ARTHASHASTRA
Written by one of classical India's most brilliant political minds, this extraordinary work offers a window into sophisticated thinking about rule and administration. Kautilya, known also as Chanakya, composed this text sometime before 150 AD, though scholars continue to debate the exact date. Whether born in Kerala or northern India, he became legendary for toppling the Nanda empire and crowning Chandragupta Maurya as king of Magadha. Across fifteen books, the manuscript tackles an astonishing breadth of concerns: the duties of rulers, comprehensive legal frameworks, international relations, and even shadowy practices from the occult. The prose weaves together 380 shlokas (verses) in a structure that feels both methodical and compelling. The term "artha" signals wealth, yet encompasses far more than simple monetary gain in Hindu philosophy. Kautilya argues passionately that governments bear responsibility for ensuring prosperity flows through society. Economics features prominently throughout these pages, treated as a science essential to statecraft. When exploring politics itself, the author dissects governance with remarkable precision: how to enforce justice, build reliable institutions, and wield authority wisely. What emerges is perhaps antiquity's most comprehensive examination of how nations function, what leaders must know, and why sound policy matters. It remains startlingly relevant to anyone curious about power, strategy, and the ancient roots of political thought.
- Author: KAUTILYA KAUTILYA
- Publisher: Penguin Classics
- Genre: Literary Fiction
- ISBN: 978-0140446036
- Pages: 832 pages