History of economic thoughtancient wikibooks, open books. Chanakya, also known as kautilya or vishnugupta, was an adviser and a prime minister to the first maurya emperor chandragupta, and architect of his rise to power. How kautilyas arthashastra shaped the telling of ancient indian. Wendy doniger revisits kamasutra, arthashastra in new book wendy donigers new book is titled, beyond dharma. Arthashastrabook x wikisource, the free online library. Preface both kautilya the preceptor and his masterwork the arthashastra are much misunderstood. The story of civilization i, our oriental heritage. However, if we carefully examine some of the literature after the second urbanisation emergence of the janapads of the subcontinent we find a lot of material which tells us that ancient indian writers were not devoid of the capability of writing treatises on. This book was lost for many centuries until a copy of it, written on palm leaves. The other book, kautiliya arthashastra which was written in about 400 bc is available.
Popularly known as chanakya, he is maligned and often ridiculed as a teacher of unethical, not to say immoral, practices and as an advocate of the theory that the ends justify the means. It is a book detailing how to manage a kingdom, or basically it deals with the art of government and politics. However, it is certain that kautilya was the man who. Roger boesche, who relied entirely on the 1969 translation by kangle for his analysis of arthashastra, and who criticized an alternate 1992 translation by rangarajan, has called the arthashastra as a great political book of the ancient world. This book reveals a very interesting cultural look into early india, and is a great framework for examining the underpinnings of a society quite different by todays norms. Oct 23, 2017 recommended for youthe 15 books of arthashastra of chanakya,in which includes only names of these books,which is written by kautilya. Kautilya, the machiavelli of india education today news. Arthashastra, the treatise on economic administration was written by kautilya in the 4th century before christ.
An arrow, discharged by an archer, may kill one person or may not kill. Shamasastry, 1915 book i, concerning discipline book ii,the duties of government superintendents. He who causes a kshatriya to do the same shall be punished with the middlemost amercement. On a site declared to be the best according to the science of buildings, the leader nayaka, the carpenter vardhaki, and the astrologer mauhurtika should measure a circular, rectangular, or square spot for the camp which should, in accordance with the available space, consist of four gates, six roads, and nine. Buy arthashastra book online at low prices in india arthashastra. Arthashastra the science of wealth by thomas r trautmann. Arthashastra is one of the oldest books with immense historical significance written by kautilya or arya chanakya as he was popularly known. Createspace independent publishing platform july 21, 2016 language. The arthashastra a treatise on statecraft and military strategy.
The science of material gain 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. Legend has it that he was either a brahmin from kerala or from north india. Chanakya had written an ancient source of knowledge with the purpose of teaching good governance to the kings and future leaders. It is argued that the discussions in the arthashastra generally end by stating the authors opinion with the words. Wendy doniger revisits kamasutra, arthashastra in new book. The joint performance of sacred duties by a man and a woman is known as prajapatyamarriage. The book was discovered by shamasastri in 1909 who also translated and introduced it to the public. The ancient history encyclopedia logo is a registered eu trademark. From the origins to ad 0, university of california. Dissent in the ancient indian sciences of sex and politics, published in india by. Popularly known as machiavelli of india, though machiavelli was born centuries after him, was no ordinary man.
Although the principles and practice propounded in these treatises are universal and applicable in modern set up also. Arthashastra simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Arthashastra of chanakya english translation sanskrit ebooks. This edition is dated to approximately 250 ce, many centuries after the time of kautilya, but the main ideas in this book are largely his. Arthashastrabook viii wikisource, the free online library.
Jan 06, 2012 purana, itivritta history, akhyayika tales, udaharanaillustrative stories, dharmasastra, and arthasastra are knownby the name itihasa. Many theoretical and practical foundations of modern econmics are found in this book. Within this category, it is one of the most complete works of antiquity. Since then, the arthashastra has enjoyed a revival of sorts with its precepts being used and quoted in books on history, economics, politics. Book iii, chapter 2, concerning marriage and women.
Kautilyas treatise arthashastra stands as one of the great political books of the ancient world, its ideas on the science of politics strikingly similar to those of thucydides, machiavelli, hobbes, clausewitz, and even sun tsu. Shamashastry of the ancient treatise on the art of. The arthashastra is the title of a handbook for running an empire, written by kautilya also known as. There is a controversy regarding the date of arthashastra.
Chanakyan has entered indian vocabulary as the equivalent of machiavellian. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. Composed in the late fourth century bce, arthashastra ranks alongside sun tzus art of war and thucydides history of the peloponnesian war as one of the timeless classics of the ancient. Jul 21, 2016 this years 20 army war college included readings from kautilyas arthashastra, and it provides a very interesting break from the sun tzu, clausewitz and jomini routine. Recommended by numerous educational institutions recommend us, including oxford university, michigan state university, and university of minnesota. The giving in marriage of a virgin for a couple of cows is called arshamarriage. The text was considered lost by colonial era scholars, until a manuscript was discovered in 1905. After many revisions and additions, the book took its present form about 1800 years before, in the 2nd century. An extraordinary detailed manual on statecraft and the science of living by one of classical indias greatest minds, kautilya, also known as chanakya and vishnugupta, wrote the arthashastra not later than 150 ad though the date has not been conclusively established. Buy arthashastra book online at low prices in india. 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.
