ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This book stands on the shoulder of Giants. The

Eduseeker is indebt to the work of Academic Scholar and
teachers who have shared their knowledge of Indian
Political Thought on various platform. First of all thanks
to the major authors of Indian Political Thought i.e.
Thomas Pantham, Bidyut Chakrabarty, Himanshu Roy,
VP Verma, V.R. Mehta, Ramchandra Guha, Akash Singh
Rathore, Donald Mackenzie Brown. Special thanks to
CEC UGC channel of Youtube and Shubhra Ranjan IAS
for providing more insights on Indian Political Thought.

In Last, I don’t have words to express my gratitude to all

students of our channel who kept motivating to make
crash course of Indian Political Thought. It is because of
them this book has come into existence.

Eduseeker
 Dedicated to All
Aspirants of UGC NET
Political Science
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DHARMASHASTRA
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In Ancient Indian Traditions there are two traditions:-

1. Hindu Traditions
2. Buddhist Traditions

According to Bhikhu Parekh, there is a enormous continuity in Indian Thinking

from ancient to modern times. Even Buddhism is not entirely a different tradition.
Buddhism can be considered as ‘rebel child of Hinduism’ or ‘Protestantism of
East’.

Within Hindu Traditions there are two traditions:

1. Dharmashastra
2. Arthashastra

HINDU TEXT

SHRUTI SMRITI

VEDAS DHARMASHASTRA
 2

KAUTILYA
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Brief Bio
➢ Born in 350 BC (time of Alexander and his guru Aristotle)
➢ Studied at Takshshila and started teaching there
➢ Patliputra: Head of Sungha ( organsiation for helping poor people)
➢ Patliputra was capital of Magadh Empire ruled by Dhananand
➢ Insult of Kautilya by Dhananand and Kautilya pledge to overthrow
➢ Met Chandragupta: trained
➢ Established Maurya Empire
➢ Chief Advisor (PM) to Chandragupta
➢ Continued PM till Bindusar and then left the empire
Arthashastra:
➢ It was first discovered in 1904 and translated into German by Jacobi in 1909
➢ it consists of 15 books, 150 chapters and 180 topics.
➢ First five books: Internal matters of State
➢ 6 to 13 books: External matters of state
➢ 14-15 books: other issue of states
KAUTILYA

➢ It classified 34 departments of government

➢ Arthashastra belongs to Dandashastra and is also known as Nitishastra.
➢ State Craft is the main focus of Arthashastra. However it also discusses
Dharma and we see the continuity between Manu and Kautilya.
Meaning:
➢ Kautilya defines State Craft as Arthashastra. ‘Arth’ denotes material well
being. According to him, the most important objective of the king is to
secure the material well being of his people.
‘Material Well-being is supreme, attainment of all other goals-
Dharma, Kama, Moksh depends on Material Well being’
➢ In ancient times, land was the main source of securing material well being.
➢ Hence, the main idea of Arthashastra: How to acquire land
➢ It is natural for a state to go for acquiring land.
➢ The first land to be aquired is the land of neighbor
➢ Because neighbours are natural enemies
➢ Hence the relations between 2 states are the RELATIONS OF WAR
➢ Thus, Arthashastra deals with Art of War
➢ Arthashastra can be considered as the ‘First textbook in Geopolitics’
Geopolitics: Science of Capturing Land
Saptang Theory:
➢ It explains the seven limbs of the state. Which also means seven elements of
sovereignty.
➢ it is an example of organic theory of state.
➢ Kautilya systematic view of state. those seven elements are (See fig 2.1)

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KAUTILYA

Seven elements of sovereignty:

AMATYA

DURGA

JANAPADA

KOSHA

BALA

MITRA

(Fig 2.1)

