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ARTHASHASTRA

by L.N. Rangarajan, Chanakya
ARTHASHASTRA - Thryft
ARTHASHASTRA - Thryft

Ancient manual on governance and economics.

If you're intrigued by the historical foundations of political strategy and economic policy, "Arthashastra" is a treasure trove awaiting your discovery. Written by ancient India's brilliant mind, Kautilya, this treatise offers a glimpse into the complex mechanisms of statecraft and public administration of a time far removed from our own, yet with principles still relevant to modern leadership and management. Diving into this book is like unearthing the roots of contemporary governance through the lens of classical wisdom.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

ARTHASHASTRA

by L.N. Rangarajan, Chanakya
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780140446036
Authors: L.N. Rangarajan, Chanakya
Publisher: Penguin
Date of Publication: 1992-01-01
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Business
Related Topics: History, Classics, Political Science, History, Finance, Politics, Finance
Goodreads rating: 4.13
(rated by 1200 readers)

Description

The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy, written in Sanskrit. It identifies its author by the names 'Kauṭilya' and 'Vishnugupta', both names that are traditionally identified with Chanakya (c. 350–283 BC), who was a scholar at Takshashila and the teacher and guardian of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, founder of the Mauryan Empire. The text was influential until the 12th century, when it disappeared. It was rediscovered in 1904 by R. Shamasastry, who published it in 1909. The first English translation was published in 1915.Roger Boesche describes the Arthaśāstra as "a book of political realism, a book analysing how the political world does work and not very often stating how it ought to work, a book that frequently discloses to a king what calculating and sometimes brutal measures he must carry out to preserve the state and the common good."Centrally, Arthaśāstra argues how in an autocracy an efficient and solid economy can be managed. It discusses the ethics of economics and the duties and obligations of a king. The scope of Arthaśāstra is, however, far wider than statecraft, and it offers an outline of the entire legal and bureaucratic framework for administering a kingdom, with a wealth of descriptive cultural detail on topics such as mineralogy, mining and metals, agriculture, animal husbandry, medicine and the use of wildlife. The Arthaśāstra also focuses on issues of welfare (for instance, redistribution of wealth during a famine) and the collective ethics that hold a society together.
 

Ancient manual on governance and economics.

If you're intrigued by the historical foundations of political strategy and economic policy, "Arthashastra" is a treasure trove awaiting your discovery. Written by ancient India's brilliant mind, Kautilya, this treatise offers a glimpse into the complex mechanisms of statecraft and public administration of a time far removed from our own, yet with principles still relevant to modern leadership and management. Diving into this book is like unearthing the roots of contemporary governance through the lens of classical wisdom.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.