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Line 2: − + − − The Purusharthas follow dharma, artha, kama and moksha to be the 4 tenets human beings are expected to follow that is moral behaviour, wealth, worldly pleasure, and salvation. The Arthashastra follows Dharmashastra, which signifies duty, universal order, righteousness of the individual towards oneself, society and ancestors. Similarly, the state comprising of the society, ministers, ruler, priests and people are governed by morality, ethics, conventional and adhyatmik law; another manifestation of dharma. Kautilya himself assumed his dharmic responsibility by wandering in disguise for years only to find the boy 'Chandragupta' in the village grounds among cowherd and friends, to fit the royal line. Kautalya was so impressed with the boy that he purchased him for thousand panas ''i''mmediately and thereon gave him all the dikshas to fit into the role of a perfect king. It was Kautilya's orientation to Rajadharma that until he made Chandragupta the ruler of Magadha, and made it the most powerful dynasty, he had sleepless nights. Artha meaning wealth''', f'''ollows dharm'''a.''' However, in Arthashastra, it signifies more than wealth. It talks of wealth of nations, territories, and well being of the individual inhabitants doing various occupations. The state plays a major role in appraising and elevating the material status and well being of its people. Therefore, Artha is not as simple to mean money, worldly possession or capital. Rather, it means the 'scientific economics' of a state stressing on treasury, revenue, expenditures, state taxes, budgets, accounts and productive output of enterprises which in turn enhance the material status of human society and individuals within it. − − Dr. Radhakrishnan said that artha takes note of the economic and political life of a person, the craving for power and property. While the pursuit of wealth and happiness is a legitimate human aspiration, they should be gained through righteousness (Dharma), if they are to lead to spiritual freedom of a person (Moksha)<ref>Radhakrishnan, S. (1926). ''Hindu view of life''. George Allen And Unwin Ltd, London.</ref> + Line 37:
Line 34: − + − + + + + + + + − ''Adhikarana'' VI- VII deals with essential characterisitcs of the state described as ''Saptasangas,'' the six-fold political expedients in the field of diplomacy among states called as ''Sadgunya. Adhikarana'' VIII ''deals'' with dangers and calamities arising both within or externally due to natural or man-made attempts befalling the king or body politic''. Adhikarana'' IX-X deals with military campaigns and ancillary problems. ''Adhikarana'' XI deals with measures to control economic guilds and political corporations. ''Adhikarana'' XII-XIII deals with methods of intrigue and the employment of secret agencies against enemies and during military expeditions and ameliorative measures to be taken in a conquered country. ''Adhikarana'' XIV deals with secret recipes designed to remedy afflictions caused by enemy action. ''Adhikarana'' XV consists of just one prakarana in the form of a glossary of 32 technical terms and verbal contractions used in the text. This is of special significance as the author gives the intended import of the words that can be mis-construed or misinterpreted by later commentators. + − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − === Adhikarana I : '''Vinayadhikarika''' === Line 801:
Line 836: − === ''Adhikarana 1 : '''Vinayadhikarika''''' ===+ + Line 892:
Line 928: − == Arthashastra and Contemporary Management Theories ==+
Editing
== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==
== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==
Written nearly 1500 years ago, the relevance of Arthshastra is often re-validated in the present century, one can always say that human beings have always remained the same over generations and their attitude, desire, thinking and behaviour is governed by their surroundings, challenges and opportunities open to them. Some of their native instincts may be nature and ancestoral but lot of it is nurture and environment. States may have been divided, reconfigured, and re-defined but the tenets of maintaining internal peace, managing external attacks, maintaining international relations among states continues to be the same. The statecraft of managing administration, governance and polity (social, economic and political structure) of the current times still borrows its foundation from the ancient tenets. So long as humans and societies are significant Arthashastra will be found relevant to creating ideal states.
Written nearly 1500 years ago, the relevance of Arthshastra is often re-validated in the present century, one can always say that human beings have always remained the same over generations and their attitude, desire, thinking and behaviour is governed by their surroundings, challenges and opportunities open to them. Some of their native instincts may be nature and ancestoral but lot of it is nurture and environment. States may have been divided, reconfigured, and re-defined but the tenets of maintaining internal peace, managing external attacks, maintaining international relations among states continues to be the same. The statecraft of managing administration, governance and polity (social, economic and political structure) of the current times still borrows its foundation from the ancient tenets. So long as humans and societies are significant, Arthashastra will be found relevant to creating ideal states.
Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are the Purusharthas or the 4 tenets human beings are expected to follow ie. moral behaviour, wealth, worldly pleasure, and salvation. The Arthashastra follows the Dharmashastra, which signifies duty, universal order, righteousness of the individual towards oneself, society and ancestors. Similarly, the state comprising of the society, ministers, ruler, priests and people are governed by morality, ethics, conventional and adhyatmik law, another manifestation of dharma. Kautilya himself assumed his dharmic responsibility by wandering in disguise for years only to find the boy 'Chandragupta' in the village grounds among cowherd and friends, to fit the royal line. Kautilya was so impressed with the boy that he, thereon gave him all the dikshas to fit into the role of a perfect king. It was Kautilya's orientation to Rajadharma that until he made Chandragupta the ruler of Magadha, and made it the most powerful dynasty, he had sleepless nights.{{Citation needed}}
== कर्ता ॥ Author ==
== कर्ता ॥ Author ==
History has seen and read several authors of the ancient period but none like Kautilya. A mastermind behind the great work called 'Arthashastra', Kautilya, has the recognition of being the most influential political philosopher and guide for Chandragupta Maurya during the Mauryan era (326 B.C.E.). Kautilya's work is an enema written originally in Sanskrit and he is considered the greatest political thinker and state craftsman Indian civilization has ever produced.
History has seen and read several authors of the ancient period but none like Kautilya. A mastermind behind the great work called 'Arthashastra', Kautilya, has the recognition of being the most influential political philosopher and guide for Chandragupta Maurya during the Mauryan era (326 B.C.E.). Kautilya's work is an enema written originally in Sanskrit and he is considered the greatest political thinker and state craftsman Indian civilization has ever produced.
This treatise covers all social, political, warfare, welfare, law, policy making, economics, finance, and disciplinary aspects of administration that led the Mauryan dynasty to claim a unique political fabric of its own. Kautilya's Arthashastra is a work justifying every type of tactic played craftily so as to offer real life solution to every conceivable hypothetical situation.{{Citation needed}}
This treatise covers all social, political, warfare, welfare, law, policy making, economics, finance, and disciplinary aspects of administration that led the Mauryan dynasty to claim a unique political fabric of its own. Kautilya's Arthashastra is a work justifying every type of tactic played craftily so as to offer real life solution to every conceivable hypothetical situation.{{Citation needed}}
== Contents ==
== अर्थशास्त्रे अर्थः ॥ Artha in Arthashastra ==
The Arthashastra is a compilation of 15 ''Adhikaranas'' (Books), with each adhikararana divided further into 150 ''Adhyayas'' (Chapters) which are further subdivided into 180 Prakaranas (Sections), 380 ''karikas'' with 6000 ''shlokas (''verses) and 32 syllabic units in all.. The following is a brief account of the composition within various Adhikaranas, Adhyayas and Prakaranas. Arthashastram begins with veneration to two great political thinkers Sukra and Brhaspati and Kautalya makes an honest submission of this so as not to take the credit all unto himself. He also refers to theories of other authors and well known schools in the field of economics and politics and sastras of the Pre-Kautilyan era which have formed the foundation for the compendium Arthashastram. However all the previous works were not so exhaustive, authoritative or deep in content hence were superseded by the Arthashastram. The chapters reveal the classified and distilled mind which Kautalya had while scripting such an instructive manual suited to every need of an aggressively disposed monarchy. The entire thesis focusses on two aspects ''Tantra'' : the protection and welfare of the people and ''Avapa'' : the security and consolidation of the realm. Book I to V comprises of 95 ''Prakaranas'' dealing only with the Tantra. ''Book VI to XIV comprise 84 Prakaranas'' dealing with Avapa. ''Adhikarana'' I deals with discipline, training, daily routine of duties and dissemination of Danda by the king and qualifications of the various levels of ministers and their spies. ''Adhikarana'' II deals with the bureaucratic set up of the administrative block, heirarchy of officials, the duties and responsibilities of various heads of departments , planning of forts and fortified towns and layout of the settlements. Estimation and collection of revenue, maintaining accounts, industrial establishments including state monopoly concerns, regulation of promotion of internal and foreign trade and commerce. ''Adhikarana'' III deals with civil laws and administration of Justice. ''Adhikarana'' IV deals with criminal laws and suppression of antisocial elements. ''Adhikarana'' V deals with action against sedition and treason, pay scales of officals and mechanisms to combat financial crisis.
Artha meaning wealth''', f'''ollows dharm'''a.''' However, in Arthashastra, it signifies more than wealth. It talks of wealth of nations, territories, and well being of the individual inhabitants doing various occupations. The state plays a major role in appraising and elevating the material status and well being of its people. Therefore, Artha is not as simple as to mean money, worldly possession or capital. Rather, it means the 'scientific economics' of a state stressing on treasury, revenue, expenditures, state taxes, budgets, accounts and productive output of enterprises which in turn enhance the material status of human society and individuals within it.