History of economic thoughtancient wikibooks, open. Ancient history encyclopedia receives a small commission for each book sold through our affiliate partners. Kautilyas arthashastra is an excellent treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. It is divided into 15 different sections for the better understanding of the readers. Book iv, chapter, punishment for violating justice he who causes a brahman to partake of whatever food or drink is prohibited shall be punished with the highest amercement. Chanakya, also called kautilya or vishnugupta, flourished 300 bce, hindu statesman and philosopher who wrote a classic treatise on polity, arthashastra the science of material gain, a compilation of almost everything that had been written in india up to his time regarding artha property, economics, or material success he was born into a brahman family and received his education.
Arthashastra is an indian treatise book written by kautilya around 2400 years ago forth century bc. The title arthashastra is often translated to the science of politics, but the book arthashastra has a broader scope. Kautilya was an academician at taxila university and later the prime minister of the mauryan empire. The description of the maurya empire and administrationhas been revised with special regard to the discovery and partial publication by mr r. Arthashastra is the masterwork of indias greatest statesmanphilosopher, kautilya. This book was lost for many centuries until a copy of it, written on palm leaves, was rediscovered in india in 1904 ce. This book is one of the most effective books ever written on the art of statecraft and the science of everyday living. Arthashastra of chanakya english translation sanskrit. Ancient origins articles related to arthashastra in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends. Three names for the texts author are used in various historical sources. Mar 04, 2018 the arthashastra summary the western world generally assumes that ancient indian literature lacked in strategic thinking. Smith and others believed that it was written by chanakya, the prime minister of chandragupta maurya.
What are the best books to read regarding chanakyas life. Dilip yes book 6 of arthashastra deals with that topic. It contains around 600 sutras and 180 different topics. A copy of the arthashastra in sanskrit, written on palm leaves, was presented by a tamil brahmin from tanjore to the newly opened mysore oriental library headed by benjamin lewis rice. Machiavellis book focusses to please a king with a few kind words and offers only a handful of practical advises most of which from todays perspective are barely beyond the ordinary. The arthashastra is an ancient indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy, written in sanskrit. The first great political realist is a succinct and penetrating analysis of one of the ancient worlds foremost political realists, kautilya. Oct 01, 2016 it was a copy of a book that was written by kautilya 350275 bce, a minister of the mauryan empire. Chanakya arthashastra pdf in hindi, english, sanskrit all. Arthashastra is an excellent treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy. Oct, 2019 the arthashastra is the title of a handbook for running an empire, written by kautilya also known as chanakya, c. Called arthashastra, commonly translated as the science of material gain, the book is a major classic of diplomacy even to this day. Chanakya arthashastra pdf in hindi, english, sanskrit. What is a brief history of chanakya and his book arthashastra.
The giving in marriage of a virgin welladorned is called brahmamarriage. The text was identified by the librarian rudrapatnam shamasastry as the arthashastra. It is palpable of the following lines in his treatise arthshastra. This book is basically a collection of 380 shlokas which have been written in prose. After many revisions and additions, the book took its present form about 1800 years before, in the 2nd century the book is divided into fifteen sections. Shama shastri aroused much interest and a fierce debate about its composition ensued among scholars. The arthashastra book ancient history encyclopedia. Vincent smith, the author of the history of ancient india, in the preface to the second edition of his book, makes this acknowledgement in 19. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in. The arthashastra is an indian book or a treatise that details the right qualities of a good king and how to achieve this state. The arthashastra is the title of a handbook for running an empire, written. Hence by overthrowing the aggregate of the six enemies lust, anger, greed, vanity, haughtiness, and overjoy, he shall restrain the organs of sense. Dove nov 14, 2016 the tomb of isa khan was built in the late 1500s c. The arthashastra history of international relations.
The arthashastra a treatise on statecraft and military. What can india learn from chanakyas arthashastra youtube. A critical examination of the text convinced some of the scholars that the arthashastra was not the work of one individual. He was man of great tactics who made great contributions and was instrumental in changing the course of indian history. Kautilyas arthashastra during the rest of the day and night, he shall not only receivenew lessons and revise old lessons, but also hear over and againwhat has not been clearly understood. The arthashastra is a mirror of princes, a book of secret advice given directly to a ruler by one of his advisers. Chanakya was a master tactician, and believed that the greatest king is one who wins wars without weapons. Search the history of over 439 billion web pages on the internet. Kautilya was a minister of chandragupta maurya 321 bc 297 bc, an emperor of ancient india. Kautilyas arthashastra 3 book i, concerning discipline chapter i. Ancient india beat machiavelli to the punch by 1,800 years by laurie l. Jan 19, 2017 kautilyas arthashastra is divided into 15 booksmay be considered as volume with several parts of each book. On the other hand kautilyas arthashastra overwhelms the reader with tons of details, minutious instructions on each and every little detail of a state. Chanakya, hindu statesman and philosopher who wrote a classic treatise on polity, arthashastra the science of material gain, a compilation of almost everything that had been written in india up to his time regarding artha property, economics, or material success.
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