Page 24 - Sri Canakya Niti

Preface to the Second Edition

In the first verse Cāṇakya Paṇḍita himself explains that these ślokas
have been raked from other sources. He says: “I now recite maxims
selected from various śāstras pertaining to political ethics.” This

edition annotates for the first time the verses from the Garuḍa Purāṇa
and elsewhere that are the likely origins of many of these parables for
success.

As far as our own personal qualifications for presenting Śrī Cāṇakya-

nīti, I confess that I have none. Śrīla Prabhupāda has told me, “I
am simply praying to Kṛṣṇa to give you intelligence.” He clarifi ed
this point a few years later when he explained to me in no uncertain
terms that I am the greatest fool and rascal and do not even deserve to
live. Aside from that, he told me to deliver everyone in the universe.

Therefore, since we are without qualifications, we have simply let the
verses and Śrīla Prabhupāda’s insight into them speak for themselves.
My sincere thanks to my respected Godbrother His Holiness Śrīla
Bhakti Vikāsa Mahārāja for kindly arranging for the printing of
this volume and for his valuable insight into the text. His disciples
Śrīmān Kiśora Dāsa Adhikārī and Śrīmatī Ananta-sarovara Dāsī, a
husband-wife team, have brought the work to a higher focus through
their expertise of Sanskrit editing, proofreading, insight and generally
bringing the text up to the scholastic standard of the Bhaktivedanta
Book Trust. I would also like to thank them for composing the table

of contents and the glossary. Another proficient disciple of Mahārāja,
Śrīmān Vṛndāvana Candra Prabhu, capably handled the fi nal
formatting. Thanks also to my companion and better half at Mithuna
Twiins Astrological Services Śrīmatī Abhaya Mudrā Dāsī for her
suggestions, art work, formatting and cover design. It is our deep
regret that our dear mentor in this effort Paṇḍita Śrī V. Badarayana
Murthy has departed this planet and will not see this edition. He was
a faithful servant of both his Mādhva Vaiṣṇava samprādaya and of
Śrīla Prabhupāda, and he was like our real father. We pray that he has
reached the supreme destination at Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

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