Kautilya Arthashastra

by R. Shamasastry | 1956 | 174,809 words | ISBN-13: 9788171106417

Hinduism Arthashastra

Summary: The English translation of Arthashastra, which ascribes itself to the famous Brahman Kautilya (also named Vishnugupta and Chanakya) and dates from the period 321-296 B.C. The topics of the text include internal and foreign affairs, civil, military, commercial, fiscal, judicial, tables of weights, measures of length and divisions of time.

Original title: Kauṭilya-Arthaśāstra (कौटिल्य-अर्थशास्त्र).

Source: motilalbanarsidass.com

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Kautilya Arthashastra in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Introductory Note

Preface to the Second Edition

Preface to the Third Edition

Preface to the Fifth Edition

+ Book 1 - Concerning Discipline

. Chapter 1 - The Life of a King

. Chapter 2 - Determination of the Place of Ānvīkṣakī

. Chapter 3 - Determination of the Place of the Triple Vedas

. Chapter 4 - Vārtā and Daṇḍanīti

. Chapter 5 - Association with the Aged

. Chapter 6 - The Shaking Off of the Aggregate of the Six Enemies

. Chapter 7 - The Life of a Saintly King

. Chapter 8 - Creation of Ministers

. Chapter 9 - The Creation of Councillors and Priests

. Chapter 10 - The Character of Ministers

. Chapter 11 - The Institution of Spies

. Chapter 12 - Creation of Wandering Spies

. Chapter 13 - Protection of Parties

. Chapter 14 - Winning over Factions

. Chapter 15 - The Business of Council Meeting

. Chapter 16 - The Mission of Envoys

. Chapter 17 - Protection of Princes

. Chapter 18 - A Prince kept under Restraint

. Chapter 19 - The Duties of a King

. Chapter 20 - Duty towards the Harem

. Chapter 21 - Personal Safety

+ Book 2 - The duties of Government Superintendents

. Chapter 1 - Formation of Villages

. Chapter 2 - Division of Land

. Chapter 3 - Construction of Forts

. Chapter 4 - Buildings within the Fort

. Chapter 5 - The Duties of the Chamberlain (sannidhātā)

