Kah Kalah Kani Mitrani (Questions for Constant Self-Reflection) — Word-by-Word Meaning
कः कालः कानि मित्राणि
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
कः कालः
kaḥ kālaḥ
what is the time / the present age and circumstance?
कानि मित्राणि
kāni mitrāṇi
who (which) are my friends?
कः देशः
ko deśaḥ
what is the place / the country and setting I am in?
कौ व्ययागमौ
kau vyayāgamau
what are my expenses and income (outgo and earnings)?
कः च अहम्
kaś ca aham
and who am I? (what is my true position / nature?)
का च मे शक्तिः
kā ca me śaktiḥ
and what is my strength / capacity / ability?
इति
iti
thus, in this way (marking the questions to be pondered)
चिन्त्यम्
cintyam
should be thought about, ought to be reflected upon
मुहुर्मुहुः
muhur muhuḥ
again and again, repeatedly, time after time
Complete Translation
What is the time? Who are my friends? What is the place I am in? What are my expenses and my income? Who am I, and what is my real strength? — these questions one should ponder again and again. Chanakya offers a checklist for constant self-awareness, by which a wise person keeps a clear grasp of circumstances, resources and capacity.
Origin & History
Source: Chanakya Niti
Author: Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya)
Period: Ancient India (c. 4th–3rd century BCE)
Chanakya, the master strategist, knew that sound action begins with an honest reading of one's own situation. In this verse he compresses that discipline into six questions — about time, friends, place, finances, self and strength — to be revisited again and again, giving the seeker a portable method for the self-awareness on which all wise conduct depends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does 'Kah Kalah Kani Mitrani' come from?▼
It is a famous verse from the Chanakya Niti (Niti Darpana), the body of aphorisms attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya / Vishnugupta), the ancient Indian teacher of ethics, statecraft and practical wisdom.
What are the questions this verse tells us to ask?▼
Six: What is the time (and age)? Who are my friends? What place or situation am I in? What are my expenses and income? Who am I (my true position)? And what is my real strength or capacity? Chanakya says these should be pondered muhur muhuh — again and again.
Why should one reflect on these 'again and again'?▼
Because circumstances, relationships and resources keep changing. Repeated self-examination keeps a person realistic and alert, so that decisions always match the actual situation, one's means and one's capacity, rather than outdated assumptions.
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