Kautilya was an Indian philosopher who served as the prime minister of the Mauryan emperors Chandragupta and Bindusara. He is credited with writing the ancient Indian treatise on statecraft and economic policy called the Arthashastra. The Arthashastra discusses political philosophy and strategy for a ruler or king to acquire and manage his kingdom. It covers topics like the duties and qualities of a king, bureaucratic systems, foreign relations, and intelligence gathering. Kautilya advocated for a strong centralized monarchy and bureaucracy to manage all aspects of state. He emphasized the importance of a large military force and intelligence network to protect and expand the kingdom.

1. KAUTILYA AND STATECRAFT
RITUPARNA CHATTOPADHYAY

2. WHO WAS KAUTILYA
• THE TERM KAUTILYA DENOTES TO THE SCHOLARS OF
KUTILA GROUP.
• KAUTILYA WAS ALSO KNOWN AS CHANAKYA (SON OF
CHANAKA)AS HIS FATHER’S NAME WAS CHANAKA.
• HIS ORIGINAL NAME WAS VISHNUGUPTA.
• ACCORDING TO TRADITION KAUTILYA SERVED AS THE
PRIME MINISTER OF MAURYAN EMPERORS
CHANDRAGUPTA AND HIS SON BINDUSARA.

3. WHAT IS ARTHASHASTRA
• THE TERM ARTHA DENOTES TO THE AIMS OF THE LIFE OF A MAN. THE
ARTHASHASTRAS ARE A GROUP OF TREATISES WHICH SHOW THE PATH OF
FULFILLING THE GOALS OF LIFE. THERE WERE MANY ARTHASHASTRAS
APART OF THE KAUTILYA’S ARTHASHASTRA. IN THE SHANTIPARVA OF
MAHABHARATA ARJUNA HAS BEEN ALSO IDENTIFIED AS AN
ARTHASHASTRIN.
• ACCORDING TO KAUTILYA THERE ARE THREE AIMS OF LIFE (TRIVARGA
PURUSHARTHA) i.e. DHARMA (SPIRITUAL PLEASURES ), ARTHA (MATERIAL
PLEASURES) AND KAM (SEXUAL PLEASURE).
• BUT ON THE OTHER HAND MAHABHARATA TELLS US ABOUT FOUR AIMS
OF LIFE (CHATURVARGA PURUSHARTHA). APART OF THE PREVIOUS AIMS
IT ALSO REFERS ABOUT MOKSHA(SALVATION).

4. DATE OF THE ARTHASHASTRA
• R. SHAMASHASTRY FIXED ITS DATE IN 3RD
CENTURY
B.C.E. TO 2ND
CENTURY B.C.E.
• J. JOLLY, M. WINTERNITZ AND H.C. RAYCHAUDHURI
ARE OF OPINION THAT IT WAS COMPOSED AFTER 3RD
CENTURY B.C.E.
• ROMILA THAPAR THINKS THAT THE EARLY PORTION
OF THE ARTHASHASTRA WAS WRITTEN DURING THE
FORMATIVE PHASE OF THE MAURYAN EMPIRE.
LATER PARTS WERE INTERPOLATED AFTER A LONG
TIME, PERHAPS IN THE EARLY GUPTA PERIOD.

5. PRE CONDITION OF KAUTILYAN STATECRAFT
• THE PERIOD WAS OF PRIMARY STATE FORMATION.
• THERE WERE 16 MAHAJANAPADAS. SEVERAL OF
THESE MAHAJANAPADAS WERE OLIGARCHIES OR
REPUBLICS. SUCH AS VRIJI, MALLA AND KURU.
• KAUTILYA VIEWED THESE REPUBLICS AS THE ROOTS
OF ANARCHY.
• MAGADHA ANNEXED ALL THESE REPUBLICS AND
OTHER MAHAJANAPADAS TO EMERGE AS AN
EMPIRE.

6. BASIS OF THE GOVERNMENT
• ACCORDING TO KAUTILYA THE BASIS OF THE
GOVERNMENT IS KNOWLEDGE.
• KNOWLEDGE ARE OF FOUR CATEGORIES –
1. ANVIKASI – PHILOSOPHY, WHICH IS ALSO COSIDERED AS THE
LAMP OF ALL SCIENCES.
2. TRAYI – THE KNOWLEDGE OF THREE VEDAS (RIGVEDA,
SAMVEDA AND YAJURVEDA).
3.VARTTA – THE KNOWLEDGE OF TRADE, ECONOMY,
AGRICULTURE AND THE GUILDS.
4. DANDA – THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.

7. SAPTANGA THEORY (THE SEVEN ELEMENTS OF THE
STATE)
• ACCORDING KAUTILYA THE STATE IS THE COMBINED
FORM OF THE SEVEN ELEMENTS (PRAKRITI) OR
ORGAN (ANGA). ALTHOUGH IN THE SHANTIPARVA
OF MAHABHARATA THERE ARE MENTIONS OF EIGHT
ELEMENTS OR ORGANS(ASTANGIKA RAJYAM). THESE
ELEMENTS ARE –
1. SVAMI – THE KING OR THE MURDHABHISIKTA (WHO IS ELECTED UNIVERSALLY).
2. AMATYA – THE MINISTER OR THE COUNCIL OF THE MINISTERS.
3.JANAPAD – GEOGRAPHICAL TERRITORY.
4. DURGA – FORT.
5. KOSHA – TREASURY.
6. DANDA - MILITARY.
7. MITRA OR SUHRIT – ALLY.
8. ARI – ENEMY (OPTIONAL).

8. RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE SEVEN ORGANS
• PRE KAUTILYAN ARTHASHASTRINS LIKE BHARADVAJ,
VISHALAKSHYA, PARASHAR, PISHUN, KAUNAPADANTA
VIEWED THAT POSTERIOR ORGANS ARE MORE IMPORTANT
THAN THE ANTERIOR ORGANS. THUS THEY WERE OF OPINION
THAT THE MITRA OR THE ALLY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
ORGAN OF THE STATE. ALTHOUGH THEY ALSO STRESSED ON
THE IMPORTANCE OF DANDA, KOSHA AND JANAPADA.
• KAUTILYA DISCARDED HIS PREDECESSORS’ VIEWS.
ACCORDING TO HIM THE ANTERIOR ORGANS ARE MORE
IMPORTANT THAN THE POSTERIOR ORGANS. THUS SVAMI OR
THE KING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ORGAN OF THE STATE. HE
COMPARED SVAMI WITH THE HEAD OF THE BODY. AS THE
HEAD CONTROLS THE WHOLE BODY, THE KING CONTROLS
THE WHOLE STATE.

9. THE MANDALA THEORY OR THE INTER – STATE
RELATIONS
• KAUTILYA CATEGORIZED STATES ON THE BASIS OF
INTER RELATIONS –
1. VIJIGISHU OR THE EXPANSIONARY STATE.
2. ARI OR THE ENEMY STATE.
3. MITRA OR ALLY STATE.
4. ARI MITRA – ENEMY OF THE ALLY STATE.
5. MITRA MITRA – ALLY OF THE ALLY STATE.
6. ARI MITRA MITRA – ENEMY OF THE ALLY OF THE ALLY STATE.
7. PARSHNIGRAHA – STERNMOST ENEMY.
8. AKRANDA – STERMOST ALLY.
9. PARSHNIGRAHASAR – ENEMY OF THE STERNMOST ALLY.
10. AKRANDASAR – ALLY OF THE STERNMOST ALLY.
11. MADHYAMA – ADJACENT TO THE ENEMY STATE WHO COULD BECOME ALLY OR
ENEMY.
12. UDASIN – NEUTRAL STATE.

10. DVADASHA RAJAMANDALA (12 RAJAMANDALAS)
VIJIGISHU
ARIMIT
RA
ARI
-MITR
A
MITR
A -
MITR
A
ARI-
MITR
A-
MITR
A
PARS
HNIG
RAHA
AKR
AND
A
PARS
HNIG
RAH
ASAR
AKR
AND
ASA
R
MADH
YAMA
UDA
SIN

11. CLASSIFICATION OF STATES OR KINGS
• JYAYAN – MOST POWERFUL STATE OR KING
• NYUNA – WEAKEST STATE OR KING
• SAMA – STATE OR KING OF EQUAL STRENGTH

12. STRENGTH AND SUCCESS OF A STATE
• STRENGTH ARE OF THREE KINDS –
1. MANTRA SHAKTI – STRENGTH OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL OR
THE MINISTERS.
2. PRABHU SHAKTI – MILITARY POWER.
3. UTSAHA SHAKTI – PERSONAL ENDEAVOUR OF THE KING.
• SUCCESS OF A STATE –
1. MANTRA SIDDHI – SUCCESS THROUGH THE INTERLOCUTION.
2. PRABHU SIDDHI - SUCCESS THROUGH THE MILITARY POWER.
3. UTSAHA SIDDHI – SUCCESS ACHIEVED BY THE KING HIMSELF.