Dr. Radhakrishnan said that Artha takes note of the economic and political life of a person, the craving for power and property. While the pursuit of wealth and happiness is a legitimate human aspiration, they should be gained through righteousness (Dharma), if they are to lead to spiritual freedom of a person (Moksha).<ref>Radhakrishnan, S. (1926). ''Hindu view of life''. George Allen And Unwin Ltd, London.</ref>
== विषयविस्तारः ॥ Contents ==
The Arthashastra is a compilation of 15 Adhikaranas (Books), further divided into 150 Adhyayas (Chapters), which are further sub-divided into 180 Prakaranas (Sections) and 380 karikas with 6000 shlokas ''(''verses). The following is a brief account of the composition within various Adhikaranas, Adhyayas and Prakaranas.
The Arthashastra begins with veneration to two great political thinkers Shukra and Brhaspati and Kautilya makes an honest submission of this so as to not take credit all unto himself. He also refers to theories of other authors and well known schools in the field of economics and politics and shastras of the Pre-Kautilyan era which have formed the foundation for the compendium Arthashastra. However, all the previous works were not so exhaustive, authoritative or deep in content and hence, were superseded by the Arthashastra.
The chapters reveal the classified and distilled mind with which Kautilya has scripted such an instructive manual suited to every need of an aggressively disposed monarchy. The entire thesis focusses on two aspects
'''The full contents of the books and its chapters and sub sections have been listed below as in the original text of Arthashastram.'''
# Tantra: the protection and welfare of the people and
# Avapa: the security and consolidation of the realm.
Book I to V comprises of 95 Prakaranas dealing only with the Tantra.
Book VI to XIV comprise 84 Prakaranas dealing with Avapa.
Adhikarana I deals with discipline, training, daily routine of duties and dissemination of Danda by the king and qualifications of the various levels of ministers and their spies.
Adhikarana II deals with the bureaucratic set up of the administrative block, heirarchy of officials, the duties and responsibilities of various heads of departments, planning of forts and fortified towns and layout of the settlements. Estimation and collection of revenue, maintaining accounts, industrial establishments including state monopoly concerns, regulation of promotion of internal and foreign trade and commerce.
Adhikarana III deals with civil laws and administration of Justice.
Adhikarana IV deals with criminal laws and suppression of antisocial elements.
Adhikarana V deals with action against sedition and treason, pay scales of officals and mechanisms to combat financial crisis.
Adhikarana VI-VII deals with essential characterisitcs of the state described as Saptasangas, the six-fold political expedients in the field of diplomacy among states called as Sadgunya.
Adhikarana VIII deals with dangers and calamities arising both within or externally due to natural or man-made attempts befalling the king or body politic.
Adhikarana IX-X deals with military campaigns and ancillary problems.
Adhikarana XI deals with measures to control economic guilds and political corporations.
Adhikarana XII-XIII deals with methods of intrigue and the employment of secret agencies against enemies and during military expeditions and ameliorative measures to be taken in a conquered country.
Adhikarana XIV deals with secret recipes designed to remedy afflictions caused by enemy action.
Adhikarana XV consists of just one prakarana in the form of a glossary of 32 technical terms and verbal contractions used in the text. This is of special significance as the author gives the intended import of the words that can be mis-construed or misinterpreted by later commentators.
'''The full contents of the books and its chapters and sub sections have been listed below as in the original text of Arthashastra.'''
Adhikarana I : '''Vinayadhikarika'''
Book I - On Discipline
Book I - On Discipline
150.180 Division of the Treatise
150.180 Division of the Treatise
''Adhikarana 1 : '''Vinayadhikarika'''''
Book 1 is a treatise on "On Discipline".
Book 1 is a treatise on "On Discipline".
Book XV is "The Plan of a Treatise" तन्त्रयुक्तयः dividing the contents under various chapters and sections. The enumeration of the contents of the science amounts to 15 Adhikaranas, 150 Adhyayas, 180 Prakaranas, and 6000 shlokas while each shloka stands for 32 syllabic units in verse or prose. This treatise is easy to comprehend, precise in doctrine, sense and word, free from prolixity of text , thus has this work on science been composed by Kautilya.
Book XV is "The Plan of a Treatise" तन्त्रयुक्तयः dividing the contents under various chapters and sections. The enumeration of the contents of the science amounts to 15 Adhikaranas, 150 Adhyayas, 180 Prakaranas, and 6000 shlokas while each shloka stands for 32 syllabic units in verse or prose. This treatise is easy to comprehend, precise in doctrine, sense and word, free from prolixity of text , thus has this work on science been composed by Kautilya.
Arthashastra and Contemporary Management Theories
'''''Glimpses of Health and Medicine in the Mauryan Empire <ref>'''''Dr. D. V. Subba Reddy'''''</ref>'''''
'''''Glimpses of Health and Medicine in the Mauryan Empire <ref>'''''Dr. D. V. Subba Reddy'''''</ref>'''''