Top 100 Principles of Chanakya Nīti

1. Education & Knowledge

1. Education is the best friend; an educated person is respected everywhere.

2. Wealth may be lost, but knowledge never.

3. A man without learning is like a beast.

4. Knowledge gives humility, humility brings worth, worth earns wealth, wealth earns dharma, and dharma brings happiness.

5. Learn from the mistakes of others—life is too short to make them all yourself.

2. Self-Discipline

6. Before starting any work, ask: Why am I doing it? What are the results? Will I succeed?

7. Do not waste time; time once gone cannot be regained.

8. Never reveal your plans before they succeed.

9. Self-control is greater than victory over enemies.

10. Lust, anger, and greed are the three gates to hell—avoid them.

3. Friendship & Relationships

11. Test a servant in duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune.

12. Avoid foolish friends; they cause more harm than enemies.

13. Do not trust rivers, women, rulers, animals with claws, or horns—they may turn anytime.

14. Friendship of fools ends in enmity.

15. Help others in distress; true friendship is known then.

4. Wealth & Economy

16. Accumulated wealth is meant to be used for noble causes.

17. A person without money has no friends or relatives.

18. He who loses wealth loses nothing; he who loses honor loses everything.

19. Do not spend more than your income.

20. Divide your money in three parts: one for business, one for enjoyment, one for savings.

5. Statecraft & Leadership

21. A king who is too soft will be destroyed; a king who is too harsh will also be destroyed.

22. The root of power is discipline.

23. A leader should not reveal his weaknesses.

24. A king must protect his subjects like a father.

25. War is the last option, after all other measures fail.

6. Family & Domestic Life

26. Excessive attachment to family causes fear and sorrow.

27. Raise your son with love for the first five years, discipline for the next ten, and treat him as a friend thereafter.

28. A woman is the home’s prosperity.

29. Do not marry into a family that has no reputation.

30. A bad child ruins the whole family, like one rotten fruit.

7. Conduct & Character

31. Do not be too honest; straight trees are cut first.

32. One should not live in a place where there is no respect, no means of livelihood, no learning, and no temple.

33. Do not reveal your weakness even to your best friend.

34. Do not trust anyone blindly.

35. Speak truth—but not unpleasant truth.

8. Enemies & Dangers

36. An enemy’s weakness must never be underestimated.

37. Keep your enemy close until the time is right.

38. A serpent, fire, and enemy should not be neglected.

39. Strike enemies when they are vulnerable.

40. Never leave an enemy half-destroyed.

9. Women & Marriage

41. Women are naturally soft-hearted yet unpredictable.

42. A house without a wife is like a desert.

43. Protect your wife’s honor; it is your honor.

44. Do not be overpowered by lust; it ruins reason.

45. Women bring prosperity if respected, ruin if neglected.

10. Society & Conduct

46. Do not live in a town without honest men, rulers, and education.

47. A society thrives when scholars and warriors are respected.

48. A person should move from a place where livelihood is absent.

49. When in an assembly, speak only when asked.

50. Don’t mock others’ weaknesses.

11. Success & Failure

51. Even a small thorn can cause death if ignored—so do small mistakes.

52. Constant effort brings success, not luck alone.

53. Fortune favors the brave.

54. Think long term, but act in the present.

55. Only fools blame fate; the wise act.

12. Ethics & Dharma

56. Dharma sustains life and society.

57. Do not cheat others; karma repays.

58. If you want to be happy, reduce your desires.

59. Charity increases wealth, not decreases it.

60. Dharma is greater than wealth.

13. Strategy & Planning

61. Do not start work without strategy.

62. Have multiple plans in case the first fails.

63. The wise act according to time, place, and circumstance.

64. Strike only when success is assured.

65. Never reveal all your secrets.

14. Human Nature

66. A fool is recognized by his speech.

67. Desire never ends, like fire fed with ghee.

68. The greedy are never satisfied.

69. Anger destroys wisdom.

70. Pride comes before fall.

15. Daily Living

71. Wake up early; laziness kills success.

72. Avoid idle gossip.

73. Always live within your means.

74. Keep good company.

75. Eat simple, digestible food.

16. Travel & Dwelling

76. Do not live in a place where you are not respected.

77. Change place if livelihood is absent.

78. A wise man adjusts like water in any vessel.

79. On a journey, do not trust strangers blindly.

80. Travel with companions, not alone.

17. Learning from Nature

81. Learn patience from earth, forgiveness from rivers, and adaptability from the sky.

82. Fire teaches purity; water teaches calmness.

83. A tree gives shade even to the one who cuts it.

84. The moon waxes and wanes; accept change.

85. Bees teach teamwork and saving.

18. Cautionary Advice

86. Never argue with fools; they drag you down.

87. Avoid bad company—it is poison.

88. Don’t reveal weaknesses to anyone.

89. Never underestimate small dangers.

90. Be cautious with money, women, and power.

19. Wisdom & Insight

91. A wise man speaks little but says much.

92. Silence is better than useless words.

93. Intellect is true wealth.

94. Wisdom without application is wasted.

95. A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend.

20. Ultimate Lessons

96. Life is temporary; live with virtue.

97. Happiness lies in contentment.

98. Wealth, youth, and beauty are temporary—knowledge is eternal.

99. Death is certain; live meaningfully.

100. Self-realization is the highest goal.