Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

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In the very beginning of the treatise Kautilya pays respect to two of his teachers Shukra and Brihaspati. Kautilya quotes some 112 scholars in the text. In 25 of these opinions are attributed to schools of the shastra, namely, the Barhaspatya (in six places), the Ausanas (in seven places), the Manavas (in five places) the Parasaras (in six places), and the Ambhiyas (in one). In 28 places the opinions are ascribed to individual teachers, Bhardwaj (seven times), Vishalaksha (seven times), Pisuna (five times), Kaunapadanta (four times), and Bahudantiputra (once), in remaining 59 cases the opinions are attributed to Acharyas- the teachers. A term referring to most or all of these predecessors; twice we have the some used once, Apare- others. (Kautiliya Arthashastra- 3, 2003 : 42) A list of ancient scholars is given in the table. 1.2 Table 1.2. Schools and Thinkers of Arthashastra Manava Barhaspatya Ausanas Bhardwaj-Drona Vaisalaksa Parasar Pisuna Kaunapadanta Vatvyadhi Bahudantiputra Vatsyayan Karnika Bhardwaj Charayana Ghotmukha Kinjalka Pisuna-Putra Ambhiyas Unknown Source: Jayasawal, 1978 : 4 Besides these persons there are many other thinkers whose contribution has been given high importance in ancient times. For example, in Aswalayana Grihya sutra a name is found- Aditya, who was thought of a great scholar of his time. (Jayasawal, 1978:4) 11 Arthashastra after Kautilya Jayasawal opines that the tradition of Arthashastra continued after Kautilya and Kamandak also, who was a statesman and a pupil of Kautilya. In this tradition, he opines, the most valuable work is Nitivakyamrit of a Jain Scholar Somdev Suri. The date of the manuscript of this books is estimated by Jayasawal as 1463 in the reign of Sultan Bahalol Lodi. In this book 31 scholars have been cited all are related with the Arthashastra School. Out of 31 there is found the names of 20 authors whose names are not to be found in any other places. Probably they are all later than Kautilya and Kamandak. (Jayasawal, 1978: 8-14) Gairola supports this view of Jayasawal in his translation of Rajnitiratnakar. It is one of the important books written in the tradition of Kautiliya Arthashastra. The author of this book, Acharya Chandeswor- was a minister in the state of Mithila in the times of Harisimha Deva. In this treatise he has quoted 16 names in his book. Among them Kulluk Bhatta, Shrikar and Laxmidhar are new ones. (Rajnitiratnakar of Chandeshwor, 1969: 20-25) According to Jayasawal and Gairola during Moghul and large part of the British rule the importance of this subject gradually diminished. (Jayasawal, Ibid; Kautiliya Arthashastram, 1960: 71-73) Boudha and Jaina Scriptures Boudha scriptures provide the detail information about political and economic conditions in ancient period. Lord Buddha’s discourses are collected in three Pitakas- Sutta, Abhidhamma and Vinaya. Jatak stories provide information about administration, trade, and professions in ancient period.Vardhaman Mahabir is the founder Jainism. His thoughts are scattered in different scriptures known as Anga, Upanga, 12
Painna, Mula Sutta, Nandi Sutta and Laya Sutta. Jaina Scriptures clearly defined the difference between the Science of Governance and the Science of Religion. Boudha Samgha and Jaina Samgha both were granted the state protection. The economic and political condition described in Boudha and Jaina scriptures is very much similar to each other. Mainstream Economics The English word economics has been derived from the Greek word Oikonomia meaning management of household administration. This word was used by Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-323 BC) at first. Other Greek thinkers are Xenophone (430-355 BC) and Plato (428-348 BC) who were the disciples of Socrates. Adam Smith's book Wealth of Nations (1776) is the first book of modern economics. He borrowed his ideas from Mercantilists and Physiocrats.Classical economists Ricardo, Malthus, J B Say, and J S Mill and Neo-classical economist Marshall followed his ideas. After Robbins, modern discussions on economic theories were started. Marxian stream of economics is known as Socialism. Keynesian stream is known as Macroeconomics. However, the stream of Adam Smith, Alfred Marshall, and J M Keynes is known as the main stream economics. Notes 1 k[lyJof nfe] kfng] ofjGToy{zf:qfl0f k"jf{rfo{} M k|:yflktflg k|foz:tflg ;+x[To}sldbdy{zf:q+ s[td\ .. (This treatise is a compendium of almost Arthashastras composed by ancient teachers on the acquisition and protection of territory.) Kautiliya Arthashastra-1, 2003, 1.1.1 2 tq CUj]bofy{zf:qd'kj]bM ..=== (That is the branch of Rig-Veda is Arthashastra.) Atharva. 49.3 3 j]bfgfd'kj]bfZrTjf/f] ejlGt .====cyj{j]b:o cy{zf:qd\ . (Four are the branches of Vedas. Arthashastra is of the Atharva-Veda.) ibid, ch. 4 4 :joDe'e{ujfgNnf]sflxtfy{ ;+u|x]0f j} ====. (God Swayambhu composed it for the welfare of the people.) Shukra- niti 1.3 5 The date of Manu-smriti is estimated by the scholars to be 600 BC or more. The commentary of Manu-smriti by Medhatithi has been estimated by Maxmuller as 1 AC. 6 gLlta{ [x:kltk|f{ ]Qmf ty}jf}zg;Lk/f . peof]/lj?4fq lg?Kof gLlt?Qdf .. (The best policies have been composed by the two- Brihaspati and Shukra from two opposite sides.)Yuktikalpataru cited in Brihaspati - sutra, 1921:2 7 a[x:kltZ˜yf{lwsfl/sd\ . (The author of Arthashastra is Brihaspati.) Kam-sutra, 1.7 cited in Brihaspati-sutra, 1929: 2 8 /fj0f– fj0f– sfZokuf]qf]˜l:d ;f+uf]kf+uj]bdwLo], dfgjLo+ wd{zf:q+, dfx]Zj/+ of]uzf:q+, afx{:kTody{zf:q+, d]wfltlyGof{ozf:q+, k|fr]t;] >f4sNk+ r . (Rawana says- I have studied Veda, Manu’s Dharma-Shastra, Maheshwor’s Yogashatra, Barhaspatya’s Arthashastra, Medhatithi’s Nyayashastra, Prachetas’s Shradh-Kalpa.) Pratima Natak. 79 cited in Brihaspati-sutra, ibid 9Some of the mantras that describe the relationship between Brihaspati and Arthashastras are as followsafx{:kTo] r zf:q] j} Znf]sf ljlgotfM k"/f ..=== (For the support of your argument the Science of Brihaspati provides logics...) Mahbharata Shanti Parva, 2003, 56.36 a[x:kt]d{t+ /fhGgwLt+ ;sn+ Tjof . ty}jf}zg;+ zf:q+ lj1ft+ t] g/f]Qd .. (O, the best among kings, you have studied views of Brihaspati and of Shukra…) ibid, 122.11 10 In Gaja Lakshana Prakarana or in Bir Charitram.Brihaspati-sutra, 1929:9 13 14
Page 1 and 2: CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Hillebrand
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Page 27 and 28: Regulation of Trade and Protection
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Page 39 and 40: Introduction CHAPTER SIX GOVERNMENT
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ECONOMICS OF KAUTILYA SHUKRA AND BR
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CONTENT Chapter 1: Introduction 1 C
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Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

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