Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

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(The God) Economics has the fruit of hard labour in one hand,
Rudraksh (eleocarpus) in second, food in third, and water pot in fourth
hand. His face is bright and voice is like myna.
- Rajeswarshastry Drawid’s Kautiliyam Arthashastram (Second Chapter)
PREFACE
The definition given by Kautilya- manusyanam vrittirarthah...
always attracted me. To analyze the oriental economic thoughts I studied
economic ideas of Kautilya. In connection I studied Shukra-niti and
Brihaspati Artha-sutra. It is to be noted that thoughts of Kautiliya,
Ausanas, and Barhasptya school are generally common and all claim
that their schools have borrowed ideas from the long tradition of
Arthashastra- Political Economy.
I found four different editions of Kautilya's treatise useful for
my study- Kautilya’s Arthashastra (internet edition) by Shyamashastry,
the Kautiliya Arthshastra Part 1,2,3 (reprint, 2003) edited and translated
by R P Kangle, Kautilyako Arthashastra (1967) translated by K R Aryal,
and Kautilya- the Arthashastra (1992) rearranged and explained by L N
Rangrajan. For Brihaspati’s thought I used two sources- Barhaspatya
Arthashastra or Brihaspati Artha-sutra (internet edition) edited and
translated by F W Thomas and scattered thoughts of Brihaspati in
Mahabharata. Although there are various collections of Shukra-niti in
the market but for my study I selected two books- Shukra-niti (1987)
translated by D B Paudyal, and Shukranitisar (2008) translation with
commentary by Jagdiswarananda.
In the present study I have tried to compare the economic
thoughts of Kautilya with Brihaspati and Shukra. The parameter of
comparison being Kautilya’s economic thoughts. The tools and
terminology for comparison have been taken from main stream
Economics.
I have not only tried to examine their modern relevancy but
also find their place in Modern Economic Theory. While starting this
study I was eager to incorporate latest comments on Oriental
Economics. Unfortunately I found no such works in Nepal. Perhaps
doing research in these traditional links is not an interesting job for the
present generation. In research bulletins and in UGC’s reports these
types of studies can hardly make place for themselves. For you, readers
of the future, I hope this book is helpful.
After doing internet searches I came to know the two new
publications on oriental economic thoughts- one from USA and
other from India. My daughter Bhagirathi Gewali Tripathi and son-inlaw
Loknath Tripathi from Ireland helped me to find the book- The
Great Political Realist, from Washington. My former student Tara
Rayamajhi Pokhrel from Butwal, helped me finding the book-
Arthashastra in Economics from New Delhi. Both of the books are on
Kautiliya Arthashastra. But I did not find any new publication or
comment or research on Brihaspati and on Shukra. So, I became
dependent only on traditional sources for the economic ideas of
Brihaspati and Shukra.
There are many people to whom I am grateful. I am indebted to
Prof. D R Pant, Prof. Dr. N R Kanel, Prof. Dr. M R Dahal, Prof. Dr.
Madhavi Singh, Dr. Madhab Raj Panthi, and Dr. Tika Ram Panthi for
their kind suggestions while writing the book. I would like to thank my
friends B P Pokhrel, Prakash Koirala and Prashant Pandeya who helped
me at the time of final proof reading and to D R Ghimire and U K
Parajuli, who always encouraged me to complete my writing.
It will be a mere formality to say that without the help of my
wife I could not have finished the book in time. If this small efforts of
mine encourages my readers to explore new ideas in the field of Oriental
Economics I will feel my effort meaningful. I will welcome the comments
and suggestions of my readers and well wishers.
Jyotinagar, Manigram
Rupandehi, 2012