Arthashastra

The Arthashastra (. Sanskrit, m, अर्थशास्त्र, Arthasastra, artha means power, prosperity, purpose, Sastra is textbook ) is a state law textbook of the Old India. It was discovered in the early 20th century by Indian scientists Rudrapatna Shyamashastri ( 1868-1944 ) and published in 1909. It is considered the most important work of ancient Indian theory of the state and one of the great works of the political world literature.

Artha is next to Kama ( lust ), Dharma ( cosmic order ) and Moksha ( salvation ) of the four " legitimate objectives " in the life of a Hindu.

The authors

Little more is arguably today that it must have been to two authors who are regarded as the author of this " Indian Machiavelli ": The first is called in his Einleitungsvers Kautalya. ( Often you can also read Kautilya, which is a regional variant of the name. ) This must be either Chanakya, who was at the time of the Mauryan dynasty fellow and finally closest adviser Chandragupta I.. These original sections date back to about 300 BC and are written in verse.

The second author is called Vishnugupta. He has revised the original text, while also included the commentary literature, which had been formed for the first text. This version is dated to about 200 AD

Long used the research, the Arthashastra as cultural-historical source that provides an image of the policy of Mauryareiches. Meanwhile, however, one is mainly agree that Kautalya rather represented their own experiences and political maxims of the previous periods.

The doctrine

The Arthashastra treated right, justice, administration, foreign policy, defense and war, and devotes a chapter to the king. The duties of the king are described with the protection of the state against external aggression, maintaining law and order and safeguarding the well- being of the population. It also contains requirements and recommendations as a kingdom secures its existence and is powerful and rich. It goes from Kauţalya of seven basic "pillars " of the state, ie the properties of the king, the ministers, the provinces, the capital of the state treasury, the army and its allies. The strengthening and application of these power factors promises the successful existence of a kingdom.

The king is at the center of a circle states surrounding his kingdom. This circular states based on the principle that the neighbor of the natural enemy and its neighbors in turn is the natural friend of the kingdom. This system is penetrated by a neutral "medium" kings and besieged by outsiders,. The aim is to defeat by strengthening their own power and weakening the power of the enemy empires out the enemies, then the neutrals and finally the bystanders. The rules are free moral and sacred only the purpose. Kautalya therefore considered unscrupulous theorists.