Book review on kautilya’s arthashastra

Kautilya (4th century BC), also known as Vishnugupta and Chanakya , was the key adviser to the Indian king Chandragupta Maurya (317–293 B.C.E.), who first united the Indian subcontinent in empire . Kautilya was a professor at Taxila University and later the prime minister of the Maurya Empire. Kautilya's Arthashastra is the oldest book on Management available to the world. When literally translated, it means 'Scripture of Wealth'. The main focus of the book is on creation and management of wealth. Actually, the book is a masterpiece which covers a wide range of topics like statecraft, politics,military warfare,strategy,selection and training of employees, leadership skills, legal systems, accounting systems, taxation, fiscal policies, civil rules, internal and foreign trade etc. It also covers various technical subjects including medicine, gemology, metallurgy, measures of length, tables of weights, divisions of time, among many others.

1. Book Review
on
Kautilya’s Arthashastra
Submitted to :
Dr. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah
Professor ,
Department of Public Administration
University of Dhaka
Submitted by :
Md. Ahasan Uddin Bhuiyan
Department of Public Administration
University of Dhaka
Department of Public Administration
UNIVRSITY OF DHAKA

2. INTRODUCTION
Kautilya (4th century BC), also known as Vishnugupta and Chanakya , was the key
adviser to the Indian king Chandragupta Maurya (317–293 B.C.E.), who first united the
Indian subcontinent in empire . Kautilya was a professor at Taxila University and later the
prime minister of the Maurya Empire. He is the author of the Arthashastra, the celebrated
ancient Indian work on politice and economics. Hence, he is called a King Maker. He is also
credited with having masterminded the defeat of Alexander the Great in India, when he was
on his march to conquer the world.
As a political thinker, he was the first to visualize the concept of a 'Nation' for the
first time in Human History. During his time, India was split into various kingdoms. He
brought all of them together under one central governance, thus creating a nation called
Aryavartha, which later became India.
Kautilya's Arthashastra is the oldest book on Management available to the world. When
literally translated, it means 'Scripture of Wealth'. The main focus of the book is on creation
and management of wealth.
Actually, the book is a masterpiece which covers a wide range of topics like statecraft,
politics,military warfare,strategy,selection and training of employees, leadership skills, legal
systems, accounting systems, taxation, fiscal policies, civil rules, internal and foreign trade
etc. It also covers various technical subjects including medicine, gemology, metallurgy,
measures of length, tables of weights, divisions of time, among many others. Kautilya's
Arthashastra is divided into 15 books(May be considered as volume) with several parts of
each book .The headings of the books are as follows :
·I Concerning Discipline
·II The Duties of Government Superintendents
·III Concerning Law
·IV The Removal of Thorns
·V The Conduct of Courtiers
·VI The Source of Sovereign States
·VII The End of the Six-Fold Policy
·VIII Concerning Vices and Calamities
·IX The Work of an Invader
·X Relating to War
·XI The Conduct of Corporations
·XII Concerning a Powerful Enemy
·XIII Strategic Means to Capture a Fortress
·XIV Secret Means
·XV The Plan of a Treatise
Kautilya's Arthashastra is originally written in Shangskrita that’s rediscovered in 1905
by Prof. Shama Shastry and wrote its first English translation.I have read and prepared my
assignment from Shama Shastry’s English version Arthashastra of Kautilya.

