Panchatantra: A reflex of Arthashastra
by M. N. Indrani | 2003 | 42,495 words
The essay studies the Panchatantra in relation to the Arthashastra by proposing that that Indian fable literature divides into educative and entertaining narratives, both traced back to the sacred Vedic texts. It highlights the 'Pancatantra' and its kin as representative of educative stories promoting ethical conduct and worldly wisdom through tale...
The Elements of Sovereignty—Introduction
It is well known that the Arthasastra of Kautilya is an ancient treatise dealing with many aspects of the administration of a kingdom. For smooth and perfect running of the administration of the kingdom, the ruler has to be efficient enough in all respects. The Arthasastra therefore, in its beginning, presents king's education and training in various disciplines. And, then follow the related topics on treasury, minister, servant, friend, fort etc. On the other hand, the Pancatantra of Visnusarma when brought in comparison with the Arthasastra, reader comes to know that Visnusarma has closely followed Kautilya in many respects. As it has been stated by Visnusarma himself in the text, the Pancatantra has its central theme to show the importance of science of polity for the kings to establish the welfare in the
117 country. Therefore, it tends to take a note that the general statements read in the Pancatantra have invariably the reflection of the science of polity. In the history of science of polity in India, Kautilya's Arthasastra plays an important role for its being the foremost and vast treasure of science of polity. Therefore, an evaluation of the Pancatantra would be meaningful, if it is, read within the frame of the Arthasastra. As such, here is an attempt to show that the Pancatantra is a reflex of the Arthasastra of Kautilya. Hence, the following is the study of the Pancatantra and Arthasastra in their comparative perspective. It has been a fact that a kingdom remains flourishing by the collective efforts of all administrative officials in the royal assembly. The principal official is none-else than the king himself. The opening words of the Pancatantra are evident to point out that king Amarasakti was able administrator and was honoured by many fuedatory kings.1 The only scarcity he had undergone was his having importunate sons, whom he wanted to educate in the science of polity to run the affairs of the kingdom smoothly in future. But, looking to the stagnantintellect of his sons, the king had to choose most efficient teacher who could train the sons effectively. 1. tatra sakalarthikalpadrumah pravaramukutamanimaricimanjaricarcitacaranayugulah sakalakalaparangato'marasaktirnama • raja babhuva | Pancatantra, Mitrabheda, Kathamukham, p. 2.
118 In the words of Kautilya, there are three categories of prince, of whom the princes of stagnant intellect come under the second category i.e., whoever never carries into practice, the good instructions he has imbibed, is one of the stagnant intelligence.2 Of course, the teacher of such princes was let free to choose the method of instructing them. Of course, Visnusarma did select the most effective method of teaching through the narration of fables wherein animals and birds are personified. He was such a devoted teacher that he himself wrote the text as an aid for teaching the princes. Thus Visnusarma is here pictured as a perfect and ideal teacher. He took the time of six months to educate them and he made them stay with himself for that whole period. Because, he had made it a point to instruct them into the science of polity through fables, making good use of all time. In this respect, Kautilya remarks that during the rest of day and night, the teacher should, not only receive new lessons and revise old lessons, but also hear over and again what has not been clearly understood.3 Hence, Visnusarma's method of teaching is found in tune with Kautilya's idea. 2. 3. buddhimanaharyabuddhirduvuddhiriti putravisesah | sisyamano dharmarthavupalabhate canutisthati ca buddhiman | upalabhamano nanutisthatyaharyabuddhih | Arthasastra, I Adhikarana (Vinayadhikarana), XVII Adhyaya, p.53. asya nityasca vidyavrddhasamyogo vinayavrddhacaryam tanmulatvadvinayasya | purvamaharbhagam hasyasvarathapraharanavidyasu vinayam gacchet | pascimamitihasasravane | Arthasastra of Kautilya, Adhikarana-I (Vinayadhikarana), Adhyaya-V, p.18.
119 Constituent Elements of Sovereignty An elucidation of the constituent elements of sovereignty is very important aspect of the texts on science of polity. Even so, Kautilya has given prime importance to enumerate these essential factors without which the state cannot exist. The explanation of the constituent elements would reveal that they form the basis of the organic growth of the state. Kautilya has a definite concept of the elements of the state. He calls them the seven Prakrtis of the sovereignty. Kautilya has restated the relative importance of the seven elements of the sovereignty, which are enumerated thus the king (Svami), the minister (Amatya), the country (Janapada), the fort (Durga), the treasury (Kosa), the army (Danda), the friend (Mitra). The relative importance of these elements may be studied in comparison to the Pancatantra of Visnusarma.