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King, Governance, and Law in Ancient India : Kautilya's Arthasastra

ISBN: 9780199891825 | 0199891826

Edition: Annotated
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Pub. Date: 1/15/2013

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Summary Table of Contents Author Biography

King, Governance, and Law in Ancient Indiapresents an English translation of Kautilya'sArthashastra(AS.) along with detailed endnotes. When it was discovered in 1923, theArthashastrawas described as perhaps the most precious work in the whole range of Sanskrit literature, an assessment that still rings true. This new translation of this significant text, the first in close to half a century takes into account a number of important advances in our knowledge of the texts, inscriptions, and archeological and art historical remains from the period ... MOREin Indian history to which theAS.belongs (2nd-3rd century CE, although parts of it may be much older). The text is what we would today call a scientific treatise. It codifies a body of knowledge handed down in expert traditions. It is specifically interested in two things: first, how a king can expand his territory, keep enemies at bay, enhance his external power, and amass riches; second, how a king can best organize his state bureaucracy to consolidate his internal power, to suppress internal enemies, to expand the economy, to enhance his treasury through taxes, duties, and entrepreneurial activities, to keep law and order, and to settle disputes among his subjects. The book is accordingly divided into two sections: the first encompassing Books 1-5 deals with internal matters, and the second spanning Books 6-14 deals with external relations and warfare. TheAS. stands alone: there is nothing like it before it and there is nothing after it-if there were other textual productions within that genre they are now irretrievably lost. Even though we know of many authors who preceded Kautilya, none of their works have survived the success of theAS. Being "textually" unique makes it difficult to understand and interpret difficult passages and terms; we cannot look to parallels for help. TheAS. is also unique in that, first, it covers such a vast variety of topics and, second, it presents in textual form expert traditions in numerous areas of human and social endeavors that were handed down orally. Expert knowledge in diverse fields communicated orally from teacher to pupil, from father to son, is here for the first time codified in text. These fields include: building practices of houses, forts, and cities; gems and gemology; metals and metallurgy; mining, forestry and forest management; agriculture; manufacture of liquor; animal husbandry, shipping, and the management of horses and elephants- and so on. Finally, it is also unique in presenting a viewpoint distinctly different from the Brahmanical "party line" we see in most ancient Indian documents.

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Preface
Abbreviations
Note to the Translation
Outline of the Arthasastra
Introduction
Translation
On the Subject of Training
On the Activities of Superintendents
On Justices
Eradication of Thorns
On Secret Conduct
Basis of the Circle
On the Sixfold Strategy
On the Subject of Calamities
Activity of a King Preparing to March into Battle
On War
Conduct toward Confederacies
On the Weaker King
Means of Capturing a Fort
On Esoteric Practices
Organization of A Scientific Treatise
Notes
Fauna and Flora
Weights and Measures
Geographical Names
Bibliography
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Patrick Olivelle is Professor of Sanskrit and Indian Religions at the University of Texas at Austin.

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