3. Extract of Kautilya’s Arthashastra
In the very beginning section of the book , Kautilya included the summer of the
complete Arthashastra .
Then he discussed about the knowledge and science .He told that Anvikshaki
(comprises the Philosophy of Sankhya, Yoga, and Lokayata ) , the triple Védas (Trayi),
Várta (agriculture, cattle-breeding and trade), and Danda-Niti (science of government)
are what are called the four sciences .
In arthashastra , Kautilya also explained that the three Vedas, Sama, Rik and Yajus,
constitute the triple Vedas. These together with Atharvaveda and the Itihasaveda are
(known as) the Vedas. Siksha (Phonetics), Kalpa (ceremonial injunctions), Vyakarana
(grammar), Nirukta (glossarial explanation of obscure Vedic terms), Chandas (Prosody),
and Astronomy form the Angas. As the triple Vedas definitely determine the respective
duties of the four castes and of the four orders of religious life, they are the most useful.
He divided the duties of different casts in the following manner :
·The duty of the Brahman is study, teaching, performance of sacrifice, officiating
in others' sacrificial performance and the giving and receiving of gifts.
·That of a Kshatriya is study, performance of sacrifice, giving gifts, military
occupation, and protection of life.
·That of a Vaisya is study, performance of sacrifice, giving gifts, agriculture, cattle
breeding, and trade.
·That of a Sudra is the serving of twice-born (dvijati), agriculture, cattle-breeding,
and trade (varta), the profession of artizans and court-bards (karukusilavakarma).
·The duty of a householder is earning livelihood by his own profession, marriage
among his equals of different ancestral Rishis, intercourse with his wedded wife
after her monthly ablution, gifts to gods, ancestors, guests, and servants, and the
eating of the remainder.
·That of a student (Brahmacharin) is learning the Vedas, fire-worship, ablution,
living by begging, and devotion to his teacher even at the cost of his own life, or in
the absence of his teacher, to the teacher's son, or to an elder classmate.
·That of a Vanaprastha (forest-recluse) is observance of chastity, sleeping on the
bare ground, keeping twisted locks, wearing deer-skin, fire-worship, ablution,
worship of gods, ancestors, and guests, and living upon food stuffs procurable in
forests.
·That of an ascetic retired from the world (Parivrajaka) is complete control of the
organs of sense, abstaining from all kinds of work, disowning money, keeping
from society, begging in many places, dwelling in forests, and purity both internal
and external.
·Harmlessness, truthfulness, purity, freedom from spite, abstinence from cruelty,
and forgiveness are duties common to all.

4. The observance of one's own duty leads one to Svarga and infinite bliss (Anantya).
When it is violated, the world will come to an end owing to confusion of castes and
duties.
An ideal king is one who has the highest qualities of leadership, intellect, energy
& personal attributes.
The qualities of leadership (which attracts followers) are: birth in a noble family,
good fortune, intellect & prowess, association with elders, being righteous, truthful,
resolute, enthusiastic & disciplined, not breaking his promises, showing gratitude (to
those who help him), having lofty aims, not being dilatory, being stronger than
neighbouring kings & having ministers of high quality.
The qualities of intellect are: desire to learn, listening (to others), grasping,
retaining, understanding thoroughly and reflecting on knowledge, rejecting false views
and adhering to the true ones. An energetic king is one who is valorous, determined,
quick, and dexterous. As regards personal attributes, an ideal king should be eloquent,
bold and endowed with sharp intellect, a strong memory and a keen mind. He should be
amenable to guidance. He should be well trained in all the arts and be able to lead the
army. He should be just in rewarding and punishing. He should have the foresight to
avail himself of the opportunities (by choosing) the right time, place and type of action.
He should know how to govern in normal times and in times of crisis. He should know
when to fight and when to make peace, when to lie in wait, when to observe treaties and
when to strike at an enemy's weakness. He should preserve his dignity at all times and
not laugh in an undignified manner. He should be sweet in speech, look straight at people
and avoid frowning. He should eschew passion, anger, greed, obstinacy, fickleness and
backbiting. He should conduct himself in accordance with advice of elders.
Kautilya was the first human who gave the idea of decentralized government . He
divided the kingdom (janapada) into four districts, and having also subdivided the
villages (gráma) as of first, middle and lowest rank, he shall bring them under one or
another of the following heads:---Villages that are exempted from taxation (pariháraka);
those that supply soldiers (áyudhíya); those that pay their taxes in the form of grains,
cattle, gold (hiranya), or raw material (kupya); and those that supply free labour (vishti),
and dairy produce in lieu of taxes (karapratikara).
Kautilya recommends that public servants, ‘while engaged in work, they shall be
daily examined; for, men are naturally fickle-minded and like horses at work exhibit
constant change in their temper. Hence the agency and tools, which they make use of, the
place and time of the work they are engaged in, as well as the precise form of the work,
the outlay, and the results shall always, be ascertained… hence the chief officer of each
department (adhikarana) shall thoroughly scrutinize the real amount of the work done,
the receipts realized from, and the expenditure incurred in that departmental work both in
detail and in the aggregate’. Kautilya admitted that some degree of corruption would
always exist, and cannot be scrutinized perfectly, ‘It is possible to mark the movements
of birds flying high up in the sky; but not so is it possible to ascertain the movement of

