इंद्रिय सुखों के प्रति अत्यधिक लगाव बंधन का कारण बनता है और इन्द्रिय सुखों से वैराग्य मोक्ष की ओर ले जाता है। इसलिए यह अकेला मन है जो बंधन या मुक्ति के लिए जिम्मेदार है।
Hinglish: Indriya sukhon ke prati atyadhik lagav bandhan ka karan banta hai aur indriya sukhon se vairagya moksh ki oor le jata hai. Isliye yeh aakela mann hai jo bandhan ya mukti ke liye zimmedar hai.
24. “We should not feel pride in our charity, austerity, valor, scriptural knowledge, modesty, and morality for the world is full of the rarest gems.”
Hindi: हमें अभिमान नहीं होना चाहिए जब हम ये बातें करते हैं – परोपकार, आत्म संयम, पराक्रम, शास्त्र का ज्ञान हासिल करना, विनम्रता और नैतिकता। यह करते वक़्त अभिमान करने की इसलिए जरूरत नहीं क्योंकि दुनिया बहुत कम दिखाई देने वाले दुर्लभ रत्नों से भरी पड़ी है।
Hinglish: Hume abhimaan nahi hona chahiye jab hum ye baatein karte hain – paropkar, aatm sayam, parakram, shashtra ka gyaan haasil karna, vinamrata aur naitikta. Yeh karte waqt abhimaan karne ki isliye jaroorat nhi kyunki duniya bahut kam dikhai dene wale durlabh ratno se bhari padi hai.
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Please share these Chanakya Quotes on your social media (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc) so that it can reach as many people and help in transforming their lives for the better.
Also Read:
- 5 Shlokas from Bhagavad Gita that will change your life forever
- Why Lord Krishna Did Not Tell Bhagavad Gita to Duryodhana?
- Riddle contest between Yudhishthira & Yaksha (Crane) – Yaksha Prashna
