The Integrity of the Great Men of India

You must have heard about Xuanzang, the Chinese Buddhist traveller who came to India in the seventh century.

Our historians have learned a lot about ancient India from his writings.

He had heard about Chanakya, the great minister of King Chandragupta Maurya. He wanted to meet Chanakya.

Patna was the capital of the Maurya Vamsha. Xuanzang came to Patna looking for Chanakya.

He went to the banks of the Ganga in the evening. There were many who were doing prayers there. One by one, everyone left.

Xuanzang wanted to ask someone where he could find Chanakya. An elderly person was coming towards him.

He asked him, 'I am a traveller. I want to meet the great Chanakya.'

The man said, 'Follow me.'

Xuanzang started following him. They kept on walking.

After some time, they entered a forest. Xuanzang got a little worried. 'Where is he taking me? Is he a genuine person?'

But he kept on following him.

After some time, they found a hut.

'You said you would take me to Chanakya. What is this? Where are we?'

The man said, 'I am myself Chanakya. Please come inside. Be my guest.'

They both went inside the house.

Chanakya offered him a seat.

In the meantime, King Chandragupta also came there. He offered pranamas to Chanakya.

Chanakya told the king, 'Right now I don’t have time to discuss anything. This person here is my guest. Take him to the palace. Make sure that he is comfortable. Bring him back here tomorrow evening.'

The next day, Xuanzang was brought back to Chanakya’s hut.

When they came in, Chanakya was writing something.

He said, 'Please give me some time. I will talk to you soon.'

Chanakya finished his work.

There was an oil lamp that he was using while writing. Chanakya extinguished the flame of that lamp, took out another lamp, and lighted it.

Then he asked Xuanzang, 'How are you, my friend? Do you like our land? How do you find it?'

Xuanzang said, 'Yes, but it is strange.'

Chanakya asked, 'What did you find strange here?'

Xuanzang said, 'For instance, what you did just now. You extinguished one lamp and lighted another one. Why did you do that?'

Chanakya smiled.

He said, 'I will tell you. When you came in, I was doing my official work. The oil in the lamp that I was using then, the money for that comes from the treasury of the country.

But now, what I am doing is personal. I am talking to my guest, my personal guest.

For that, I should not use the country’s resources. The oil in this lamp is my own. I bought this using my own money.'

Xuanzang was taken aback.

'What honesty! What discipline! What clarity of thought!

No wonder the Maurya Empire flourished under the guidance of Chanakya.

Keep this in your mind. This is how great men are.

You should never misuse public property.

Nobody would have questioned Chanakya even if he had continued to use the same lamp. The whole country was under him.

But see how he conducted himself.

Only such leaders can take our country ahead.'

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi