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Saptang Theory

The Saptanga Theory, articulated by Kautilya in the Arthashastra, defines the state as comprising seven essential elements: king, ministers, territory and population, forts, treasury, armed might, and allies. Each component plays a vital role in governance, emphasizing the duties of the king, the administrative responsibilities of ministers, and the importance of economic stability and defense. This framework is recognized as a foundational understanding of governance in ancient India and remains relevant in the study of statecraft.

Education◦
Saptang Theory Dr. Virag Sontakke Assistant Professor Center for Advanced Studies Department of A.I.H.C. & Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University
Saptang Theory
Introduction • The state as seven-limed is contemplated by ancient Hindu thinkers. • The state is defined in the Arthashastra of Kautilya as consisting of seven elements. • Kautilya in his Arthashastra put the order like the swami, the Amatyas, the Janapada, the Durgas, the Kosha, the Danda, the Mitra. • Manusmriti, deals with seven Prakritis of the state like king, the ministers, the capital, the realm, the treasure, the army and ally. • Saptanga theory as given by Kautilya was almost universally accepted as the standard definition to know the nature of the ancient India.
Saptanga Theory • In his Saptanga Theory, Kautilya enumerates seven prakritis or essential organs of the state. 1. Swamin (King), 2. Amatya (Ministers), 3. Janapad (The people and territory), 4. Durga (The Fort), 5. Kosha, (strong treasury) 6. Danda (Strong army) 7. Mitra (The ally).
The King M inister People Durg Treasury Danda The Ally Saptang Theory
The King • The king was the head of civil, judicial and military administration. • Appointments to the most important offices were to be made by him. • The King would lay down the broad outlines of public policy and protect the social order based on the varnashramas. • Governance was to be organized through codes of law. • Religion was not meant to interfere in matters of state and administration. • Among his other duties, welfare administration, such as building of bridges and irrigational works, providing pastures for livestock, opening of trade routes and working of mines. • The subjects were to be protected from natural calamities and anti social elements. • It was the duty of the King to provide social security for the minors, the sick, the aged and the unemployed.
The King (Swamin) • Kautilya gives extensive powers to the king. • Also an extensive list of duties which he must perform for the welfare of his people. 1. Firstly, the king should preferably belong to the nobility, 2. Be a native of the land and follow the teachings of the Shashtras. 3. Emphasis is laid on the King’s training in a) Philosophy, b) Economic sciences and c) Political science, • The King’s foremost duty is rakshana (protection) and palan (nurture) of his subjects.
The King • Arthshastra maintains that danda is the symbol of sovereignty and is absolutely mandatory to prevent anarchy in a state. • However, he also advises the King to exercise danda with utmost restraint. • Around 300 offenses, together with the fines to be imposed create the basis for an elaborate system of criminal justice administration in Arthshastra. • The threat of a revolt is expected to serve as a warning to every ruler that in the last analysis, the stability of his regime depends on the contentment of the subjects. • The king who administers justice in accordance with sacred law (dharma) evidence (vyavahara) custom (samstha) and edicts of king (nyaya) will be able to conquer the whole world. • Kautilya was the first to emphasize the importance of secular law and recognized reasoning as a source of state law.
The Minister (Amatya) • It refers to the council of ministers as well as the supporting ofOicials and subordinate staffs. • They are meant for assisting the monarch in day to day affairs of the state. • Amatya gives suggestions to king, collects taxes, develops new villages and cities. • Ministers also ensures defence of the state and all other tasks as assigned by the king.
The Minister (Mantrin) • Kautilya describes an elaborate system of recruitment of the Amatyas and other ofOicials. • Amatyas should be morally and ethically pure, honest in Oinancial matters and of good character. • The Amatyas were expected to be natural born citizens, persons of noble origin. • Amatyas shall free from all vices, men of infallible memory, friendly nature, wisdom, patience and endurance. • These ministers were not only to advise the king whenever their advice was sought; they were also to maintain the secrecy of their deliberations.
The Minister (Amatya) • The king rules through an elaborate administrative machinery. • Amatya stands for the higher echelons of administration who form an inner cabinet. • The Prime Minister and the High Priest are the most important ministers. • In times of emergency, Kautilya asks the king to consult the members of a wider council of ministers. • The Inner Cabinet assists the king to appoint the ministers and the executive heads of departments. • The important ministers in Arthshastra include the priest, the prime minister, the commander of the Army, the Treasurer General and the Collector General.
Territory and population (Janapada) • It refers to territory and people of the state. • The territory of the state should be fertile and should have abundance of 1. Forest, 2. Rivers, 3. Mountains, 4. Minerals, 5. Wild life etc. 6. It should have have good climate. • People should be loyal to their king, hard working, disciplined, religious, ready to Fight for their motherland, should pay taxes regularly and happily.
Territory and population (Janapada) • This refers to the citizens settled in the territory of a nation. • Kautilya points out that the territory of the state should be devoid of rocky, saline, uneven and thorny tracts; • It should be free from wild beasts and abound in fertile lands, timber and elephant forests. • The land should be watered by rivers and there should be suitable places for establishing villages and cities. • Janapadas should be provided with all means of communication. • The people should be industrious and followers of dharma. • The king has to protect both land and the people from external aggression and make all possible efforts to promote the economic prosperity of the state.
