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The Arthashastra (Penguin classics)

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This is a good translation of the original manuscripts. Though you may find a few typos, overall I think the writer (former Indian ambassador L. N. Rangarajan) did a very good job. A must if you have any interest in politics or are simply frustrated with the current society and governments. There is a lot to learn from the ancient principles of Chanakya Vishnu Gupt (also known as Kautilya). A must buy (if you can find it).

The "Arthashastra" was written in the 300's BCE by one of the great political figures of early Indian history. Known both as Kautilya or Chanakya, this shrewd and calculating "Brahman" wrote a treatise on how a king can get and maintain power; thus, the book has become one of the most important and insightful books dealing with "Realpolitik." It not only rivals Machiavelli's "The Prince" for its scope of advice on how a ruler should govern, but it was written 1,800 years before "The Prince"! The text is much longer than Machiavelli's and it delves much deeper into such important subjects for a government like economics and writing of laws. "Artha" is a Sanskrit word referring to the various means or goods of life; such as, money, fame, and power. The book is written in typical Asian aphoristic form as depicted by some of the interesting quotes below.

"A king who has no self-control and gives himself up to excessive indulgence in pleasures will soon perish, even if he is the ruler of all four corners of the earth." (Arthashastra, 3.2)

"The king shall make a treaty with an upright man (and keep it). With a villain, a treaty shall be made with a view to outmaneuvering." (Arthashastra, 3.5)

To put the book into proper context it is important to understand the historical circumstances of India at the time.

In the 320's BCE Alexander the Great conquered most of the known world, including subduing northern India. He died shortly afterwards and his Empire was divided between his generals, King Seleucus I inherited the eastern domains, including Bactria and Northern India. King Seleucus I quickly found himself at war with Chandragupta Maurya who was an adventurer rather than a king. Like Alexander, he began with almost no army whatsoever; however, with his small army he seized the region of Magadha just south of the lower Ganges and then steadily conquered the whole of the Ganges basin. Chandragupta Maurya had started his empire. When Alexander the Great departed from Gandhara, a power vacuum was left in western India which Maurya took advantage of. Marching westward, he quickly conquered the whole of the Indus Valley, and eventually gained Gandhara and Arachosia (the mountainous region west of the Indus) after defeating King Seleucus' I army of Persia and Bactria the king sent Megasthenes to the court of King Chandragupta Maurya as an ambassador with a peace treaty which was signed between them and sealed with a marriage alliance of Seleucus' daughter and Chandragupta's son. Chandragupta, with the help of his chief advisor Kautilya, who is also known as the "Indian Machiavelli," destroyed the Nanda rulers of Magadha and established the Mauryan Empire.

While Chandragupta Maurya built his empire by the force of his arm, Kautilya designed the government. Together they created the first unified state in Indian history. The government that Kautilya and Chandragupta created strictly regulated economic activities. The laws were harsh and the death penalty was applied to a myriad of offenses. The Mauryan Empire enjoyed well run state enterprises and institutions, prosperity and wealth, maritime trade, and extensive transport networks.

The best translation is by former Indian ambassador L. N. Rangarajan for the "Penguin" publishing house.

The Arthashastra is a great book. I now have several Chanakya books as a result of buying this one first. This translation though exhaustive and large, did not do justice to the great man, the original author.

Since this translation is not complete, the author has chosen poorly what part of the original, is relevant to today's world, and not appropriately focused our attention, to the useful!

During the third century B.C., Chandragupta I created the first major empire in India. This empire had a totalitarian political master plan outlined in a very detailed book by Kautilya, the Emperor's Prime Minister, called the Arthashastra. Systems for setting up a secret police and other agencies familiar to modern tyrannies are discussed in minute detail.

The Penguin Classics edition of this ancient book contains an excellent introduction.

Readers who wish to know more should go to my profile page and check out my study guide to ancient totalitarianism.