CHARUCHARYA Part XVI

 

नोपदेशेऽप्यभव्यानां मिथ्या कुर्यात् प्रवादिताम् । शुक्रषाड्गुण्यगुप्तापि प्रक्षीणा दैत्यसंततिः ॥ ६४ ॥

Nopadeśe’py abhavyānāṁ mithyā kuryāt pravāditām |
Śukra-ṣāḍguṇya-guptāpi prakṣīṇā daitya-santatiḥ || 64 ||

Translation

One should not waste one’s speech by advising wicked people. Even though the demons were protected by Śukra’s sixfold political wisdom, their race was eventually destroyed.

Explanation

This verse teaches a practical ethical lesson: wisdom is valuable, but it cannot transform those who refuse to change.  Śukrācārya, the preceptor of the Asuras (demons), was a master of political science (ṣāḍguṇya – the six diplomatic strategies: peace, war, neutrality, alliance, double policy, and seeking protection). Yet, despite his brilliant counsel, the demon race declined because of their arrogance and immoral conduct.

The moral insight is sharp: advice given to the morally corrupt becomes fruitless. Ethical transformation requires receptivity. Teaching the unreceptive not only wastes words but diminishes their value.

न तीव्रदीर्घवैराणां मन्युं मनसि रोपयेत् । कोपेनापातयन्नन्दं चाणक्यः सप्तभिर्दिनैः ॥ ६५ ॥

Na tīvra-dīrgha-vairāṇāṁ manyuṁ manasi ropayet |
Kopenāpātayan Nandaṁ Cāṇakyaḥ saptabhir dinaiḥ || 65 ||

Translation

One should not provoke the anger of those who bear intense and long-standing enmity.  Chanakya, through his fierce anger, brought down the Nanda dynasty within seven days.

Explanation

This verse warns against provoking powerful and determined enemies.  Chanakya, the brilliant political thinker and author of Arthashastra, was insulted by the Nanda king. His anger was not impulsive—it was strategic and sustained. Within a short time, he engineered the fall of the powerful Nanda dynasty and established Chandragupta Maurya on the throne.

The ethical lesson is not about revenge but about prudence. Never provoke a wise and determined person whose resentment runs deep. Anger combined with intelligence can become unstoppable.

न सतीनां तपोदीप्तं कोपयेत् क्रोधपावकम् । वधाय दशकण्ठस्य वेदवत्यत्यजत्तनुम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Na satīnāṁ tapo-dīptaṁ kopayet krodha-pāvakam |
Vadhāya Daśakaṇṭhasya Vedavatī atyajat tanum || 66 ||

Translation

One should not provoke the fire of anger that blazes from the austerity of chaste women.  For the destruction of the ten-headed Ravana, Vedavati gave up her body.

Explanation

This verse speaks about the spiritual power of purity and austerity.  Vedavati, a devoted ascetic woman, was insulted by Ravana (the ten-headed king of Lanka, known as Daśakaṇṭha in the Ramayana). Unable to tolerate his misconduct, she immolated herself in yogic fire, vowing that she would be the cause of his destruction. She was later reborn as Sita, whose abduction ultimately led to Ravana’s downfall.

The moral message is profound: spiritual strength is more powerful than physical force. The anger of the virtuous, especially when born from injustice, carries tremendous karmic power.

Overall Ethical Insight

These three verses together teach practical wisdom:

Do not waste knowledge on the wicked.

Do not provoke intense and capable enemies.

Do not insult or harm the spiritually powerful and virtuous.

They combine political prudence, psychological insight, and moral sensitivity—hallmarks of classical Sanskrit ethical literature.