Please save your time, avoid this book, and read the original translation instead. So it should be a matter of interest for us to study it and see what kind of advice it offers to indian policy makers in the conduct of relations with pakistan. Devaki, director of the ori, says, the publication of arthashastra not only gave a huge fillip to sanskrit studies, but significantly altered our understanding of ancient india. It includes books on the nature of government, law, civil and criminal court systems, ethics, economics, markets and trade, the methods for screening ministers, diplomacy, theories on war, nature of peace, and the duties. Buy arthashastra book online at low prices in india arthashastra. Written like a history book and the interpretation of the arthashastra without aligning with the objective in the introduction of the book. Kautilya s arthashastra 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. Buy kautilya s arthashastra by chanakya ebook online at lulu. His most recent book is the first great political realist. Introductory note nothing vindicates belief better than reality.
Kautilya arthashastra new revisedmail authorstream presentation. Kautilya, the machiavelli of india education today news. Jan 01, 2003 42 put another way, kautilyas book is the greatest weapon a king can have, and political science is more important thanor at least brings aboutwealth, armies, and conquests. The word no suggestions originates from a primeval indian dissertation that discussed. Kautilyas political vision had a heavy influence on chandragupta, the first indian ruler who unified northern india under a single political unit for the first time in history. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Buy arthashastra book online at best prices in india on. Kautilyas arthashastra translated into english by r. Ahasan uddin bhuiyan department of public administration university of dhaka department of public administration univrsity of dhaka. The arthashastra by kautilya overdrive rakuten overdrive. Kautilya was a professor at taxila university and later the prime minister of the maurya empire. The word no suggestions originates from a primeval indian dissertation that discussed how the economy and military affairs of a state should function. 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. Kautilyas arthasastra, composed around 321 bce, is the oldest and most exhaustive treatise on statecraft and on issues of diplomacy, war, peace, intelligence, security, and political economy.
When a king of poor resources is attacked by a powerfulenemy, he should surrender himself together with his sons to theenemy and live like a reed in the midst of a current of water. Mar 31, 2016 the arthashastra of kautilya is one of the most impressive books that i have read in the recent years. Kautilya s arthasashtra is magnificent work on ancient political thought which was undoubtedly composed between 3rd2nd century b. Kautilyas arthashastra is one of the best treatise written in the world, regarding how an ideal state should be. Arthashastra is a book on political realism and not on morality. Table of contents 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. Kautilyas arthashastra book i, concerning discipline chapter i. The arthashastra of kautilya is one of the most impressive books that i have read in the recent years. Kautilyas arthashastra book xii, \concerning a powerful enemy\chapter i. The arthashastra is an ancient indian treatise on statecraft, econ. There is a controversy regarding the date of arthashastra.
The dissertation was written in sanskrit by chanakya, the teacher to the founder of the mauryan empire. Kautilya s arthashastra is mainly a work on the art of government. Kautilyas arthashastra telugu edition books for you. For example, states brekke, the legends in hindu epics preach heroism qua heroism which is in contrast to kautilya suggestion of prudence and never forgetting the four hindu goals of human life, while kamandakis nitisara, which is similar to kautilyas arthashastra, is among other hindu classics on statecraft and foreign policy that suggest. Arthashastra is one of the oldest books with immense historical significance written by kautilya or arya chanakya as he was popularly known. The kindle edition of this book is translated and arranged much better. Their uncertainty is at odds with the magnitude of shamashastrys discovery and the subsequent publication of kautilyas work. Nov 16, 2017 there is one by penguin, translated by l.
This arthasastra is made as a compendium of almost all the. A neglected precursor to classical economics charles waldauer, william j. Dec 28, 2009 kautilya s arthashastra is a book about economics written by kautilya. In his political and administrative ideas, the focus of attention was the king. Even though the table of contents contains fifteen books, the last two are missing. Kautilyas arthashastra maintains that the state or government of a country has a vital role to play in maintaining the material status of both the nation and its people. The text of this great book includes 15 books, each addressing one topic pertaining to the state and its economy. Chanakya arthashastra pdf in hindi, english, sanskrit all.
Kautilya was an academician at taxila university and later the prime minister of the mauryan empire. Jul 21, 2016 this year s 20 army war college included readings from kautilya s arthashastra, and it provides a very interesting break from the sun tzu, clausewitz and jomini routine. Shamasastry, 1915 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. Chanakya portrait in 1915 shamasastrys arthashastra translation. Reviewed in the united kingdom on 11 december 2012. 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 today s norms. Nazmul ahsan kalimullah professor, department of public administration university of dhaka submitted by. How kautilyas arthashastra shaped the telling of ancient indian history. The arthashastra is an ancient indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy, written in sanskrit. The arthashastra summarizes the political thoughts of kautilya. For example, states brekke, the legends in hindu epics preach heroism qua heroism which is in contrast to kautilya suggestion of prudence and never forgetting the four hindu goals of human life, while kamandaki s nitisara, which is similar to kautilya s arthashastra, is among other hindu classics on statecraft and foreign policy that suggest.
