Rajashastra, Rājaśāstra, Raja-shastra: 6 definitions

Introduction:

Rajashastra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit term Rājaśāstra can be transliterated into English as Rajasastra or Rajashastra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Arthashastra (politics and welfare)

Source: Shodhganga: Rajadharma in the Mahabharata

Rājaśāstra (राजशास्त्र).—Accordign to the first chapter of the Nītiprakāśikā:—After knowing the wishes of Janmejaya, Vaiśampāyana relates him about the rājaśāstra composed by Brahmā. He says,- Brahmā, Rudra, Subrahmanya, Indra, Manu, Brhaspati, Śukra, Bharadvāja, Gauraśiras and Vyāsa had respectively written 1,000,00; 50,000 ; 12,000; 6,000; 3,000; 1,000; 700; 500 and 300 chapters on polity.

Arthashastra book cover
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Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्र, arthaśāstra) literature concerns itself with the teachings (shastra) of economic prosperity (artha) statecraft, politics and military tactics. The term arthashastra refers to both the name of these scientific teachings, as well as the name of a Sanskrit work included in such literature. This book was written (3rd century BCE) by by Kautilya, who flourished in the 4th century BCE.

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In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Rajashastra in Mahayana glossary
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (mahayana)

Rājaśāstra (राजशास्त्र) refers to a “text for kings”, according to the sixth chapter of the Suvarṇaprabhāsottamasūtra, which teaches the protection of the state for the mutual benefit of the Buddhist Sangha and the monarch.—Accordingly, the Caturmahārājaparivarta or Chapter on the Four Great Kings, conveys an explicit message: those kings (manuṣya-rāja) who venerate the Suvarṇaprabhāsottama and support the Buddhist Sangha will be protected from hostile armies and other dangers by the Four Great Kings, and their countries will exist in highest state of harmony. Simultaneously, those who ignore this tradition will face decline. [...] At one point the scripture calls itself a rājaśāstra, a text for kings.

Mahayana book cover
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Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Rajashastra in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Rājaśāstra (राजशास्त्र).—[neuter] royal science, state policy.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Rājaśāstra (राजशास्त्र):—[=rāja-śāstra] [from rāja > rāj] n. = -vidyā, [Mahābhārata]

[Sanskrit to German]

Rajashastra in German

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Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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