5. government servants of hidden purpose.’ He therefore recommends strictest punishment,
both material and corporal, as a disincentive to cheat.
In the Arthashastra, stress has been given both on fraud prevention as well as fraud
detection. Kautilya had listed several ways by which public funds are misappropriated.
Kautilya has provided an exhaustive and illustrative description of the duties,
responsibilities and role of the king, prince(s), ministers, and other state officials. As for
the state’s political administration, Kautilya provided a full-fledged commentary as to
how this should be effectively undertaken. He gave instructions about the defense of the
state’s boundaries, protection of the forts, and the manner in which the invasion by the
enemy must be handled.
According to kautilya the six forms of state-policy are :
1.peace (sandhi),
2.war (vigraha)
3.bservance of neutrality (ásana),
4.marching (yána),
5.alliance (samsraya), and
6.making peace with one and waging war with another are.
The Arthashastra classifies legal matters into civil and criminal and it specifies
elaborate guidelines for administering justice in terms of evidence, procedures and
witnesses. Furthermore, Kautilya strongly believed in Dandniti, though he maintained
that penalties must be fair and just, and proportionate to the offence committed.
Kautilya was very much aware of crime specially on sexual intercourse . He who
defiles a maiden of equal caste before she has reached her maturity shall have his hand
cut off or pay a fine of 400 panas; if the maiden dies in consequence, the offender shall
be put to death. He who defiles a maiden who has attained maturity shall have his middle
finger cut off or pay a fine of 200 panas, besides giving an adequate compensation to her
father. No man shall have sexual intercourse with any woman against her will.
Attainment of good governance entails that the objectives of the state are fulfilled
and realized. This is possible through properly organized and guided administration. This
principle is relevant even today. A government is good, if it is administered well.
Kautilya suggests that good governance should avoid extreme decisions and extreme
actions. Soft actions (Sam, Dam) and harsh actions (Dand, Bhed) should be taken
accordingly. Kautilya opines in a most modern way - ‘Sovereignty is practicable only

6. with the cooperation of others and all administrative measures are to be taken after
proper deliberations.’ The King and ministers were supposed to observe strict discipline.
Kautilya recommended a strict code of conduct for himself and his administrators.
Kautilya has seriously considered the problem of corruption. He has listed, in the
Arthashastra, about forty ways of embezzling government funds. However, Kautilya is
very practical about the problem of corruption. Kautilya feels that it is as difficult to
discover the honesty or otherwise of an officer as it is to find out whether or not it was
the fish that drank the water.
One of the core themes of this chapter is that the Arthashastra of Kautilya equates
political governance with economic governance. The end is economic governance while
political governance is a means. Good governance is basic to the Kautilyan idea of
administration. Good governance and stability are inextricably linked. If rulers are
responsive, accountable, removable, recallable, there is stability. If not, there is
instability. This is even more relevant in the present democratic set up. Kautilya’s
precepts may have been in the context of the monarchical set up.However, present rulers
and administrators should be endowed with similar qualities. In countries where they
are, the progress has been meteoric. Vices are corruptions due to ignorance and
indiscipline; an unlearned man does not perceive the injurious consequences of his vices.
He summarizes: subject to the qualification that gambling is most dangerous in cases
where power is shared, the vice with the most serious consequence is addiction to drink,
followed by, lusting after women, gambling, and lastly hunting.
According to Kautilya, Collector-General shall attend to (the collection of
revenue from) :
·forts (durga),
·country-parts (ráshtra),
·mines (khani),
·buildings and gardens (setu),
·forests (vana),
·herds of cattle (vraja), and
·roads of traffic (vanikpatha).
In stark contrast to the emphasis that the Arthashastra assigns to rural (village)
development, agriculture, and the textile industry, the status quo in India is that these
spheres have been neglected.
Unlike in Kautilya’s state where the king was accessible to his people everyday at
least for one and a half hours .
It is amazing to note the wide range of subjects and spheres in which education
was imparted during Kautilya’s time. Medicine, mathematics, military education,
commercial education, statecraft, the arts, architecture are some of the areas in which