Keith when he advances the argument that under the explanation of the term in the last book of the arthasastra is cited one of kautilya s sentences from which the prima facie conclusion is that kautilya is cited as an authority and not as the author. Kautilyas arthashastra telugu edition kautilya, also known as chanakya, is indias most illustrious political economist of all time. Shamasastry, 1915 book i, concerning discipline book ii,the duties of government superintendents. End of the seventyeighth chapter from the beginning. Kautilya s arthashastra book xii, \concerning a powerful enemy\chapter i. This book was lost for many centuries until a copy of it, written on palm leaves. The arthashastra is an indian book or a treatise that details the right qualities of a good king and how to achieve this state. Pdf downloads of the complete chanakya arthashastra can be downloaded here in english, hindi and sanskrit. Historically, the kautilya s work carries a great significance because it is an important source for the history of mauryas.
In accordance with this, kautilyas arthashastra maintains that the sate or government of a country has a vital role to play in maintaining the material status of both the nation and its people. Buy kautilyas arthashastra book online at low prices in india. Patheos offers pdf downloads of the complete arthashastra. Likely to be the work of several authors over centuries, kautilya, also identified as vishnugupta and chanakya, is traditionally credited as the author of the text. In fact, he went to the extent of saying that revenue should take priority over the army because sustaining the army was possible out of a wellmanaged revenue system. He regarded economic activity as the driving force behind the functioning of any political dispensation. The arthashastra is an ancient indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military trategy authored by chanakya 350283 bce.
Even today, the arthashastra is the number one classic of diplomacy in india and, within this category, it is one of the most complete works of antiquity. 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. Kautilyas arthashastra is a book about economics written by kautilya. Chanakya arthashastra pdf in hindi, english, sanskrit. Buy arthashastra book online at low prices in india. Kautilya arthashastra chanakya arthashastra indian. Kautilya was the great prime minister of chandragupta maurya.
Kautilyas arthasastra on war and diplomacy in ancient india roger boesche the journal of military history, volume 67, number 1, january 2003, pp. Kautilya s arthashastra is an excellent treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy. It is perhaps kautilyas arthashastra which stands out to be thoroughly scientific and most authoritative interpretations of these ancient studies. It is a book detailing how to manage a kingdom, or basically it deals with the art of government and politics. Which is the best english translation of kautilyas arthashastra. Aug 19, 2016 how kautilyas arthashastra shaped the telling of ancient indian history. Kautilyas arthashastra having dug up a square well not too deep to be moist withwater, having paved both the bottom and the sides with slabs ofstone, he shall, by using strong timber, construct in that well acagelike underground chamber of three stories high, the topmostbeing on a level with the surface of the ground, with manycompartments.
Kautilya s arthashastra maintains that the state or government of a country has a vital role to play in maintaining the material status of both the nation and its people. That seems to be a very sensibly translated version. In the world of international politics, it is only natural that nations interact with each other through dissension and force. 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. Zahka and surendra pal school of management, widener university chester, pa 190 usa abstract this paper demonstrates that kautilya, a great indian philosopherstatesman and contemporary of aristole, and whose work was lost for more than 1400 years. Arthashastrabook i wikisource, the free online library. Historically, the kautilyas work carries a great significance because it is an important source for the history of mauryas. Therefore, a significant part of the arthashastra has to do with the science of economics. Two thousand four hundred years ago, kautilya compiled the arthashastra and with it he proved to be a kingmaker as he enabled the inception of the gupta dynasty. The title arthashastra is often translated to the science of politics, but the book arthashastra has a broader scope. Just a few years ago, a former indian national security adviser praised this book as an important guide on strategy. The book was discovered by shamasastri in 1909 who also translated and introduced it to the public. 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. Kautilyas arthashastra is an excellent treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy.
Taxing power of state not unlimited taxation not to be heavy or. Kautilya s arthashastra having dug up a square well not too deep to be moist withwater, having paved both the bottom and the sides with slabs ofstone, he shall, by using strong timber, construct in that well acagelike underground chamber of three stories high, the topmostbeing on a level with the surface of the ground, with manycompartments. 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. The description of the maurya empire and administrationhas been revised with special regard to the discovery and partial. Buy kautilyas arthashastra book online at low prices in. Buy kautilya s arthashastra by kautilya s arthashastra isbn. Arthashastra advocates rational ethic to the conduct of the affairs of the state. Arthashastra is an excellent treatise on statecraft, economic policy and. Kautilya, also known as chanakya, is india s most illustrious political economist of all time. Kautilyan theory of arthashastra relevant in todays. The great kautilya arthashastra linkedin slideshare. The arthashastra summary the western world generally assumes that ancient indian literature lacked in strategic thinking. When literally translated, it means scripture of wealth.
Which is the best english translation of kautilyas. Arthashastrabook ii wikisource, the free online library. Arthashastra of chanakya english translation sanskrit. Book ii,the duties of government superintendents chapter i. How kautilyas arthashastra shaped the telling of ancient. 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. While it is true that is offers views on how a kingruler shall act in order to overcome obstables it is just so much more. He authored chanakya neeti, and arthashastra a political treatise. Kautilyas arthashastra 3 book i, concerning discipline chapter i. Either by inducing foreigners to immigrate paradesapravahanena or by causing the thicklypopulated centres of his own kingdom to send forth the excessive population svadesabhishyandavamanena va, the king may construct villages either on new sites or on old ruins. The arthashastra summary a treatise on statecraft and.
Kautilyas arthashastra is the oldest book on management available to the world. The book is a masterpiece which covers a wide range of. Kautilyas arthasastra on war and diplomacy in ancient india. The main focus of the book is on creation and management of wealth.