Chapter 6 - The Shaking Off of the Aggregate of the Six Enemies

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Summary: Restraint of the Organs of Sense (a): The Shaking Off of the Aggregate of the Six Enemies.

Restraint of the organs of sense, on which success in study and discipline depends, can be enforced by abandoning lust, anger, greed, vanity (māna), haughtiness (mada), and overjoy (harsha).

Absence of discrepancy (avipratipatti) in the perception of sound, touch, colour, flavour, and scent by means of the ear, the skin, the eyes, the tongue, and the nose, is what is meant by the restraint of the organs of sense. Strict observance of the precepts of sciences also means the same; for the sole aim of all the sciences is nothing but restraint of the organs of sense.

Whosoever is of reverse character, whoever has not his organs of sense under his control, will soon perish, though possessed of the whole earth bounded by the four quarters.

For example: Bhoja,^[1] known also by the name Dāṇḍakya, making a lascivious attempt on a Brāhman maiden, perished along with his kingdom and relations.

So also Karāla, the Vaideha. Likewise Janamejaya under the influence of anger against Brāhmans, as well as Tālajaṅgha against the family of Bhṛgus.

Aila in his attempt under the influence of greed to make exactions from Brāhmans, as well as Ajabindu, the Sauvīra (in a similar attempt.

Rāvaṇa,^[2] unwilling under the influence of vanity to restore a stranger’s wife, as well as Duryodhana^[2] to part with a portion of his kingdom; Dambhodbhava as well as Arjuna of Haihaya dynasty being so haughty as to despise all people.

Vātāpi, in his attempt under the influence of overjoy to attack Agastya, as well as the corporation of the Vṛṣṇis in their attempt against Dvaipāyana.

Thus these and other several kings, falling a prey to the aggregate of the six enemies, and having failed to restrain their organs of [12] sense, perished together with their kingdom and relations. Having driven out the aggregate of the six enemies, Ambarīṣa of Jāmadagnya, famous for his restraint of the organs of sense, as well as Nābhāga, long enjoyed the earth.^[3]

[Thus ends Chapter VI, “The Shaking Off of the Aggregate of the Six Enemies,” in the section of the “Restraint of the Organs of Sense,” in Book I, “Concerning Discipline” of the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya.]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

No Purāṇa mentions the particular historical incident in connection with some of the kings.

[2]:

These allusions sufficiently establish the historical nature of the Rāmāyana and of the Mahabhārata.

[3]:

In śloka-metre. Ka. I, 56-58.