Chanakya

Chanakya ( Sanskrit: चाणक्य Cāṇakya ) (c. 350 BC; † 283 BC) was a minister and closest advisor of the first emperor of the Maurya Empire, Chandragupta Maurya (c. 340 BC, † 293 BC) and played a major role in their advancement. The political text book Arthashastra is attributed to him, although it is suspected that other parts of the book has added.

Works

Two books are attributed to Chanakya: Arthashastra and Nitishastra. The Arthashastra discusses monetary and fiscal policy, international relations, military strategy, and other affairs of state. The author of the book called Kautilya (or Kautalya ), and this is identified with Chanakya. The Nitishastra is a treatise on the ideal way of life, which supplies much about Indian culture at that time.