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KAUTILYA

KING:
➢ King is the centre of the state. It is difficult to replace a personality.
➢ King plays the most important role.
➢ If king is strong and other elements of sovereignty are weak, the strong and
the smart King can convert the elements of weakness into elements of
strength.
➢ If other elements are strong but if king is weak it will lead to over all
weakness.
➢ Kautilya emphasizes that King should not be arrogant and give attitude
recognition of other element.
➢ State is a system of interdependence.
➢ In his words ‘in the happiness of the subject lies the happiness of the king’
Amatya: Senior Minister
➢ They are mostly Brahmins.
➢ The most important among them is the ambassador who is representative of
the King / state.
➢ King should choose him very carefully. He should be trusted person and
well vested in Shastra.
➢ He suggested that the king should have at least 3 Amatyas, two can inspire
against, even then one will stay with king. King should have constant vigil
on on ministers. Amatyas can challenge the power of the king. He will
suggest King should keep testing integrity of ministers from time to time.
Durga: Fort
➢ Maurya Empire is known for different types of forts.
➢ Kautilya mentions different fort on hill, water or desert.
➢ Fort are the symbols of defensive and offensive capabilities of state.
➢ Hence King should be constructing fort.

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KAUTILYA

Janpadh: Territory
➢ Places where common man lives operates, conduct business and various
activities.
➢ It is very important as it provides economic resources.
➢ King has to ensure that his people are happy.
➢ Even in case of territory Kautilya suggest to use spies to remain in touch
with public mood.
➢ Kautilya has given a detailed account of spies. He mentions at least 10 types
of spices to be used both for external and internal purpose.
➢ These are:
spies under the guise of fraudulent disciples/student-spies (kāpatika),
recluses (udāsthita), householders (gṛhapatika), merchants (vaidehaka), ascetics
(tāpasa), fire-brands (tīkṣṇa), poisoners (rasada), and mendicant women
(bhikṣukī).
Bala: Military Strength
➢ According to him, army should be comprised of Kshatriyas.
➢ He belives in hereditary basis of recruitement
➢ However, if need arises, other varnas can also be incorporated
➢ Even as far as king is concerned, Kautilya is not particular about varna
➢ He mentions that king can be of any varna but preferably Kshatriya
Kosha: Treasury
➢ It should be sufficient to the extent that not only the king is able to fulfill his
routine obligations he is able to meet any sort of emergency
Mitra: Ally
➢ Friends have a symbolic importance.
➢ As there is no permanent friend/ enemy and it is difficult to identify who is
real and who is pretending

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KAUTILYA

➢ They are symbol of strength of king.

➢ Everyone wants to be the friend of the strong
➢ Hence if country loosing friends to enemy, it is a serious concern
➢ Example: Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal getting close to China

Basic Principle of Mandal Theory:

1. Neighbour is a natural enemy
2. Neighbour’s neighbor is a natural friend
3. Greater is the distance, lesser is the enemy
4. All friendship in international sphere is guided by interest and convenience
5. Relations can’t be taken for granted
12 Kings
Kautilya mentions different kings in forward direction:
1. King
2. Ari
3. Mitra
4. Ari Mitra
5. Mitra Mitra
6. Ari Mitra Mitra
Kautilya mentions four kings in backward direction:
7. Parshvanighra
8. Akranda
9. Parshavanighra Sara
10. Akranda Sara

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AGGANNASUTTA

➢ The people called them 'Ajjhayaka' which meant 'They who don't
meditate’.
➢ At first the Ajjhayaka were viewed lower than Jhayaka but in the Buddha's
time, the Ajjhayaka had been viewed higher in status than the Jhayakas.
The Vessa (Traders) and the Sudda (Hunters)
➢ Among the people who had settled and had family, some began to adopt
various trades.
➢ The remainder of these people preferred the work of hunting. The Sudda
caste came from the word 'Sudda' which means: 'They Are Base Who Live
By The Chase’
➢ All of the castes, from Brahmin, Khattiya, Vessa, and Sudda originated from
these people, and not from others; in accordance to the Dhamma and not by
others.
The Ascetics
➢ But from the four castes, there were people who were not satisfied with
their living, left their home and became celibate ascetics.
➢ These are the origin of the fifth caste formed from all the four castes' people
who left their lay life and became an ascetic.

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