Kautilya's Arthashastra

Chanakya was undoubtedly ancient India's finest political strategist and thinker. Chanakya's brand of wisdom is ageless and immutable. Chanakya expounds his smattering of pithy observations on women, family life, human relationships, moral conduct and spirituality. His startling prophecies, meaningful reflection on everyday living and hard-headed axioms. Chanakya's amazing knowledge of human psychology his masterly insight into every facet of human life! The teachings of Chanakya are the real nourishment of life. Even if years and centuries go by, even if natural calamities change the face of the planet, the teaching of the great being spring forth a new.Or from time to time they are unearthened old treasure perhaps, but still alive with consciousness still essentials. Such teachings are never destroyed; nor does the subtle presence of such divine beings ever diminished.

Kautilya's Arthashastra

Chanakya was a strong character and great teacher. His message is a ageless in quality inspiring both for individuals and nations; a message which has countrymen from darkness to light and from poverty to prosperity. The most famous work of Chanakya is the treatise on the science of politics, referred to as, "Arthashastra". Although it is often referred to as Kautilya's Arthashastra. Arthashastra has 6000 verses.This is an extraordinary detailed manual on statecraft and the science of living by one of classical India's greatest minds. Kautilya, also known as Chanakya and Vishnugupta, wrote the Arthashastra not later than 150 AD. His genius is reflected in this volume, which is the most comprehensive treatise of statecraft of classical times. It is written mainly in prose but also incorporates 380 shlokas. 

The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian Treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy, written in Sanskrit. Arthashastra, discuss the ethics of economics and the duties and obligations of a king. The scope of Arthashastra 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 details on topics such as minirology, mining and agriculture, animal husbandry, medicine and the use of wildlife.

The Arthashastra also focuses on issues of welfare (for instance redistribution of wealth during a famine and the collective ethics that hold a society together.

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.

Centrally, 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 Arthaśāstra also focuses on issues of welfare (for instance, redistribution of wealth during a famine) and the collective ethics that hold a society together.

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. Other important works of Chanakya are ‘Chanakya Sutras’ and ‘Chanakya Niti Darpanam’.

R. P. Kangle defines Arthashastra as “science of politics,” a treatise to help a king in “the acquisition and protection of the earth”. 

This text is divided into 15 books:

• Book I, "Concerning Discipline"
• Book II,"The Duties of Government Superintendents"
• Book III, "Concerning Law"
• Book IV, "The Removal of Thorns"
• Book V, "The Conduct of Courtiers"
• Book VI, "The Source of Sovereign States"
• Book VII, "The End of the Six-Fold Policy"
• Book VIII, "Concerning Vices and Calamities"
• Book IX, "The Work of an Invader"
• Book X, "Relating to War"
• Book XI, "The Conduct of Corporations"
• Book XII, "Concerning a Powerful Enemy"
• Book XIII, "Strategic Means to Capture a Fortress"
• Book XIV, "Secret Means"
• Book XV, "The Plan of a Treatise"

Read Book Kautilya's Arthashastra

Chanakya Neeti

Chanakya Neeti

As soon as the fear approaches near
Attack and destroy it - Chanakya says

Chanakya was an epoch-making personality. His was the time when India was emerging out of the 'Dark Age'. The old values were losing their relevance and the new were yet to be established. It was an age of confusion which permeated every walk of the society. The Dharma, so far a guiding and uniting force, was being subjected to the contradictory interpretations. The factionalism and fundamentalism were raising their ugly head and entering into the vitality of the social and religious norms. Taking the advantage of this confusion. Alexander of Macedon invaded India with the help of the selfish rulers of some border states. Chanakya witnessed and felt the severe trauma of this major invasion by a real foreigner. This shattering jolt helped efface the prevailing confusion in India and expedited the emergence of a new system which was in essence authored by Chanakya.

Chanakya was the first thinker of the ancient times who nurtured the sense of nationalism and inculcated in the minds of the people that they owed their basic allegiance to the Rajya (State of Nation) and not to the Dharma. In contradistinction to the earlier concept he made the State paramount.

He had seen that in the absence of any omnipotent religious authority the misconstrued faiths were shattering the very structure of society and morality. What was the needed was the total change or renovation of the system. But there were no guiding beacons to enlighten the people about this new system. Then he wrote two significant books the Arthashastra (known as Kautily's Arthashastra) and a collection of his observation on various practical aspects of life entitled 'Chanakya-Niti'.

'Chanakya Neeti' is, in fact, this great thinker's pithy observation to impart the practical wisdom to the people of his time. But these teachings are so fundamental relevance is almost ever lasting. Enshrined in the simple sense. Written in simple lucid language with clear thoughts. At times even some of the immoral teaching are part of this book. But they appear immoral only at the prima facie viewing. While telling what we should learn from the other beings, Chanakya says: i.e. "Learn from the cock the following four things: getting up at the right time, fighting bitterly, making your brothers flee and usurping their share also!"

There might be certain aphorisms which might appear objectionable to some persons, especially those who discuss the role of women in our society. Chanakya shares the same thoughts as these were prevalent during his time or are still prevalent in certain sections of our society. The entire Hindu thought gives only two positions to women: either they are adorable or they are like any other pleasure source, enjoyable. The sense of companionship, which is clearly an occidental concept is missing for obvious reasons. Well, nobody can be perfect in the world. Even the greatest thinkers of the world had some kind of achilles heel. A man is a product of the social set up. No doubt Chanakya tried to effect a change but even he could not rid himself of some diehard idiosyncrasies. Chanakya believed not only in imparting instructions but in also seeing their practical implementation.

History records that Chanakya not only carved out a massive empire for his pet disciple Chandragupta but also created such an awareness in the general masses that they began to talk about a 'Rashtra' or a 'Nation' instead of a 'State or a 'Rajya'. And the social, civil and political norms that he established had the concept of democracy in its embryonic form. Chanakya is one of those few great persons whose greatness enhances with the passage of time.

The basic purpose of Chanakya-Niti is to impart knowledge on every practical aspect of life. And in this context he has touched upon various factors dealing with faith and culture, from the individual's point of view.

Chanakya Neeti's and Sutras:

• Riches, Vitality, Life, Body-all are fickle and fey; only Dharma is constant and everlasting.
• God's abode is not the idols of wood stone or earth. He dwells only in feeling.
• Poverty, disease, grief, bondage and all the infatuation addictions are the fruits of the tree of sin of the person.
• If you want to overpower the entire world merely by just one action, then put restraint upon your tongue speaking ill of others.
• One well blossomed and sweet smelling flower is enough to turn the whole garden fragrant. Similarly, one worthy son is enough to bring glory to the whole family.
• That man who fails to achieve even one of the four aims of life, viz. Dharm (faith in his belief), Artha (riches which provide meaning to life), Karam (fulfilment of the desires), and Moksha ( satiation of all wants) is verily born only for dying (as his life is just a waste).
• Manners betray one's family, and the language country. Hospitality betrays one's love and the physique betray's one's food intake.
• Virtues enhances the beauty of the form; good manners enhances the glory of the family; perfection enhances the value of education and enjoyment enhances the pleasures of wealth.
• An impatient person gets ruined on enjoying luxuries in excess.
• Fools want to reveal the secret things told by their master.
• No advice should be given to a bad person.
• Keep your enemy engaged in artificial behavior till you find his weakness.
• Silver becomes gold when mixed with gold.
• A person who excels in a particular field should be given that work only.
• A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first!