7. extensive training was provided. Some of the eminent institutions of learning that
flourished during the time included Nalanda and Takshila.
In the sphere of economic administration of today has much to learn from
Kautilya’s Arthashastra. Kautilya recommends severe penalties on the officials of public
enterprises which incurred losses, and rewards for those who showed profits. ”Profit”
was a “must” in Kautilya’s scheme of running a country’s administration.
Kautilya is perceptive enough and flexible enough to realize that the State official
might not be able to gauge the market, he thus states that ‘in case of failure to sell
merchandise at the fixed rate, the rate shall be altered.’ Kautilya envisaged a role for the
State to ensure that excessive price fluctuation detrimental to commercial activities did
not occur. Kautilya showed a highly refined understanding of the law of demand and
supply and the pernicious effects of gluts in the market.
Interestingly, Kautilya’s Arthasastra is the first known treatise to discuss such
concepts. The extensive research that has been undertaken about imperfect markets
vindicates the importance that the visionary assigned to situations that could arise from a
mismatch between supply and demand.
Kautilya recommended an interventionist policy to counter a situation of glut in
the market; In this context, he stated that whenever there is an excessive supply of
merchandise, the Superintendent shall centralize its sale and prohibit the sale of similar
merchandise elsewhere before the centralized supply is disposed of.’
Agriculture was the most important economic activity. Kautilya was of the view
that cultivable land is better than mines because mines fill only the treasury while
agricultural production fills both treasury and store houses. The Arthashastra spoke about
the functions of a Superintendent of Agriculture and states that the King should
understand the intricacies of agriculture.
The Arthashastra has highlighted the significance of taxes on agriculture and allied
activities (though it was one of the sole major sectors contributing to state welfare). The
importance of irrigation and providing amenities could be taken up on a priority basis.
The agricultural economy that has to compete with the international market continues to
be at the mercy of the vagaries of the monsoon.

Kautilya considered trade the third pillar of economic activity and in consonance
with this the Arthashastra details every aspect of trade . For instance, apart from
promoting trade by improving infrastructure, the state was required to keep trade routes
free of harassment by courtiers, state officials, thieves, and frontier guards. Kautilya
appears to mistrust traders believing them to be thieves, with a propensity to from cartels
to fix prices and make excessive profits as also to deal in stolen property. He prescribed
heavy fines for discouraging such offences by traders and with a view to consumer
protection. Further, the law on dealings among private merchants included: Selling on

8. agency basis , Revocation of contracts between traders , Traders traveling together and
pooling their goods , Safety of goods in transit
Kautilya was cognizant of the fact that the terms of trade were not just dependent
on the conomics but also on other various parameters. The traders had to keep in mind
the political or strategic advantages in exporting or importing from a particular country.
The proliferation of free trade agreements in recent times underscores this point because
there is a definite political dimension to trade treaties and agreements.
Kautilya identified several areas of State intervention to facilitate the economic
life of the country. They are as follows:
1.The superintendent of slaughterhouse
2.The superintendent of prostitutes
3.The superintendent of ships
4.The superintendent of passports
5.The office of the city superintendent.
Kautilya distinguished six different kinds of interests:
·compound interest,
·periodical interest,
·stipulated interest,
·daily interest, and
·the use of a pledged article.
In Kautilya’s state, the king could severely punish corrupt officials, however
highly they were placed. In India, those in political office are rarely convicted even if
they are corrupt or proved guilty of committing certain offences.
The overall Kautilyan system of interest iss quite elaborate, complex and even
modern. In Arthashastra, there is a definite effort to formulate a wage policy based on the
realistic understanding of the economic, social and political factors. The emerging policy
must be just, and must be consistent with the interest of the state. In Kautilya, the State is
a party to any labour or wage legislation together with farmers, merchants and
industrialists.
Kautilya mentioned that the words sama (quiet), sandhi (agreement of peace), and
samádhi (reconcilement), are synonymous. That which is conducive to mutual faith
among kings is termed sama, sandhi, or samádhi.
In case of any apprehension of breach of honesty, they made their agreement by
swearing by fire, water, plough, the brick of a fort-wall, the shoulder of an elephant, the
hips of a horse, the front of a chariot, a weapon, seeds, scents, juice (rasa), wrought gold

