Arthashastra - Qualities of an Ideal Ruler

Devanagari

तत्र स्वामिसम्पत् ॥ महाकुलीनो दैवबुद्धिसत्त्वसम्पन्नो वृद्धदर्शी धार्मिकः सत्यवागविसंवादकः कृतज्ञः स्थूललक्षो महोत्साहोऽदीर्घसूत्रः शक्यसामन्तो दृढबुद्धिरक्षुद्रपरिषत्को विनयकाम इत्याभिगामिका गुणाः ॥ शुश्रूषाश्रवणग्रहणधारणविज्ञानोहापोहतत्त्वाभिनिवेशाः प्रज्ञागुणाः ॥ शौर्यममर्षः शीघ्रता दाक्ष्यं चोत्साहगुणाः ॥ वाग्मी प्रगल्भः स्मृतिमतिबलवानुदग्रः स्ववग्रहः कृतशिल्पोऽव्यसनो दण्डनाय्युपकारापकारयोर्दृष्टप्रतीकारी ह्रीमानापत्प्रकृत्योर्विनियोक्ता दीर्घदूरदर्शी देशकालपुरुषकारककार्यप्रधानः संधिविक्रमत्यागसम्यमपणपरच्छिद्रविभागी संवृतोऽदीनाभिहास्यजिह्मभ्रुकुटीक्षणः कामक्रोधलोभस्तम्भचापलोतापपैशुन्यहीनः शक्लः स्मितोदग्राभिभाषी वृद्धोपदेशाचार इत्यात्मसम्पत् ॥

Transliteration

tatra svāmi-sampat || mahākulīno daiva-buddhi-sattva-sampanno vṛddhadarśī dhārmikaḥ satyavāg-avisaṃvādakaḥ kṛtajñaḥ sthūlalakṣo mahotsāho’dīrghasūtraḥ śakyasāmanto dṛḍhabuddhir-akṣudra-pariṣatko vinayakāma ityābhigāmikā guṇāḥ || śuśrūṣā-śravaṇa-grahaṇa-dhāraṇā-vijñānohāpoha-tattvābhiniveśāḥ prajñā-guṇāḥ || śauryam-amarṣaḥ śīghratā dākṣyaṃ cotsāha-guṇāḥ || vāgmī pragalbhaḥ smṛtimati-balavān-udagraḥ svavagrahaḥ kṛtaśilpo’vyasano daṇḍanāyy-upakārāpakārayor-dṛṣṭapratīkārī hrīmān-āpat-prakṛtyor-viniyoktā dīrgha-dūradarśī deśa-kāla-puruṣakāra-kārya-pradhānaḥ saṃdhi-vikrama-tyāga-samyama-paṇa-paracchidra-vibhāgī saṃvṛto’dīnābhihāsya-jihma-bhrukuṭī-kṣaṇaḥ kāma-krodha-lobha-stambha-cāpalopatāpa-paiśunya-hīnaḥ śaklaḥ smitodagrābhibhāṣī vṛddhopadeśācāra ityātma-sampat ||

Translation

Priority of the Ruler (6.1.02): Among these, the following are the excellences (perfect qualities) of the King (the Ruler).

Inviting Qualities (6.1.03): Born of a high family, endowed with fate (good fortune), intellect, and spirit; associated with elders; righteous; truthful; not contradictory in speech; grateful; having lofty aims; possessed of great energy; not a procrastinator; able to control neighboring princes; of resolute intellect; having a council of ministers that is not small; and desirous of discipline—these are the “inviting” qualities (those that make people want to follow him).

Intellectual Qualities (6.1.04): The desire to learn, listening (to others), grasping (knowledge), retaining (it), understanding (nuance), weighing (pros and cons), rejecting (the false), and intentness on the truth—these are the qualities of the intellect.

Energy Qualities (6.1.05): Bravery, resentment (of wrong/insults), quickness, and dexterity—these are the qualities of energy (enthusiasm/drive).

Personal Perfections (6.1.06): Eloquent; bold; possessed of memory, intellect, and strength; self-controlled; trained in arts; free from vices; able to lead the army; capable of reciprocating both help and injury; modest; able to manage the elements (of state) in times of calamity; a long-term and far-sighted visionary; giving importance to place, time, human effort, and the task at hand; expert in peace, war, and strategy; taking advantage of the enemy’s weak points; keeping secrets; not showing grief, ridicule, or a crooked brow; free from lust, anger, greed, obstinacy, fickleness, heat (of passion), and backbiting; capable; speaking with a smile; and following the advice of the elders—this is the perfection of the Self.

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