Arthashastra - The Debate on Anger and Lust

Devanagari

अविद्याविनयः पुरुषव्यसनहेतुः ॥
अविनीतो हि व्यसनदोषान्न पश्यति ॥
कोपजस्त्रिवर्गः कामजश्चतुर्वर्गः ॥
तयोः कोपो गरीयान् ॥
सर्वत्र हि कोपश्चरति ॥
प्रायशश्च कोपवशा राजानः प्रकृतिकोपैर्हताः श्रूयन्ते कामवशाः क्षयनिमित्तमरिव्याधिभिरिति ॥

Transliteration

avidyā-vinayaḥ puruṣa-vyasana-hetuḥ ||
avinīto hi vyasana-doṣān-na paśyati ||
kopajas-trivargaḥ kāmajaś-caturvargaḥ ||
tayoḥ kopo garīyān ||
sarvatra hi kopaś-carati ||
prāyaśaś-ca kopavaśā rājānaḥ prakṛti-kopair-hatāḥ śrūyante kāmavaśāḥ kṣaya-nimittam-ari-vyādhibhir-iti ||

Translation

The Root of Vice (8.3.01 – 02): Lack of knowledge and lack of discipline are the causes of a man’s vices (Vyasana). An undisciplined man does not see the evil consequences of vices.

Kautilya’s Thesis (8.3.04 – 07): Vices born of anger are of three kinds; those born of lust are of four kinds. Of the two, anger is the more serious. Anger acts everywhere. Frequently, kings under the sway of anger are killed by the revolt of their subjects; those under the sway of lust perish due to decline of wealth, enemies, or diseases.

The Counter-Argument (Bhāradvāja)

Argument	Sanskrit / Transliteration	Translation of the Strategy
Lust is better	neti bhāradvājaḥ	”No,” says Bhāradvāja.
Anger is Noble	satpuruṣācāraḥ kopo…	Anger is the conduct of a noble man; it enables avenging wrongs and keeps men in check through fear.
Preventing Sin	nityaś-ca kopena sambandhaḥ…	There is a constant connection with anger for the purpose of preventing sin.
Lust as Success	kāmaḥ siddhi-lābhaḥ…	Lust leads to attainment of success, conciliation, and generosity.
Enjoying Fruits	kāmena sambandhaḥ…	Lust is for the purpose of enjoying the fruits of one’s finished work.

Kautilya’s Rebuttal (8.3.13 – 22)

Kautilya maintains that Anger is the ultimate vice for several reasons:

1. Hatred vs. Humiliation (8.3.14 – 17): Anger leads to being hated, which results in total destruction. Lust leads to humiliation, which merely results in being disregarded or controlled.
2. Security vs. Wealth (8.3.18 – 19): Anger makes secrets known to the enemy (harming one’s life); lust leads to loss of wealth (harming only the treasury).
3. Misery vs. Bad Company (8.3.20 – 21): Anger creates an attachment to misery (long-lasting suffering); lust lead to associations with harmful people (which can be remedied in a moment).

Conclusion (8.3.22): Tasmāt kopo garīyān — Therefore, anger is the weightier vice.

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Index: index