9. (suvarna), or bullion gold (hiranya), and by declaring that these things will destroy and
desert him who violates the oath.
Kautilya’s idea of the Passport corresponds to the modern version of this
document that facilitates movement of people. This is perhaps the first instance of an
institutionalized concept of passports that regulate the flow of people across borders.
Kautilya said that ‘whoever is provided with a pass shall be at liberty to enter into, or go
out of, the country.’
Kautilya realized that the role of the State was to ensure that commercial activities
do not violate laws or are harmful for the consumer and if the State did not establish and
enforce codes of conduct, it would, in fact, raise transaction costs. The lack of trust and
guarantee of quality would diminish commerce and increase search and verification costs
for agents undertaking commercial transactions.
Kautilya explicitly states that ‘Adulteration of grains, oils, alkalis, salts, scents,
and medicinal articles with similar articles of no quality shall be punished with a fine.’
The consumer/buyer is provided safeguards by Kautilya, i.e., ‘the sale or mortgage of
articles such as timber, iron, brilliant stones, ropes, skins, earthenware, threads, fibrous
garments, and woolen clothes as superior, although they are really inferior, shall be
punished with a fine.’ Kautilya states that ‘the Superintendent of Commerce shall fix a
profit of five per cent over and above the fixed price of local commodities, and ten per
cent on foreign produce. Merchants who enhance the price or realize profit even to the
extent of half a pana more than the above in the sale or purchase of commodities shall be
punished with a fine.
It is interesting to note that Kautilya tried to establish guidelines for professional
service providers also, including weavers, washer men, boatmen, shipping agents, and
even prostitutes. Modern States are still grappling with the complexity of setting such
‘services’ oriented guidelines and in that light Kautilya’s attempts to do so shows the
sheer breadth of his vision at such an early point in history. He also established explicit
guidelines for the practice of the medical profession, incorporating ideas that seem ahead
of his time.
Hence the king shall be ever active in the management of the economy. The root
of wealth is (economic) activity and lack of it (brings) material distress. In the absence of
(fruitful economic) activity, both current prosperity and future growth will be destroyed.
A king can achieve the desired objectives & abundance of riches by undertaking
(productive) economic activity.
Though the kingdom was a feudal monarchy, it had a well structured
administrative machinery, containing various departments and the heads of these

10. departments were charged with well specified responsibilities; They were expected to
run the team actively, efficiently prudently and profitably; The kingpin of administration
was the King himself who was advised by a group of councilors, ministers and other high
officials, who were carefully selected by the king himself after careful scrutiny of their
character, background and leadership qualities.
Though Kautilya wrote in the context of a monarchy and the governance that
prevailed in his time, there are certain fundamental points of relevance that we can cull
out of his propositions about the functioning of all those activities that may be
categorized as those that come within the purview of the present day public sector units.
The Arthashastra emphasized that the King should build forts, canals, roads, and
moats and as a matter of fact it describes with considerable detail the layout of each of
these infrastructural constituents. It is not the precise applicability of each of these
specifications but the fact that it is meticulously described in the Arthashastra which
underscore that Kautilya recognized that efficient provision of these amenities entailed
adherence to certain parameters.
The second aspect is Kautilya’s exhaustive description of the duties and
responsibilities of the entire gamut of functionaries within the monarchy ranging from
ministers, councilors, and commissioners, to the officers at the lowest level of the
hierarchy. Furthermore, the Arthashastra enumerates the measures such as penalties and
a system of vigilance to ensure the efficient discharge of the responsibilities of the
various tiers of governance. Penalties were also used for the enforcement of revenue
targets and expenditure limits. Evidently, Kautilya understood the importance of
accountability and transparency the lack of which in a number of public sector units has
been a prime reason for the proliferation of loss making public sector enterprises.
Kautilya says - Quarrels among people can be resolved by winning over the
leaders or by removing the cause of the quarrel - people fighting among themselves help
the king by their mutual rivalry. Conflicts (for power) within the royal family, on the
other hand, bring about harassment and destruction to the people and double the exertion
that is required to end such conflicts. Hence internal strife in the royal family for power
is more damaging than quarrels among their subjects. The king must be well versed in
discretion and shrewd in judgement.
The Arthashastra spoke of the King appointing spies to ensure a system of
vigilance that would be able to monitor the activities of various departments and
although this may not be termed as an audit it would have served some of the purposes
that an audit is supposed to fulfill. There has been extensive research on this subject in
today’s times. However, one of the central objectives of corporate governance is to
ensure through certain managerial and legal provisions, accountability and transparency
and this is also one of main tenets of Kautilya’s Arthashastra .