Territory and population (Janapada) • Here, ‘Jana’ denotes people and ‘Pada’ is a symbol of territory where these inhabitants permanently reside. • D.R. Bhandarkar and R.S. Sharma are of the view that Kautilya’s Janapada includes not only territory but also population. • Kautilya prescribes the following requisites of a prosperous Janapada in terms of territory: (i) Accommodate and support people; (ii) Defend the state against enemies; (iii) Find occupation of people; (iv) Have manageable neighbours; (v) Provide pastures; (vi) Have arable land, mines, forest and (vii) Provide good internal communication, i.e. rivers, roads, and outlet to sea.
Defence (Durga) • It refers to forts. • The state should have sufficient number of forts across its territory at strategic locations for ensuring defence against foreign invasions. • Forts should be built near hills/mountains, deserts, dense forests and big water bodies. • They garrison soldiers, store food grains for emergency and also serve as a hideout for the king when his life in danger.
Defence (Durga) • Durga is the fourth element of the state and it literally means a fortress. • Kautilya has referred four types of Durgas, they are as under: 1. Audaka durga (surrounded by water), 2. Parvata durga (made of rocks) 3. Dhanvana durga (surrounded by desert) and 4. Vana durga (surrounded by forests). The Wirst two type of durgas were useful for protecting Janapada in case of emergency and the following two types provided shelters to the king in the event of any emergency. It has also been said that on the frontiers of Janapada on all four sides the king should get such natural forts erected which may be suitable particularly from the defence point of view.
Defence (Durga) • Kautilya regarded fortiOication as essential for the defence and protection of the state. • He wanted the state to fortify the territories from all sides. • These fortiOications, thus, would not only protect the people and the capital, but would also be suitable for Oighting purposes, i.e. for both defensive and offensive purposes.
Treasury (Kosha) • This is the fifth important element. • All the activities of the state depend on finance and therefore foremost attention should be given to the treasury. • The state treasury should be a permanent source of revenue for the state. • The king is advised to take one sixth of the produce and there must be sufficient reserves of currency and valuable minerals like gold. • In case of emergency, particularly in times of war, the king was at liberty to collect heavy taxes from his subjects. • The chief sources of income of the state were the King’s share of the land produce, customs duties and the amount collected as fines. • The main tax payers were the farmers, traders and artisans.
Treasury (Kosha) • The flourishing economy is essential for the existence of the State in all times and circumstances. • Thus, the philosophers of Ancient India looked at treasury as an essential element of the State. • Though Kautilya wanted a prosperous treasury, he specifically directed the king to earn the wealth of nation only by legitimate and righteous means and in no way by unfair and immoral means. • For the collection of revenues, Kautilya suggested the following legitimate sources: (i) Various forms of land tax; (ii) Duty levied on the sale of commodities in the market; (iii) Tax on imports and exports and (iv) Miscellaneous taxes.
Armed might (Danda) • The King should have at his command a strong military force. • The army ought to be well versed in military arts, contended and therefore loyal and patriotic. • The soldiers recruited in the army must belong to one these seven categories 1. Maula (Recruited on hereditary grounds) 2. Bhrtaka (Paid) 3. Shreni (Well trained) 4. Mitra (Soldiers of friendly kings) 5. Amitra (Soldiers of conquered or hostile territories) 6. Atavika (Tribal soldiers) 7. Autsahika (Leaderless and invaders).
Armed might (Danda) • The senapati (commander in-chief) should generally superier. • Under him, two branches, one in charge of 1. Actual defence forces controlling strategy tactics on the Oield and 2. In charge of supplies. • A good Oighting and loyal army is an invaluable asset to the King.
Armed might (Danda) • Kautilya accepted a strong and hereditary Kshatriya army, as the most important requisite of the state. • He insisted on the hereditary army, as it would not only be skilled, well contended and obedient to the king’s will, but also be free from duplicity. • Such an army would serve both the defensive and offensive purposes of the king. • Hence, it was obvious for Kautilya to pay great attention to the maintenance and organization of the army. • For instance, in Arthashastra, we find him mentioning as many as half a dozen heads of departments namely the in charge of the armoury, naval forces, cavalry, elephants, chariots and infantry.
The Ally (Mitra) • The last element mentioned by Kautilya is mitra or allies (friends in need). • Kautilya describes six type of friends 1. Traditional 2. Permanent 3. Those who could exercise restraint upon themselves 4. Not of hostile attitude 5. Endowed with courage and ability to offer worthy advice and 6. Those who could help in times of need. A friend (inside or outside the state) equipped with all these qualities was indeed a real friend. It was indispensable for a king to make friends and enjoy the confidence of allies in order to achieve the goal of a prosperous state.
The Ally (Mitra) • “Political isolation means death”, Kautilya proceeded to consider the Mitra or the ally as a vital factor. • Kautilya recognizes two kinds of allies, namely Sahaja and Kritrima. • The Sahaja or natural ally is the one whose friendship is derived from the times of King’s father and grandfather and who is situated close to the territory of the immediately neighbouring enemy. • On the other hand, the Kritrima or the acquired ally is the one whose friendship is specially resorted to for the protection of wealth and life. • Kautilya, however, preferred an ally who is traditional, permanent, disciplined, and enthusiastic and from whom the possibility of opposition or rebellion is minimum.
Conclusion • Saptanga theory as given by Kautilya was almost universally accepted as the standard deFinition to know the nature of the ancient India. • Saptanga doctrine represents a scheme of categorisation of the various elements of the kingdom and importance of the different elements of state. • It has been generally recognized that the modern constituents of the state such as sovereignty, government, territory and population are covered by the elements of Swami, amatya and Janapada in the saptang theory of the state. • The objective of theory to bringing about welfare of the people.