Kautilya's Arthashastra 1.6: Chapter 6 (Section 3): Control over the Senses

1.6.1

vidyā vinayahetur indriyajayaḥ kāmakrodhalobhamānamadaharṣatyāgāt kāryaḥ //

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

1.6.2

karṇatvagakṣijihvāghrāṇendriyāṇāṃ śabdasparśarūparasagandheṣv avipratipattir indriyajayaḥ, śāstrānuṣṭhānaṃ vā //

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.

1.6.3

kṛtsnaṃ hi śāstram idam indriyajayaḥ //

1.6.4

tad viruddhavṛttir avaśyendriyaś cāturanto api rājā sadyo vinaśyati //

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.

1.6.5

yathā dāṇḍakyo nāma bhojaḥ kāmād brāhmaṇakanyām abhimanyamānaḥ sa-bandhurāṣṭro vinanāśa, karālaś ca vaidehaḥ //

For example: Bhoja, known also by the name, Dándakya, making a lascivious attempt on a Bráhman maiden, perished along with his kingdom and relations;

So also Karála, the Vaideha. Likewise Janamejaya under the influence of anger against Bráhmans, as well as Tálajangha against the family of Bhrigus.

1.6.6

kopāj janamejayo brāhmaṇeṣu vikrāntaḥ, tālajaṅghaś ca bhṛguṣu //

1.6.7

lobhād ailaś cāturvarṇyam atyāhārayamāṇaḥ, sauvīraś cājabinduḥ /

Aila in his attempt under the influence of greed to make exactions from Bráhmans, as well as Ajabindu, the Sauvíra (in a similar attempt);

1.6.8

mānād rāvaṇaḥ paradārān aprayacchan, duryodhano rājyād aṃśaṃ ca //

Rávana unwilling under the influence of vanity to restore a stranger's wife, as well as Duryodhana to part with a portion of his kingdom; Dambhodbhava as well as Arjuna of Haihaya dynasty being so haughty as to despise all people;

1.6.9

madād dambhodbhavo bhūtāvamānī, haihayaś cārjunaḥ //

1.6.10

harṣād vātāpir agastyam atyāsādayan, vṛṣṇisaṃghaś ca dvaipāyanam iti //

Vátápi in his attempt under the influence of overjoy to attack Agastya, as well as the corporation of the Vrishnis in their attempt against Dvaipáyana.

1.6.11

ete cānye ca bahavaḥ śatruṣaḍvargam āśritāḥ /
sa-bandhurāṣṭrā rājāno vineśur ajitendriyāḥ //

Thus these and other several kings, falling a prey to the aggregate of the six enemies and having failed to restrain their organs of sense, perished together with their kingdom and relations. Having driven out the aggregate of the six enemies, as well as Ambarísha of Jámadagnya famous for his restraint of the organs of sense Nábhága long enjoyed the earth.

1.6.12

śatruṣaḍvargam utsṛjya jāmadagnyo jitendriyaḥ /
ambarīṣaś ca nābhāgo bubhujāte ciraṃ mahīm //E