Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

the control, both his subjects and his enemy.’(Jayasawal, 1972: 327)
Since Varta- the economy supplies grain, cattle, money, and various
kinds of products to the state. It also supplies labor force, necessary
for production in agriculture and commercial sector. From this it may
be surmised that labourers engaged in the various economic fields
could be recruited for similar state enterprises. Thus, the labor force
was also national wealth according to Kautilya. This provides the insight
of Kautilya on the modern non-material wealth concept.
The state is sustained by the revenues it collects form the
subjects. These follow different economic activity from which they
make a living and pay taxes to the state. Three principal economic
activities are recognized as providing men with the means of livelihood,
namely krisi- agriculture, goraksha or pashupalya- animal farming and
Banijya- commerce. We can call it K-G-B sector. In the beginning
National Economy was three sector, later on, money lending and
artisanship were also brought and it became four sector.
(Shukranitisar, 2008, 1.156)
Like all the activities in the state varta too was rooted
(janapadmula) in the country (Kautiliya Arthashastra-2, 2003,
8.1.29). The ideal state is described at length is in Book 6, Chapter 1,
Sutra 8. Among other things it is stated that it should be easy to defend,
should provide easy means of livelihood, such as arable land, mines,
forest, pastures, trade-routes, and so on, and should be inhabited by
hard working farmers and men mostly of the lower varnas. Apart from
considered of defense the emphasis is on facility for the pursuit of
varta. But of course a ruler has to satisfy with such territory as may
have fallen to his lot. A choice is however possible when new settlements
are planned or new conquests attempted. In such a case he is advised
29
to choose land which abound in water, yields crops without much
rain, is suitable for grain crops and so on what is predominantly
good agriculture land. (Kautiliya Arthashastra-3, 2003:167)
Rural Development
Kautilya believed in scientific farming. The state officer-incharge
of agriculture was designated as Sitadhayksha- The
Superintendent or Head of Agriculture. Literally sita stands for plough.
The Superintendent of Agriculture should be qualified in farm technology,
have good understanding of soil characteristics and qualities, plants
and trees, flowers and fruits and different crops.
According to Kautilya- the Superintendent of Agriculture,
should have a good knowledge of Krisitantra- the Science of Agriculture,
Sulvasastra- Geology, and Botany. (Kautiliya Arthashastra-2, 2003,
2.24.1) These references clear that there were developed sciences on
agriculture, forestry, and mines. Parasar and others explained the
Science of Grain, and Agniveshya developed the Science of Herbs.
The Shulvashastra was related with the Science of Mines. (Kautilyako
Arthashastra, 1967, 2.24)
Kautilya allows The Superintendent of Agriculture to take
assistance of experts if he did not have the knowledge of all these
fields. (ibd) This description clears one more thing that the state used
to employ the services of experts in various sectors of production.
The duty of The Superintendent of Agriculture was to collect in the
proper seasons the seeds of all kinds of grains, flowers, fruits,
vegetables, bulbous root, roots, creeper fruits and cotton.He was also
responsible for providing good quality seeds; get the fields ploughed
by workers employed, slaves, and prisoners. (ibid) Since in the K-M
30