Kautilya’s Arthashastra

Kautilya’s Arthashastra, translated by R. Shamasastry (1868–1944), is a seminal ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy, originally composed by Chanakya (Kautilya). Shamasastry’s English translation in 1915 brought this Sanskrit classic to global attention. The work provides deep insights into governance, law, diplomacy, and espionage in Mauryan India. Shamasastry, a distinguished Sanskrit scholar, was the first to discover and publish the manuscript, significantly contributing to Indian historical and political scholarship.