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Mauryan ringstone, Northwest Pakistan, 3rd century BCE. (British Museum, London)
Arthashastra, Duties of a King
(c. fourth century B.C.)
Arthashastra, Duties of a King
(c. fourth century B.C.)
BACKGROUND: The Arthashastra (roughly, “science of politics”) has often been attributed to Chānaka (c.350-283 B.C.), a prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya during the early phases of the Mauryan Empire. The text is very broad-ranging, covering issues ranging from war making to law enforcement, the conservation of forests, economic policy, the use of spies, and the education of future leaders. The excerpt below is one of the few references to religion from the text.
Of a king, the religious vow is his readiness to action; satisfactory discharge of duties is his performance of sacrifice; equal attention to all is the offer of fees and ablution [washing one's self] towards consecration. In the happiness of his subjects lies his happiness; in their welfare his welfare; whatever pleases himself he shall not consider as good, but whatever pleases his subjects he shall consider as good. Hence the king shall ever be active and discharge his duties; the root of wealth is activity, and of evil its reverse. In the absence of activity acquisitions present and to come will perish; by activity he can achieve both his desired ends and abundance of wealth.
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