Date of Award
17-6-2024
Document Type
Thesis
School
School of Arts, Sciences, Humanities & Education
Programme
Ph.D.-Doctoral of Philosophy
First Advisor
Dr.N.Kannan
Keywords
Kautilya, Arthashastra, Finance, Public Finance, Governance
Abstract
Ancient Sanskrit literature has rich discussion of measurements by different authorities. Examples from the Vedic Age and the period of Itihāsas can be found in Ṛgveda (c. 1500 BCE), Rāmāyaṇa, and Mahābhārata. A subsequent, and more elaborate, exercise of codification of measurements, relevant to finance and administration, is observed in Arthaśāstra, written by Kauṭilya, also known as Cāṇakya and Viṣṇugupta (c. 350-275 BCE).
The author, a scholar from Takṣaśilā, was the advisor during Cāndragupta Maurya’s reign (c. 321-297 BCE). After millennia of hibernation, Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra resurfaced, in the beginning of the twentieth century. Ever since, Arthaśāstra has been a subject of study, especially of professionals, given its focus on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy. These subjects have been widely researched into, with a broad mention about measurements in the sense of ‘weights and measures’ in Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra. Offences and penalties specified in Arthaśāstra have also been generally studied, from a legal angle.
When viewed from a measurement perspective, the definition of units of measure is only the beginning of measurements in Arthaśāstra. Another dimension is the assessment of damage caused by transgressions and the prescription of fines or other frightful punishments. Going beyond these two aspects – weights and frights – Kauṭilya has presented measurement in different other forms, such as the extensive categorisation of attributes, and grading or ranking by characteristics; these serve as qualitative measurements as to the suitability or otherwise of the objects – be they commodities, persons, or information – for the purpose.
This thesis attempts an exploration of the qualitative and quantitative measurements in Arthaśāstra, employed in the areas of public finance and governance, drawing references to comparative historical literature relevant to topic. Enablers of measurement in Arthaśāstra, as for instance, the elaborate classification and gradation explained by Kauṭilya, are also looked into, to discover relevance and applicability of Kauṭilya’s thoughts in the present-day context.
Recommended Citation
M, Saraswathi Murali Ms, "Measurements In Kautilya’s Arthasastra, In the Domains of Public Finance and Governance" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 98.
https://knowledgeconnect.sastra.edu/theses/98