11. Kautilya believed in the adage “Yatha Raja Thatha Prajah” (As the King is, so
will be the people”). Therefore he laid down the condition that “an ideal King is one who
has the highest qualities of leadership, intellect, energy and personal attributes”.
According to Kautilya, the King had to thoroughly test the integrity of those whom he
had appointed. Kautilya also cautioned the dangers inherent in King’s service.
The king was not exempt from being endowed with certain qualities of leadership
if he was to be able to provide effective and productive governance. Thus the political
leaders have to set an example by adhering to high standards of conduct and functioning.
In contemporary times there have been frequent reminders that it is not positions which
sustain an individual however powerful he/she maybe but the person concerned that has
to sustain power conferred not by abusing it but by using it in a constructive manner for
the people concerned .
Kautilya listed 34 heads of departments. Only those who had the specified
qualifications were appointed to these high posts. Except in the case of Raj Purohita, the
scribe (Brahmin) and army (Kshatriyas), there was no “caste” reservation for the post of
high level officials.” Thus, upward mobility in the hierarchy was based on merit,
suitability and fulfilling other qualifications laid down for these posts.
The emphasis assigned by Kautilya on efficient water management and the
detailed instructions on how to do so contrasts with the grossly undertapped potential of
this abundant natural resource. Millions trudge miles to obtain water in a country which
has so much of it.
Arthashastra deals in detail with the qualities and disciplines required for a
Rajarshi - a wise and virtuous king. In the happiness of his subjects lies the king's
happiness, in their welfare his welfare. He shall not consider as good only that which
pleases him but treat as beneficial to him whatever pleases his subjects.
According to Kautilya, a Rajarshi is one who:
·Has self-control, having conquered the inimical temptations of the senses;
·Cultivates the intellect by association with elders;
·Keeps his eyes open through spies;
·Is ever active in promoting the security & welfare of the people;
·Ensures the observance (by the people) of their dharma by authority &
example;
·Improves his own discipline by (continuing his) learning in all branches of
knowledge; and
·Endears himself to his people by enriching them & doing good to them.
Such a disciplined king should: -
·Keep away from another's wife;

12. ·Not covet another's property;
·Practice ahinsa (non-violence towards all living things);
·Avoid day dreaming, capriciousness, falsehood & extravagance; and
·Avoid association with harmful persons and indulging in (harmful)
activities.
Kautilya says that artha (Sound Economies) is the most important; dharma &
kama are both dependent on it. A Rajarishi shall always respect those councillors and
purohitas who warn him of the dangers of transgressing the limits of good conduct,
reminding him sharply (as with a goad) of the times prescribed for various duties and
caution him even when he errs in private.
A conducive atmosphere is necessary for the state's economy to thrive. This
requires that a state's law and order be maintained. Arthashastra specifies fines and
punishments to support strict enforcement of laws. The science of law enforcement is
also called Dandaniti.
On the border of the forest, he should establish a forest for elephants guarded by
foresters. The Superintendent should with the help of guards...protect the elephants
whether along on the mountain, along a river, along lakes or in marshy tracts...They
should kill anyone slaying an elephant.
The Arthashastra also reveals that the Mauryas designated specific forests to
protect supplies of timber, as well as lions and tigers, for skins. Elsewhere the Protector
of Animals also worked to eliminate thieves, tigers and other predators to render the
woods safe for grazing cattle.
If the king is energetic, his subjects will be equally energetic. If he is slack (and
lazy in performing his duties), the subjects will also be lax and thereby eat into his
wealth. Besides, a lazy king will easily fall into the hands of enemies. Hence the maharaj
should himself always be energetic. He shall divide the day and the night, each into eight
periods of one and half hours, and perform his duties as follows:
First 1 1/2 hrs. after sunrise : Receive reports on defence, revenue, expenditure ;
Second 1 1/2 hrs. after sunrise : Public audiences, to hear petitions of city & country
people ; Third 1 1/2 hrs. after sunrise & Last 1 1/2 hrs. before noon : Receive revenues &
tributes; appoint ministers and other high officials & allot tasks to them ; First 1 1/2 hrs.
after noon : Write letters & dispatches, confer with councillors, receive secret
information from spies ; Second 1 1/2 hrs. after noon : Personal: recreation, time for
contemplation ; Third 1 1/2 hrs. after noon & Last 1 1/2 hrs. before sunset : Inspect &
review forces; Consult with Chief of Defence . The day shall end with evening prayers.
First 1 1/2 hrs. after sunset : Interview with secret agents ; Second 1 1/2 hrs. after
sunset : Personal: bath, meals, study ; Third & Fourth 1 1/2 hrs. after sunset & First 1
1/2 hrs. after midnight : Retire to the bed chamber to the sound of music, sleep ; Second
1 1/2 hrs. after midnight : After waking to the sound of music, meditate on political

