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Arthashastra advocates rational ethic to the conduct of the affairs of the state.
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The book is a masterpiece which covers a wide range of topics like statecraft, politics, strategy, selection and training of employees, leadership skills, legal systems, accounting systems, taxation, fiscal policies, civil rules, internal and foreign trade etc. This treatise is divided into sixteen books dealing with virtually every topic concerned with the running of a state – taxation, law, diplomacy, military strategy, economics, bureaucracy etc. In rather simple way, ‘arthashastra’ can be defined as ‘science and art of politics and diplomacy’. This is bit similar with ‘wealth’ which is defined in ‘Wealth of Nations’. It is used in the sense of material well-being, in livelihood, economically productive activity trade etc. In ‘Arthashastra’ itself it is being used in various contexts, points out L N Rangarajan in his translation of Kautilya -Arthashastra. ‘ Artha’ however is bit wider and an all-embracing term with variety of meanings. With more and more studies in the field of politics and economics and with a modern outlook and understanding of world affairs, the relevance and appreciation of Kautilya’s ‘arthashastra’ is incontrovertible.Īrthashastra means the science ( sastra) of wealth/earth/polity ( artha). He participated in various social and political revolutions of his Age and abstracted from his study of conflicts some general principles capable of universal application and effective in all times and ages. Unlike many other writers in the polity, Kautilya is unique Indian political thinker who was both thinker and statesman. Regarded as quintessence of ancient Vedic wisdom in politics and economics, Arthashastra holds remarkable relevance in today’s times with some curious resonance with the thoughts and theories of various philosophers, economists and political scientists around the world. Written in around 4th century BC by the Prime Minister of The Great Mauryan Empire Kautilya, also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta, Arthashastra is one of the most influential and comprehensive treatises in Political Science in the Indian Vedic Civilization. It is perhaps Kautilya’s Arthashastra which stands out to be thoroughly scientific and most authoritative interpretations of these ancient studies.
References to various political texts are available which studied and explored the concept of ‘dandaniti’. The discussions regarding politics are found in ‘smritis’ and ‘puranas’ by the name ‘dandaniti’. The history of tradition of Indian Politics is ancient and dates back during the time of Vedas.