हस्ती स्थूलतनु: स चांकुशवशं: किं हस्तिमात्रोंऽकुश: दीपे प्रज्वलिते प्रणश्यति तम: किं दीपमात्रं तम:।
वज्रेणाभिहता: पतन्ति गिरय: किं व्रज्रमात्रां नगा: तेजो यस्य विराजते स बलवान स्थूलेषु क: प्रत्यय: ।।
Hastee sthooltanuh sa Chankushuashah Kim Hastimaatronkushah Deepe Prajjvalite Pranashyati Tamah Kim Deepamaatram Tamah |
Vajjrenabhihataah Patanti Giryaah Kim Vijjramaatram Nagaah Tejo Yasya Viraajate Sa Balvaan Sthooleshu Kah Prattyayah ||
Despite being of a massive body an elephant is controlled by the goad. Does that make the goad as powerful as the elephant? A lamp when kindled removes darkness, does that makes the lamp equal to the darkness? The blows of a thunderbolt breaks a mountain into pieces. Does that make the thunderbolt as big as a mountain? No. The brilliance has the power, physical massiveness does not matter.
Chanakya stresses the need of sharpness of the brain and intelligence against physical power. He says the brain always scores over brawn, which is a universal fact. Quoting various examples from nature, he proves his point quite poetically.
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