Arthashastra - The Conquest of the Senses

Devanagari

विद्या विनयहेतुरिन्द्रियजयः कामक्रोधलोभमानमदहर्षत्यागात्कार्यः ॥
कर्णत्वगक्षिजिव्हाघ्राणेन्द्रियाणां शब्दस्पर्शरूपरसगन्धेष्वविप्रतिपत्तिरिन्द्रियजयः शास्त्रानुष्ठानं वा ॥
कृत्स्नं हि शास्त्रमिदमिन्द्रियजयः ॥
तद्विरुद्धवृत्तिरवश्येन्द्रियश्चातुरन्तो अपि राजा सद्यो विनश्यति ॥

Transliteration

vidyā vinaya-hetur-indriya-jayaḥ kāma-krodha-lobha-māna-mada-harṣa-tyāgāt-kāryaḥ ||
karṇa-tvag-akṣi-jihvā-ghrāṇendriyāṇāṃ śabda-sparśa-rūpa-rasa-gandheṣv-avipratipattir-indriya-jayaḥ śāstrānuṣṭhānaṃ vā ||
kṛtsnaṃ hi śāstram-idam-indriya-jayaḥ ||
tad-viruddha-vṛttir-avaśyendriyaś-cāturanto api rājā sadyo vinaśyati ||

Translation

The Six Internal Enemies (1.6.01): Knowledge (Vidya) is the cause of discipline (Vinaya). Discipline is achieved through the conquest of the senses (Indriya-jaya), which is accomplished by abandoning Lust (Kama), Anger (Krodha), Greed (Lobha), Pride (Mana), Arrogance (Mada), and Excessive Joy (Harsha).

Defining Self-Mastery (1.6.02): The conquest of the senses is either the absence of improper engagement (addiction/obsession) of the ears, skin, eyes, tongue, and nose with their respective objects (sound, touch, form, taste, and smell), OR it is the practice of following the teachings of the sciences (Shastra).

The Core of Statecraft (1.6.03): For the entirety of this science (Arthashastra/Statecraft) is nothing more than the conquest of the senses.

The Fatal Flaw (1.6.04): A king who acts contrary to this, having no control over his senses, even if he rules the four corners of the earth, will instantly perish.

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