13. matters & on work to be done ; Third 1 1/2 hrs. after midnight : Consult with councilors,
send out spies ; Last 1 1/2 hrs. before sunrise : Religious, household & personal duties,
meetings with his teacher, adviser on rituals, purohitas, personal physician, chief cooks
& astrologer. Or some other time table which suits the king.
Importance of self-discipline . Discipline is of two kinds - inborn and acquired.
(There must be an innate capacity for self discipline for the reasons given below).
Instruction & training can promote discipline only in a person capable of benefiting from
them, people incapable of (natural) self-discipline do not benefit. Learning imparts
discipline only to those who have the following mental facilities - obedience to a teacher,
desire and ability to learn, capacity to retain what is learnt, understanding what is learnt,
reflecting on it and (finally) ability to make inferences by deliberating on the knowledge
acquired. Those who are devoid of such mental faculties are not benefited (by any
amount of training) One who will be a king should acquire discipline and follow it
strictly in life by learning the sciences from authoritative teachers.
With improving his self-discipline, he should always associate with learned elders,
for in them alone has discipline its firm roots. For a trained intellect ensues yoga
(successful application), from yoga comes self-possession. This is what is meant by
efficiency in acquiring knowledge. Only a king, who is wise, disciplined, devoted to a
just governing of the subjects & conscious of the welfare of all beings, will enjoy the
earth unopposed.
Kautilya recommended seven strategies in dealing with neighboring powers to
Chandragupta Maurya. The strategies are:
1.Sanman - Appeasement, non-aggression pact
2.Danda - Strength, punishment
3.Dana - Gift, bribery
4.Bheda - Divide, split, separating opposition
5.Maya - Illusion, deceit
6.Upeksha - Ignoring the enemy
7.Indrajala - Faking military strength
He also mentioned the techniques of attacking the fortresses of the enemy ; duties,
trainings and qualities of a good spy and necessity of a spy in a kingdom ; ways and
steps for instant treatment of the injured army’s in the battle field ; division of lands ;
ways of weight and measures ; construction of forts etc .

14. Conclusion
The Arthashastra is not a work on political philosophy only it’s indeed a great treasure
for ancient India as well as for the present world as well . Actually , Arthaśāstra argues
for an autocracy managing an efficient and solid economy. It discusses the ethics of
economics and the duties and obligations of a king. The scope of Arthaśāstra is,
however, far wider than statecraft, and it offers an outline of the entire legal and
bureaucratic framework for administering a kingdom, with a wealth of descriptive
cultural detail on topics such as mineralogy, mining and metals, agriculture, animal
husbandry and medicine. The king is the central point of this vast and sprawling
bureaucratic structure, and Kautilya's exhortation to him is to be on guard at all times.
The Arthaśāstra also focuses on issues of welfare (for instance, redistribution of wealth
during a famine) and the collective ethics that hold a society together.
The work treats of the many departments of governmental administration and pays
special attention to war, preparation for it, and its triumphant execution.
In Arthashastra, Kautilya mixes the harsh pragmatism for which he is famed with
compassion for the poor, for slaves, and for women. He reveals the imagination of a
romancer in imagining all manner of scenarios which can hardly have been
commonplace in real life.
However, apart from the scholarly work, this book needs to be once again represented for
practical application in today's world. The book has got many principles and techniques,
which once applied can prove a tremendous improvement even in our day-to-day
management.
Finally , it is said that “So long as the Human mind remains filled with its negativities of
jealousy, ego, hatred and over indulgence, so long as human beings require self control,
discipline and management., 'Kautilaya's Arthashastra' will remain relevant.”
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