Summary Of Kautilya's 'Arthahastra'

Arthashastra
We get to know from the book ‘Arthashastra’ written by Kautilya (also known as Chanakya) how the Maurya’s administered their state. Chanakya lived from 350 to 283 B.C.E and was a scholar, teacher and guardian of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, founder of the Mauryan Empire. It was Kautilya who helped the young Chandragupta Maurya, who was a Vaishya, to ascend the Nanda throne in 321 B.C.E. In order to assess Kautilya’s Arthashastra, taking into account the context in which it was written, is essential. As a result of his complex thought process, Kautilya has attempted to make, practically without any assistance, order out of chaos, peace out of war, an open state out of a degenerated one. The Prince
Often claimed as one of the first works of modern philosophy, ‘The Prince’

The book concentrates on the possibility of a ‘new prince’ rather than the more traditional subject of a hereditary prince. To retain power, the hereditary prince must maintain the socio-political institutions to which the people are accustomed; whereas a new prince has the more difficult task in ruling, since he must first stabilize his new found power in order to build an enduring political structure.
He believed that the leader needed steadiness, firmness and concern for the maintenance of authority, power and order. It is best if these objectives could be accomplished by gaining the esteem of the populace, but if they could not, then craft, deceit, threat, treachery and violence was required. Even if the quality of a leader may seem vice it can bring him confidence and prosperity. Leader can never fear a reputation of an evil man if this brings profit to the state as a whole. The prince should not be too merciful as it may cause disorder and suffering to the whole