Chapter 15.5 - Introduction to Niti-Kavyas

Niti is a term in Sanskrit which covers a wide spectrum. It may mean the right manner of conducting oneself, the proper behaviour, the decent and the rightful course and of course policy, stratagem and statecraft. In its overstretched meaning it

may convey just a wise saying, good advice. Sanskrit literature from the earliest to the modern period is full of such sayings. The Brahmana and the Sutra texts, the Upanisads, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Puranas and the classical literature-all are full of such sayings. An overwhelming number of them is in verse and are couched in highly ornate and elegant style. Over a period of time these sayings were collected from different texts and their compilations prepared. A good number of them were ascribed to Canakya, the preceptor and minister of Mauryan Emperor Candragupta, the works like the Canakyaniti, the Canakyasataka, the Canakya-niti-darpana, the Canakya-rajaniti, the Vrddhacanakya, the Laghucanakya and so on. Scholars have no unanimity about the authorship of these works. However, what they convey has universal application and appeal. They incorporate in them highly pragmatic wisdom just a sample of which can be had from the following verse: natyantasaralair bhavyam gatva pasya vanasthalim/ dola a chidyante saralas tatra kubjas tisthanti padapah// bonis "(People) should not be too simple-minded. Go. Look at the forest-ground. It is the Sarala variety of pine trees (that are straight and tall) that are cut while the pigmy/crooked ones that continue in situ." Of the other Niti texts mention may be made of Vararuci's Nitiratna, Ghatakarpara's Nitisara, Vetalabhatta's Nitipradipa, Bhartrhari's Nitisataka (noticed earlier), the Bhallatasataka of Bhallata, the protege of King Sankaradeva of Kashmir (883- 902 A.D. The last one may not claim originality for itself in its entirety, two of its verses having been ascribed to two different authors in anthologies and one of Anandavardhana figuring in it. Bilhana, the author of the well-known historical Mahakavya the Vikramankadevacarita, had also composed a Nitikavya under the title Santisataka. Among the other Kashmirian writers one Sambhu, the protege of King Harsa (1089-1101 A.D.) had

composed a Nitikavya under the title Anyoktimuktalatasataka which though calling itself a Sataka has , in line with many other similar works in Sanskrit literature, more than hundred-108 stanzas. Of the later period is the work the Drstantasataka of Kusumadeva where every statement is corroborated by an illustration, as for example, vig uttamah klesaviksobham ksamah sodhum nahitarah/ manir eva mahasanagharsanam na tu mrtkanah// "It is the hight (-minded) one that is able to withstand the onslaught of suffering, not the other one. It is only the jewel that stands rubbing by the whet-stone, not the dust particle." Sanskrit literature has a philosophical Nitikavya too like the Satasloki of Sankaracarya which deals with the Vedanta doctrine. In another similar work the Srngarajnananirnaya of uncertain date there is disputation between Rambha and Suka, the former supporting eroticism, Srngara and the latter true knowledge, Jnana. Besides independent works, the anthologies contain a lot of stanzas on Niti. One ascribed to Urvidhara has gained immense popularity in Sanskrit circles: jady a nirgunesv api sattvesu dayam kurvanti sadhavah// nahi samharate jyotsnam candras candalavesmanah// ioun "The good people are kind even to beings who are bereft of any quality. The moon does not withdraw its light from the abode of an outcaste." above: Equally popular is the stanza from the Nitiratna referred to manir luthati padagre kacah sirasi dharyate/ LA 100 yathaivaste tathaivastam kacah kaco manir manih// "The jewel rolls (moves hither and thither) at the fore-part of the feet (while) crystal is worn on the head. Let it be as it is; the crystal is crystal and the jewel is jewel."

The older texts like the Viduraniti, the Sukraniti, the Kamandakiyanitisara which carry the word niti in them have that sense of niti which concerns itself with statecraft, polity. They are beautiful monographs on the subject that they deal with in all their ramifications . They differ from other works in their subject matter which pertains to the instruction in proper manner of conducting oneself in life, the proper behaviour and the decorum that one has to observe and also in their style of composition which is poetic. wob zibile mont The first as of now s biv) gaidade gainesm Dion they ada bm and old bidw