Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

CHAPTER SEVEN
CONCLUSION
Kautilya and his predecessors- Shukra and Brihaspati were
farsighted and realist economic thinkers. Their policies are concentrated
towards economic developement, political stability, and social harmony.
They were aware for social welfare in every sense. Therefore their
ideas are relevant in modern setup also.
In the previous chapters we analyzed ideas of Kautilya, Shukra
and Brihaspati on agriculture, animal farming, trade, commerce, price
theory and public finance. We have also compared these ideas with
classical, neo-classical and modern economic ideas.We can now
summarize economic ideas in the following topics.
Material Prosperity
Material prosperity was considered of vital importance from
the view point of state. This view has been expressed by Kautilya,
Brihaspati and Shukra unanimously. The most important element
according to Kautilya, is neither the government nor the army, but
treasury. Spiritual good and sensual pleasures depend upon material
well being. In a sense the good life of the kingdom the well being or
Yogkshem of the people will never occur if the economy is in shambles.
This is one point that Kautilya’s reader cannot miss. (Boesche, 2002:
65) The concept of Yogkshem is deeply rooted in public welfare.
According to Kautilya, every good in political life- peace,
conquest, order, the correct social and class structure, dharma, and
so on- depends on the state acquiring wealth and using it wisely. Men
without wealth do not attain their objectives even with hundreds of
efforts; objects are secured through objects, as elephants are through
elephants set to catch them. (Kautilya’s Arthashastra, 1967, 9.4)
After declaring early in Book One that material well being
alone is supreme, he continued later by saying that the king will be
happy only when his subjects are happy, and therefore being ever
active the king should carry out the management of material well being.
(ibid, 1.7, 19.35) In this statement we find the key to understanding
the importance of the economy for Kautilya. According to him the
treasury ensuring (the success of) all endeavors is the means of deeds
of piety and sensual pleasure. (Kautiliya Arthashastra-2, 2003,
8.1.49) the goals are always well being and security from enemies
from both within and without. (Boesche, 2002: 66)
Whereas many thinkers in both the European and Asian
traditions might declare that religion is most important, or that the
political constitution is central to achieving peace and justice, or whereas
some such as Machiavelli might see a disciplined army as central to
political well being. Kautilya singled out the treasury. Without a treasury
there is no effective army. (ibid)
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