Author: Devi, Ragini

The Kautiliya Arthasastra is the oldest and most exhaustive treatise on the governance and administration of a state. Starting with the bringing up and education of the young prince, it proceeds to the appointment of ministers and the organisation and functioning of various state departments, including the setting up of a secret service. It then sets forth a code of civil and criminal law. In the matter of foreign relations, it puts before the ruler the ideal of a vijigisu and discusses in great detail the various situations he may have to face in his dealings with foreign states whether friendly or inimical and points out how he should conduct himself in every case so as to achieve him goal. The present edition comprises three parts.