13. SARAGUNYA OR THE SIX QUALITIES OF A STATE
• ACCORDING TO KAUTILYA BY THE RIGHT
APPLICATION OF THE SARAGUNYAS THE VIJIGISHU
KING COULD EXTEND THE LIMIT OF HIS STATE AND
ALSO COULD PROTECT IT FROM ENEMY STATES.
THESE QUALITIES ARE –
1. SANDHI – PEACE SETTLEMENT.
2. YANA – WAGING WAR.
3. VIGRAHA – APPLYING MILITARY POWER.
4. ASAN – NEUTRALITY.
5. SAMSHRAY – MAKING ALLIANCE WITH OTHER STATES.
6. DVAIDHI BHAVA – WAGING WAR AGAINST ONE STATE AFTER MAKING
ALLIANCE WITH ANOTHER ONE.

14. APPLICATION OF THE SARAGUNYAS
• JYAYAN STATE – SANDHI.
• NYUNA STATE – VIGRAHA.
• SAMA STATE – ASAN.
• THE ARI OR ENEMY STATE WHICH DOES HAVE
MILITARY POWER – YANA.
• THE ARI OR ENEMY WHICH DOES NOT HAVE
MILITARY POWER – SAMSHRAY.
• WHEN FIGHTING WITH TWO STATES – DVAIDHI
BHAVA.

15. THE AIMS OF A VIJIGISHU KING
• KAUTILYA ADVICED THE VIJIGISHU KING TO CAPTURE THE
PRINCIPAL ARI OR ENEMY STATE AT FIRST. THEN HE WOULD
TAKE CONTROL OVER THE ORGANS (ANGAS) OF THE ENEMY
STATE.
• THEN HE SHOULD TRY TO WIN OVER THE MADHYAMA AND
THE UDASINA STATES.
• AFTERWARDS HE SHOULD PROVOKE HIS ALLY STATES TO
INVADE ENEMY STATES AND ALSO SHOULD INSTIGATE THE
ENEMY STATES TO ATTACK THE ALLY STATES. THUS ALL THE
WARRING ALLY AND ENEMY STATES WOULD BECOME
DEPENDENT ON THE VIJIGISHU KING.
• NEXT THE VIJIGISHU KING SHOULD ERADICATE THE FEUDAL
LORDS AND THUS ESTABLISH AN UNCHALLENGED CONTROL
OVER THE STATE.

16. THE DUITIES OF THE KING
• KAUTILYA DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF THE KING. HE
IMAGINED MONARCHY AS A HUMAN INSTITUTION AND THE KING AS A
HUMAN REPRESENTATIVE.
• KING WAS THE PROTECTOR OF THE DHARMA OR LAW AND ALSO THE
PROTECTOR OF THE CHATURVARNA SYSTEM.
• KAUTILYA BELIEVED THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POST OF THE KING WAS
TO AVOID THE CONDITION OF MATSYANYAYA (LAWLESSNESS).
• KING WAS EXPECTED TO DISPLAY ATMAVRATA AND HAD TO ABANDON SIX
ENEMIES – KAMA(LUST), KRODHA (ANGER), LOBHA (GREED), MANA
(VANITY), MADA (HAUGHTINESS) AND HARSHA (OVERJOY).
• THE DAY AND THE NIGHT OF THE KING WAS DIVIDED INTO EIGHT NALIKAS
(1.5 HOURS). THE KING HAD TO PERFORM ROUTINE JOBS DURING THESE
NALIKAS.

17. THE BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM
• KAUTILYA CLASSIFIED THE MINISTERS OR THE
BUREAUCRATS IN TWO SECTIONS – (i) THE AMATYAS
AND (ii) THE ADHYAKSAS.
• KAUTILYA ENLISTED 18 AMATYAS OR MINISTERS.
MAHABHARATA ALSO MENTIONS OF 18 AMATYAS
OR TIRTHAS.
• KAUTILYA ALSO HAD MENTIONED OF 19 ADHYAKSAS
OR THE SUPERINTENDENTS. BUT THE ORIGINAL LIST
CONSISTS OF 22 ADHYAKSAS.

