Administrative ideas in Kautilya’s Arthashastra

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April 11, 2018

Kautilya and Arthashastra:

Kautilya was the Prime Minister of Chandragupta Maurya. Chandragupta found the
Mauryan Empire with his help. Arthashastra was written by him. It is the most
important source for writing the history of the Mauryas and is divided into 15
adhikarnas or sections and 180 Prakaranas or subdivi​sions. It has about 6,000 slokas.
The book was discovered by Shamasastri in 1909 and ably trans​lated by him.

It is a treatise on statecraft and public administration. Despite

the controversy over its date and authorship, its importance lies in the fact that it gives a
clear and methodological analysis of economic and political conditions of the Mauryan
period.

The similarities between the administrative terms used in the Arthashastra and in the
Asokan edicts certainly suggests that the Mauryan rulers were acquainted with this
work.As such his Arthashastra provides useful and reliable information regarding the
social and political conditions as well as the Mauryan administration.

1. King:

Kautilya suggests that the king should be an autocrat and he should concentrate all
powers into his own hands. He should enjoy unrestricted authority over his realm. But
at the same time, he should give honour to the Brahmanas and seek advice from his
ministers. Thus the king though autocrat, should exercise his authority wisely.

He should be cultured and wise. He should also be well-read so as to understand all the
details of his administration. He says that the chief cause of his fall is that the king is
inclined towards evil. He lists six evils that led to a king’s decline. They are haughtiness,
lust, anger, greed, vanity and love of pleasures. Kautilya says that the king should live in
comfort but he should not indulge in pleasures.

2. Ideals of Kingship:

The major ideal of kingship according to Kautilya is that his own well-being lies in the
well-being of his people of only the happy subjects ensure the happiness of their
sovereign. He also says that the king should be ‘Chakravarti’ or the conqueror of
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different realms and should win glory by conquering other lands.

He should protect his people from external dan​gers and ensure internal peace. Kautilya
maintained that the soldiers should be imbued with the spirit of a ‘holy war’ before they
march to the battlefield. According to him, all is fair in a war waged in the interest of the
country.

3. About the Ministers:

Kautilya maintains that the king should appoint ministers. King without ministers is
like a one-wheeled chariot. According to Kautilya, king’s ministers should be wise and
intelligent. But the king should not become a puppet in their hands.

He should discard their improper advise. The ministers should work together as; a
team. They should hold meetings in privacy. He says that the king who cannot keep his
secrets cannot last long.

4. Provincial Administration:

Kautilya tells us that the kingdom was divided into several provinces governed by the
members of the royal family. There were some smaller provinces as Saurashtra and
Kambhoj etc. administered by other officers called ‘Rashtriyas’. The provinces were
divided into districts which were again sub-divided into villages. The chief
administrator of the district was called the ‘SthaniK while the village headman was
called the ‘Gopa’.

5. Civic Administration:

The administration of big cities as well as the capital city of Pataliputra was carried on
very efficiently. Pataliputra was divided into four sectors. The officer incharge of each
sector was called the ‘Sthanik. He was assisted by junior officers called the ‘Gopas’ who
looked after the welfare of 10 to 40 families. The whole city was in the charge of another
officer called the ‘Nagrika’. There was a system of regular census.

6. Spy Organisation:

Kautilya says that the king should maintain a network of spies who should keep him
well informed about the minute details and happenings in the country, the provinces,
the districts and the towns. The spies should keep watch on other officials. There should
be spies to ensure peace in the land. According to Kautilya, women spies are more
efficient than men, so they should, in particular, be recruited as spies. Above all the
kings should send his agents in neighbouring countries to gather information of
political significance.

7. Shipping:

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Another significant information that we gather from Kautilya is about shipping under
the Mauryas. Each port was supervised by an officer who kept vigil on ships and ferries.
Tolls were levied on traders, passengesand fishermen. Almost all ships and boats were
owned by the kings.

8. Economic Condition:

Kautilya says that poverty is a major cause of rebellions. Hence there should be no
shortage of food and money to buy it, as it creates discontent and destroys the king.
Kautilya therefore advises the king to take steps to improve the economic condition of
his people. Kautilya says that the chief source of income was the land revenue in villages
while the tax on the sale of goods was the chief source in the cities.

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