Synopsis of Lecture on 'Kautilya Arthashastra' delivered by Ms. Padma Bapat on Friday 8th May 2009 at Utkarsha Mandal, Vile Parle East, Mumbai.

Kautiliya Arthashastra is the treatise on the science of polity, composed by Kautilya, around 460 B.C.

Kautiya, Chanakya and Vishnugupta are the three names of one person. In the text two names Kautiya and Vishnugupta are mentioned by author himself.

In the first Adhikarana of the first Adhyaya he has mentioned that, "This science which is easy to understand, without ambiguity in the words, meaning and the principle is composed by Kautilya". While at the end he says," having observed the contradiction of commentrators on the text, Vishnugupta himself has commented on it". From the above two references in the text itself, we can conclude that Kautiya and Vishnugupta are the two names of one person.

Arthshastra comprises of 15 Adhikaranas, 180 Prakaranas, 150 Adhyayas, 360 Karikas and 60000 Shlokas.

Subject matter of 15 Adhikaranas :

1. Vinayadhikarana - deals with the training of the king, appointment of ministers and spies.
2. Adhyakshaprachara - duties of different officers.
3. Dharmasthiya - the scope and duties of judges.
4. Kantakshodhana - supression of criminals.
5. Yogvrutta - secret punishments, salary of officials.
6. Mandalayoni - the circle of kings includes enemy and allied group.
7. Shadgunyam - foreign policy.
8. Vyasanadhikaran - calamities on the seven limbs (king, ministers, the country itself, forts, treasure, strength and neighbours) of the country .
9. Abhiyasyatkarma - activity of the king about march.
10. Sangragamika - war, setting up of the camp for it, arrengment of troops etc.
11. Vrutasangha - policy towards oligarchies.
12. Aabaliyas - deals with weaker kings.
13. Durgalambhopaya - different means of taking fort.
14. Oypnishadika secret and occult practices for the distruction of enemy troops
15. Tantrayukti - deals with the method of science.

The book begins with the foremost duty of a king, ie. obtainment of the earth and protection of the earned land.

The term 'Artha' in Arthashastra, according to Kautilya is,' means of acquiring and maintaining the earth."