King, Governance, and Law in Ancient India presents an English translation of Kautilya's Arthashastra (AS.) along with detailed endnotes. When it was discovered in 1923, the Arthashastra was described as perhaps the most precious work in the whole range of Sanskrit literature, an assessment that still rings true. This new translation of this significant text, the first in close to half a century takes into account a number of important advances in our knowledge of the texts, inscriptions, and archeological and art historical remains from the period in Indian history to which the AS. belongs (2nd-3rd century CE, although parts of it may be much older). The text is what we would today call a scientific treatise. It codifies a body of knowledge handed down in expert traditions. It is specifically interested in two things: first, how a king can expand his territory, keep enemies at bay, enhance his external power, and amass riches; second, how a king can best organize his state bureaucracy to consolidate his internal power, to suppress internal enemies, to expand the economy, to enhance his treasury through taxes, duties, and entrepreneurial activities, to keep law and order, and to settle disputes among his subjects. The book is accordingly divided into two sections: the first encompassing Books 1-5 deals with internal matters, and the second spanning Books 6-14 deals with external relations and warfare. The AS. stands alone: there is nothing like it before it and there is nothing after it-if there were other textual productions within that genre they are now irretrievably lost. Even though we know of many authors who preceded Kautilya, none of their works have survived the success of the AS. Being "textually" unique makes it difficult to understand and interpret difficult passages and terms; we cannot look to parallels for help. The AS. is also unique in that, first, it covers such a vast variety of topics and, second, it presents in textual form expert traditions in numerous areas of human and social endeavors that were handed down orally. Expert knowledge in diverse fields communicated orally from teacher to pupil, from father to son, is here for the first time codified in text. These fields include: building practices of houses, forts, and cities; gems and gemology; metals and metallurgy; mining, forestry and forest management; agriculture; manufacture of liquor; animal husbandry, shipping, and the management of horses and elephants- and so on. Finally, it is also unique in presenting a viewpoint distinctly different from the Brahmanical "party line" we see in most ancient Indian documents.
Professor of Sanskrit and Indian Studies, Department of Asian Studies, University of Texas, Austin; OUP USA Delegate for Religion.
Preface ; Abbreviations ; Note to the Translation ; Outline of the Arthasastra ; Introduction ; Translation ; Book 1: On the Subject of Training ; Book 2: On the Activities of Superintendents ; Book 3: On Justices ; Book 4: Eradication of Thorns ; Book 5: On Secret Conduct ; Book 6: Basis of the Circle ; Book 7: On the Sixfold Strategy ; Book 8: On the Subject of Calamities ; Book 9: Activity of a King Preparing to March into Battle ; Book 10: On War ; Book 11: Conduct toward Confederacies ; Book 12: On the Weaker King ; Book 13: Means of Capturing a Fort ; Book 14: On Esoteric Practices ; Book 15: Organization of A Scientific Treatise ; Notes ; Appendix 1: Fauna and Flora ; Appendix 2: Weights and Measures ; Appendix 3: Geographical Names ; Bibliography