18. THE AMATYAS AND THEIR DEPARTMENTS
1. MANTRIN – PRIME MINISTER.
2. PUROHIT – THE RELIGIOUS ADVISOR OF THE KING.
3. SENAPATI – THE MINISTER OF WARFARE.
4. YUVARAJ – THE CROWN PRINCE.
5. DAUVARIKA – THE HEAD OF THE ROYAL GUARDS.
6. ANTAVAMSHIKA – THE OVERSEER OF THE ROYAL HAREM.
7. PRASHASTA – THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PRISON.
8. SAMAHARTA – THE TAX COLLECTOR.
9. SANNIDHATA – ROYAL TREASURER.
10. PRADESTA – THE JUDGE OF THE CRIMINAL COURT.
11. NAGARIKA – THE HEAD OF A TOWN.
12. PAURA VYAVAHARIKA – THE JUDGE OF THE CIVIL COURT.
13. KARMANTIKA – THE MINISTER OF THE INDUSTRIES AND THE MINES.
14. MANTRI PARISADADHYAKSA – THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE MINISTERS.
15. DANDAPAL – THE HEAD OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
16. DURGAPAL – THE HEAD OF THE FORTS.
17. ANTAPAL - THE HEAD OF THE BORDER SECURITY FORCE.
18. ATABIKA – THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FOREST RANGE.

19. THE ADHYAKSAS
1. AKSAPATALADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF ROYAL ARCHIVE.
2. KOSHADHYAKSA – THE EXAMINER OF THE PRECIOUS GEMS OF THE ROYAL TREASURY.]
3. AKARADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE ROYAL MINES.
4. LOHADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE METALS APART OF GOLD AND SILVER.
5. LAVANADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE SALT MINES.
6. SUVARNADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE GOLD MINES.
7. KOSTHAGARADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE ROYAL STORE.
8. PANYADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE SHOPS.
9. KUPADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE FOREST PRODUCTS.
10. MANADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE WEIGHT, HEIGHT AND TIME STANDARDS.
11. AYUDHAGARADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE ROYAL ARSENALS.
12. PAUTAVADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE WORKSHOPS OF MANUFACTURING WEIGHT SCALES.
13. SHULKADHYAKSA – THE DUTY COLLECTOR.
14. SUTRADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE WEAVING INDUSTRY.
15. SITADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE ROYAL LANDS.
16. SURADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE WINE INDUSTRY.
17. SUNADHYAKSA – THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE ROYAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE.
18. GANIKADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE BROTHELS.
19. NAVADHYAKSA – THE HEAD OF THE ROYAL NAVY.
20. GO –ASVA-HASTYA-RATHA-PASUDHYAKSA – THE OVERSEERS OF ROYAL COWS, HORSES, ELEPHANTS, CHARIOTS AND
SEVERAL OTHER ANIMALS.
21. MUDRADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE ROYAL SEALS.
22. VIVITADHYAKSA – THE OVERSEER OF THE ROYAL PASTORAL LANDS.

20. THE MENTIONS OF THE BUREAUCRATS IN OTHER
CONTEMPORARY SOURCES
• THE ASOKAN INSCRIPTIONS REFER TO SEVERAL
BUREAUCRATIC POSTS, SUCH AS – i. KUMARA (THE CROWN
PRINCE), ii. ARYAPUTRA (THE PROVINCIAL RULERS), iii.
MAHAMATTA (MINISTERS), IV. ITHIJHAKA MAHAMATTA (THE
SUPERINDENT OF ROYAL HAREM), DHAMMA MAHAMATTA
(THE OVERSEERS OF THE RELIGIOUS MATTERS),v. RAJUKA
(THE JUDGE),vi.YUKTA (THE ROYAL ACCOUNTANTS), vii.
PRADESTRI (PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATOR),viii. PULISANI
(ROYAL AGENTS),ix. PATIVEDAKA (SPECIAL REPORTERS).
• MEGASTHENES ALSO INCLUDED THE OVERSEERS AND
COUNSELLORS AS THE 6TH
AND THE 7TH
CASTE IN HIS SEVEN
FOLD CASTE SYSTEM. HE WRONGLY INTERPRETED THE
BUREAUCRATIC GROUPS AS SOCIAL GROUPS.

21. GUDHA PURUSAS OR THE SPIES
• KAUTILYA DESCRIBED THE SPIES AS THE EARS AND EYES OF
THE KING. THEIR PURPOSE WAS TO MERGE THEMSELVES
WITHIN A SOCIAL GROUP AND SPY UPON IT.
• THE GUDHA PURUSAS USED TO WORK IN THE GUISE OF
FRAUDULENT DISCIPLES, RECLUSES,
HOUSEHOLDERS,MERCHANTS,
ASCETICS,STUDENTS,MENDICANT WOMEN AND
PROSTITUTES.
• THE GUDHA PURUSAS DID NOT KNOW EVEN EACH OTHER.
• EVEN THE OFFICERS OF THE ESPIONAGE INSTITUTION DID
NOT KNOW THE SPIES.
• THE SPIES HAD TO REPORT TO THE KING AND THE KING
HIMSELF USED TO GIVE ORDERS TO THE SPIES.

