The Arthashastra (Sanskrit: अर्थशास्त्र, IAST: Arthaśāstra) is an ancient Indian Sanskrit treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy. Kautilya, also identified as Vishnugupta and Chanakya, is traditionally credited as the author of the text.
What is Arthashastra history?
The Arthashastra is an Indian treatise on politics, economics, military strategy, the function of the state, and social organization attributed to the philosopher and Prime Minister Kautilya (also known as Chanakya, Vishnugupta, l. c. 350-275 BCE) who was instrumental in establishing the reign of the great king …
Why is the arthashastra important?
The Arthashastra gave in-depth examinations on matters such as history, economics, politics, management, among many other subjects. It has often been cited as an important source for understanding Mauryan times.
What is Arthashastra what is its importance in Indian history?
Arthashastra (also Arthasastra) is an ancient treatise on economic, political and military administration of the state. It was written by Chanakya (also Kautilya, Vishnu Gupta). Arthashastrais the most authentic and importantsources for shaping the history of the Mauryan Empire.
Who was called Machiavelli of India?
Kautilya was an academician at Taxila University and later the Prime Minister of the Mauryan Empire. He is referred to as the Indian Machiavelli as a result of his undisputed and shrewd techniques and policies, which mirror a “realist” approach to politics, diplomacy and warfare.
Who called Kautilya as Indian Machiavelli?
Chandragupta Maurya (322 – 298 B.C.): Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the Mauryan Empire. Chandragupta embraced Jainism towards the end of his life.
Who is called Machiavelli of India?
What was Kautilya’s strategy?
Kautilya defines war as an expression of the foreign policy of a state. He provides guidance to a king to employ the elements of national power to achieve a state of continuing advantage. Kautilya provides a grand strategy. timeless classics of the ancient arts of war and governance.
What do we learn from Arthashastra?
The Arthashastra refers to a practice of political diplomacy that arose in India, and is epitomized by the written material on position, policy and military strategy written by Kautilya. Arthashastra deals thoroughly with the qualities and disciplines needed for a king to rule his subjects more expeditiously.
Is arthashastra a religious literature?
In prehistoric India, there were many kinds of literature which were non-religious in nature. Kautilya’s (Popularly known as Chanakya) ‘Arthashastra’ is the best example of secular literature.
What did Acharya kautilya think about the population?
Population could not grow beyond a reasonable limit owing to the high death rate due to constant wars between small states and loss of life due to the inadequate medical facilities. Kautilya recommended that the king should establish colonies for facilitating immigration.
Who wrote the arthashastra?
Chanakya
Arthashastra/Authors
Artha-shastra, (Sanskrit: “The Science of Material Gain”) also spelled Artha-śāstra, singularly important Indian manual on the art of politics, attributed to Kautilya (also known as Chanakya), who reportedly was chief minister to the emperor Chandragupta (c. 300 bce), the founder of the Mauryan dynasty.
What is the meaning of Arthashastra?
The ‘Arthashastra (Sanskrit: अर्थशास्त्र, IAST: Arthaśāstra) is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy, written in Sanskrit.
How can Arthashastra help us understand Indian strategic thinking?
The Arthashastra discusses topics ranging from taxation of goods to punishment for deviant sexual behavior, but for the purposes at hand it is important that the relevant sections which would help us understand Indian strategic behavior be teased out from the book. Subsequently, the influence of Kautilya on Indian strategic thinking will be gauged.
What does the Arthashastra say about integrity?
The Arthashastra, in Topic 6, describes checks and continuous measurement, in secret, of the integrity and lack of integrity of all ministers and high officials in the kingdom. Those officials who lack integrity must be arrested. Those who are unrighteous, should not work in civil and criminal courts.
How many books are in the Arthashastra?
Olivelle states that the surviving manuscripts of the Arthashastra are the product of a transmission that has involved at least three major overlapping divisions or layers, which together consist of 15 books, 150 chapters and 180 topics.
