Nītiśataka- A Guide to Psychological Wellness

Abstract

Sanskrit, being an ancient language, has numerous books and treatises stating the moral values and the good behaviour. We find some texts in Sanskrit which discuss nīti- the etiquettes, the good manners, the ethics, and the rules of good behaviour. A significant among those texts is the Nītiśataka. It is a text with nearly 100 verses in Sanskrit that mostly talk about the good moral behaviour of a human being. In doing so, it guides the reader on the path of developing good virtues and in turn, improving one’s psychological health. The text of Nītiśataka, with its ten sections, focusses on the many aspects of human behaviour, which need to be studied deeply for moral teachings. The society which is made up of good moral values naturally has psychological wellness. This text showcases the ancient Indian wisdom, which helps not only the common man, but also the kings, the influencers and the people who are the leaders of the society.