22. ESPIONAGE SYSTEM IN SOME OTHER
CONTEMPORARY SOURCES
• THE PATIVEDAKAS AND THE PULISANIS IN THE
ASOKAN INSCRIPTIONS WERE PROBABLY SPIES.
• DIODORUS MENTIONED THE SPIES AS EPISCOPOI.
• STRABO REFERRED THEM AS EPHOROI.

23. TAXATION SYSTEM
• KAUTILYA VIEWED TAX AS THE BASIS OF DHARMA OR LAW.
• TAXES WERE LEVIED FOR SOCIAL WELFARE AND MAINTAINING THE
VARNA ORDER.
• KAUTILYA STRESSED ON THE CERTAINTY IN THE TAXATION SYSTEM.
• THE BASIC LAND TAX WAS 1/6TH
OF THE PRODUCTION. KAUTILYA TERMED
THE KING AS SADABHAGINA (WHO EXACTED 1/6TH
OF THE PRODUCTION).
• THE TRADERS HAD TO PAY 1/10TH
OF THE VALUE OF THE MERCHANDIZE AS
TAX.
• THE CITIZENS HAD TO PAY ROAD TAX, MARRIAGE TAX, PASSPORT TAX
(PASSPORT FOR ENTERING IN THE CAPITAL), PILGRIMAGE TAX (YATRA
VETNA) ETC.
• THE PROFESSIONAL GROUPS LIKE ACTORS, DANCERS, SINGERS,
SOOTHSAYERS, DOCTORS, PROSTITUTES AND EVEN THE HERMITS HAD TO
PAY TAXES.
• THE URBAN PEOPLE COMPULSORILY HAD TO PAY PRANAY KRIYA (A TAX
FOR PUBLIC WELFARE).

24. CRITICISM OF KAUTILYAN POLITY IN THE LATER TEXTS
• ARTHASHASTRA IS SUCH AN EXCEPTIONAL SANSKRIT TEXT
WHICH DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONTEMPORARY
COMMENTARY.
• BANABHATTA IN HIS KADAMBARI CRITICISED ARTHASHASTRA
FOR ITS SHREWD AND IMMORAL STATECRAFT.
• DANDI IN HIS DASAKUMARCARITA STATED THAT THE
PRACTICE OF KAUTILYAN DANDANITI WOULD LEAD A STATE
TO ULTIMATE DECLINE.
• VIJNANESHVARA IN HIS MITAKSARA ALSO VIEWED THAT ONE
KING SHOULD FOLLOW DHARMASHASTRA INSTEAD OF
ARTHASHASTRA FOR THE WELFARE OF HIS STATE.

25. KAUTILYA’S VIEW TO THE GANARAJYAS
(REPUBLICS)
• KAUTILYA IN THE CHAPTER TITLED SAMGHA VIEWED
THAT THE REPUBLICAN POLITY WAS THE SOURCE OF
ANARCHY.
• HE ADVICED THE KINGS TO EMPLOY SPIES TO CREATE
DISINTEGRATION IN THE REPUBLICS.
• IN REALITY THE MAURYAN EMPIRE GRASPED OVER
THE REPUBLICAN STATES LIKE VAJJI, MALLA,KURU
ETC.

26. THE NATURE KAUTILYAN STATE
• KAUTILYA WAS A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF THE MONARCHICAL POLITY.
• HE WAS ALSO EXPANSIONIST.
• HE ALSO PROPOUNDED THE IDEA OF A TOTALITARIAN STATE WHERE THE
KING WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE EVERY DECISION.
• HE WAS IN FAVOUR OF ESTABLISHING STATE CONTROL OVER EVERY
SINGLE ASPECT OF LIFE. ROMILA THAPAR VIEWED IT AS THE
HOMOGENEOUS STATE CONTROL.
• BUT ON THE OTHER HAND KAUTILYA IMAGINED THE KING AS A HUMAN
REPRESENTATIVE.
• ACCORDING TO HIM IF THE KING BECAME OPPRESSOR THEN HE COULD
BE DETHRONED.
• KAUTILYA ALSO STRESSED ON THE PRIVILEGES ENJOYED BY THE
BRAHMANAS AND EXPECTED THE STATE TO SECURE THE INTEREST OF THE
BRAHMANAS.

27. THANK YOU