. Chapter 6 - The Business of Collection of Revenue by the Collector-General

. Chapter 7 - The Business of Keeping up Accounts in the Office of Accountants

. Chapter 8 - Detection of Embezzlement

. Chapter 9 - Examination of the Conduct of Government Servants

. Chapter 10 - The Procedure, of Forming Royal Writs

. Chapter 11 - Examination of Gems that are to be entered into the Treasury

. Chapter 12 - Conducting Mining Operations and Manufacture

. Chapter 13 - Superintendent of Gold in the Goldsmiths’ Office

. Chapter 14 - The Duties of the State Goldsmith in the High Road

. Chapter 15 - The Superintendent of Store-house

. Chapter 16 - The Superintendent of Commerce

. Chapter 17 - The Superintendent of Forest Produce

. Chapter 18 - The Superintendent of the Armoury

. Chapter 19 - The Superintendent of Weights and Measures

. Chapter 20 - Measurement of Space and Time

. Chapter 21 - The Superintendent of Tolls

. Chapter 22 - Regulation of Toll-Dues

. Chapter 23 - The Superintendent of Weaving

. Chapter 24 - The Superintendent of Agriculture

. Chapter 25 - The Superintendent of Liquor

. Chapter 26 - The Superintendent of Slaughter-house

. Chapter 27 - The Superintendent of Prostitutes

. Chapter 28 - The Superintendent of Ships

. Chapter 29 - The Superintendent of Cows

. Chapter 30 - The Superintendent of Horses

. Chapter 31 - The Superintendent of Elephants

. Chapter 32 - The Training of Elephants

. Chapter 33 - Chariots, Infantry and the Duties of the Commander-in-Chief

. Chapter 34 - The Superintendent of Passports and Pasture Lands

. Chapter 35 - Revenue-Collectors and Spies

. Chapter 36 - The Duty of a City Superintendent

+ Book 3 - Concerning Law

. Chapter 1 - Determination of Forms of Agreement and Legal Disputes

. Chapter 2 - Concerning Marriage

. Chapter 3 - The Duty of a Wife

. Chapter 4 - Vagrancy, Elopement and Short and Long Sojournments

. Chapter 5 - Division of Inheritance

. Chapter 6 - Special Shares in Inheritance

. Chapter 7 - Distinction Between Sons

. Chapter 8 - Buildings

. Chapter 9 - Sale of Buildings and Boundary Disputes

. Chapter 10 - Destruction of Pasture Lands

. Chapter 11 - Recovery of Debts

. Chapter 12 - Concerning Deposits

. Chapter 13 - Rules regarding Slaves and Labourers

. Chapter 14 - Rules regarding Labourers; and Co-operative Undertaking

. Chapter 15 - Rescission of Purchase and Sale

. Chapter 16 - Resumption of Gifts, Sale without Ownership, and Ownership

. Chapter 17 - Robbery

. Chapter 18 - Defamation

. Chapter 19 - Assault

. Chapter 20 - Gambling and Betting and Miscellaneous Offences

+ Book 4 - Removal of Thorns

. Chapter 1 - Protection against Artisans

. Chapter 2 - Protection against Merchants

. Chapter 3 - Remedies against National Calamities

. Chapter 4 - Suppression of the Wicked Living by Foul Means

. Chapter 5 - Detection of Youths of Criminal Tendency by Ascetic Spies

. Chapter 6 - Seizure of Criminals on Suspicion or in the Very Act

. Chapter 7 - Examination of Sudden Death

. Chapter 8 - Trial and Torture to Elicit Confession

. Chapter 9 - Protection of All Kinds of Government Departments

. Chapter 10 - Fines in Lieu of Mutilation of Limbs

. Chapter 11 - Death with or without Torture

. Chapter 12 - Sexual Intercourse with Immature Girls

. Chapter 13 - Punishment for Violating Justice

+ Book 5 - The Conduct of Courtiers

. Chapter 1 - Concerning the Awards of Punishments

. Chapter 2 - Replenishment of the Treasury

. Chapter 3 - Concerning Subsistence to Government Servants

. Chapter 4 - The Conduct of a Courtier

. Chapter 5 - Time-Serving

. Chapter 6 - Consolidation of the Kingdom and Absolute Sovereignty

+ Book 6 - The Source of Sovereign States

. Chapter 1 - The Elements of Sovereignty

. Chapter 2 - Concerning Peace and Exertion

+ Book 7 - The End of the Six-fold Policy

. Chapter 1 - The Six-fold Policy

. Chapter 2 - The Nature of Alliance

. Chapter 3 - The Character of Equal, Inferior and Superior Kings

. Chapter 4 - Neutrality after Proclaiming War or after Concluding a Treaty of Peace

. Chapter 5 - Consideration about Marching

. Chapter 6 - The March of Combined Powers

. Chapter 7 - Peace and War by Adopting the Double Policy

. Chapter 8 - The Attitude of an Assailable Enemy

. Chapter 9 - Agreement for the Acquisition of a Friend or Gold

. Chapter 10 - Agreement of Peace for the Acquisition of Land

. Chapter 11 - Interminable Agreement

. Chapter 12 - Agreement for Undertaking a Work

. Chapter 13 - Considerations about an Enemy in the Rear

. Chapter 14 - Recruitment of Lost Power

. Chapter 15 - Measures Conducive to Peace

. Chapter 16 - The Attitude of a Conquered King

. Chapter 17 - Making Peace and Breaking It

. Chapter 18 - The Conduct of a Madhyama King, a Neutral King, and of a Circle of States

+ Book 8 - Concerning Vices and Calamities

. Chapter 1 - The Aggregate of the Calamities of the Elements of Sovereignty

. Chapter 2 - Considerations about the Troubles of the King and of His Kingdom

. Chapter 3 - The Aggregate of the Troubles of Men

. Chapter 4 - Molestations, Obstructions and Financial Troubles

. Chapter 5 - Troubles of the Army and Troubles of a Friend

+ Book 9 - The Work of an Invader

. Chapter 1 - The Knowledge and the Time of Invasion

. Chapter 2 - The Time of Recruiting the Army

. Chapter 3 - Consideration of Annoyance in the Rear

. Chapter 4 - Consideration about Loss of Men, Wealth, and Profit

. Chapter 5 - External and Internal Dangers

. Chapter 6 - Persons Associated with Traitors and Enemies

. Chapter 7 - Doubts about Wealth and Harm

+ Book 10 - Relating to War

. Chapter 1 - Encampment

. Chapter 2 - March of the Camp

. Chapter 3 - Forms of Treacherous Fights

. Chapter 4 - Battlefields and the Work of Infantry, Cavalry, Chariots and Elephants

. Chapter 5 - The Distinctive Array of Troops

. Chapter 6 - The Array of the Army

+ Book 11 - The Conduct of Corporations

. Chapter 1 - Causes of Dissension; and Secret Punishment

+ Book 12 - Concerning a Powerful Enemy

. Chapter 1 - The Duties of a Messenger

. Chapter 2 - Battle of Intrigue

. Chapter 3 - Slaying the Commander-in-Chief and Inciting a Circle of States

. Chapter 4 - Spies with Weapons, Fire and Poison

. Chapter 5 - Capture of the Enemy

+ Book 13 - Strategic Means to Capture a Fortress

. Chapter 1 - Sowing the Seeds of Dissension

. Chapter 2 - Enticement of Kings by Secret Contrivances

. Chapter 3 - The Work of Spies in a Siege

. Chapter 4 - The Operation of a Siege

. Chapter 5 - Restoration of Peace in a Conquered Country

+ Book 14 - Secret Means

. Chapter 1 - Means to Injure an Enemy

. Chapter 2 - Wonderful and Delusive Contrivances

. Chapter 3 - The Application of Medicines and Mantras

. Chapter 4 - Remedies Against the Injuries of One’s Own Army

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Last Updated: 10 March, 2024

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