The text was considered lost by colonial era scholars, until a manuscript was discovered in 1905. A copy of the Arthashastra in Sanskrit, written on palm leaves, was presented by a Tamil Brahmin from See more

Different scholars have translated the word "arthashastra" in different ways.
• R.P. Kangle: "Artha is the sustenance or livelihood of men, … See more

The need for law, economics and government
The ancient Sanskrit text opens, in chapter 2 of Book 1 (the first chapter is table of contents), by … See more

Scholars state that the Arthashastra was influential in Asian history. Its ideas helped create one of the largest empires in South Asia, stretching from the borders of Persia to Bengal on the other side of the Indian subcontinent, with its capital Pataliputra twice as large as … See more

The authorship and date of writing are unknown, and there is evidence that the surviving manuscripts are not original and have been modified in their history but were most likely completed in the available form between 2nd-century BCE to 3rd-century CE. Olivelle … See more

Arthashastra is divided into 15 book titles, 150 chapters and 180 topics, as follows:
1. On the Subject of Training, 21 chapters, Topics 1-18 See more

The text has been translated and interpreted by Shamashastry, Kangle, Trautmann and many others. Recent translations or interpretations include those of See more