Acharya Chanakya has given many formulas to make life happy, peaceful and successful in his policies. He believed that a person is not identified only by his words or position, but by his qualities, behavior, and character. In the tenth verse of the first chapter of Chanakya Niti, Acharya has described five such qualities, which are necessary to have in our lives. People who do not have these five qualities should avoid their company.
Chanakya says- One should avoid the company of a person who does not have the understanding of livelihood, fear i.e. fear of doing wrong deeds, shame i.e. shame, generosity and sacrifice.
1. Understanding Livelihood
The first quality in this policy of Chanakya is the understanding of managing livelihood. One should take responsibility for one’s own life. A relationship with a person who is careless about their needs and duties can be difficult. This does not mean that one should not associate with a financially weak person, but it is a necessary quality to have responsibility and practical understanding towards life. Without this quality, a person does not move forward in life, troubles persist in his life and he can be negative.
2. Fear i.e. fear of doing the wrong thing
Fear here does not mean being afraid all the time. This means that we should be afraid to do wrong things and break the boundaries. We should not run away from our duties. A person who has no fear of any wrongdoing, does not hesitate to harm others. Therefore, prudent fear and a sense of responsibility make a person disciplined. Such people are also honest about their relationships.
3. Shame
Shame means respecting one’s dignity, social decorum and moral values. A person should not do anything that would offend himself or others. The behavior of a person who does not care about his dignity can cause problems in relationships. Such people should be avoided.
4. Generosity and Humility
One should remain generous, polite, and cooperative towards others. A person who thinks only of his own interest is not able to sustain relationships for a long time. Conversely, understanding, assisting, and treating others with respect strengthens the relationship.
5. Sacrifice means to make sacrifices when needed
Renunciation means that one should not be limited to one’s own gains and pleasures. In relationships, sometimes one has to rise above one’s own selfishness and think for the benefit of others. It can be difficult to maintain a relationship with a person who is not willing to compromise, cooperate, or sacrifice their selfishness. People who are willing to make sacrifices in relationships tend to have long-lasting relationships.
Who was Acharya Chanakya?
Acharya Chanakya is considered to be a famous politician, economist, diplomat and thinker of ancient India. They are also known as Kautilya and Vishnugupta. He was the guide of the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta Maurya and played an important role in the establishment of the Mauryan Empire.