POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSIGNMENT

Question: Explain the ideas of kautilya in the light of the concept of danda and dharma.

Answer: Kautilya was born in a poor Brahmin family; Chanakya was educated at Takshashila and was
born around 350 BCE and a highly learned person having in-depth knowledge in a variety of subjects like
economics, politics, war strategies, medicine, and astrology. Kautilya was also known as Vishnugupta and
Chanakya and traditionally known as the author of Arthshastra. He was a teacher in the famous ancient
Indian university at Takshshila. His book Arthashastra was written around 325 B.C. Kautilya described
well-organized state in his book Arthshastra which includes kingship, the qualities of an ideal ruler, the
principles of practical politics, Administration, ethical and moral order of the society, domestic and inter-
state policies, warfare, criminology, intelligence. Apart from the politics, the other subjects included in
Arthashastra are Economics, Ethic, Sociology, Science of education and others. He was considered as the
first person who promotes the field of political science and economics. Kautilya also mentions about the
varna system in the Arthashastra but he did not mention about the idea of jati. Kautilya mentions that Arya
has four varnas which are Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. But there is something interesting that
he never says that these are determined by birth even he said that if someone has merit than the king, should
promote him. He talked about the dharma and danda.

India were
monarchical, this
aspect of 'Dharma'
was called Raj
Dharma. In
this, the duties of the
king were explained.
"Dharma Shastra'
was big work
in which many
aspects of rule were
included, such as
conduct, laws and
punishment.
India were
monarchical, this
aspect of 'Dharma'
 was called Raj
Dharma. In
this, the duties of the
king were explained.
"Dharma Shastra'
was big work
in which many
aspects of rule were
included, such as
conduct, laws and
punishment.
India were monarchial, this aspect of ‘DHARMA’ was called Raj Dharma. In this, the duties of the king

were explained. Dharma is a Sanskrit term, which means law and can be understood in various ways. It

also refers to a code of moral principles relating to the daily lives and following these rules ensures peace,

prosperity and happiness. Dharma is one of the values of an individual. As per the ancient Indian
thought, it is dharma that sustains the universe and both the king as well as the people must adhere to it.

Only the sages had the power to interpret this dharma or the Sacred law. He explained the responsibilities

of the king here. King has the responsibility to curb the unrighteous and to protect the righteous. He said that

the king has to take care of his subjects. ‘In the happiness of his subjects lies his happiness, in their welfare

his welfare, whatever pleases himself he shall not consider as good, but whatever pleases his subjects he

shall consider good’. The order which kings decided for his subjects was regarded as the final order that

means king has given the last say in all matters. He also guides the work of various administrative heads of

departments and panels of magistrates in charge of administrative courts. King has also the responsibility to

settle disputes and should respect the laws of sanghas. When a king acquires a new kingdom so he has to

follow the customs and rituals of conquered territory but king has the right to remove all those customs

which against his interest or contrary to righteousness. This shows that the state is supreme and everyone

has their dharma towards this to protect it. In Kautilya’s readings we also found the idea of welfare state.

According to him, king must ensure that the people of the four caste and the people of the four varnas that

is Brahmins (priest and teachers), Kshatriya (soldiers, rulers), Vaishyas (merchants), Shudras (peasants,

laborers, workers),should keep their respective paths and respective duties and occupations. He states that it

is the responsibility of the king to maintain the safety and security of their subjects.

He further said that the king must provide for the orphans, the aged, the helpless and the afflicted. The king
is also required to construct dams, roads, and rivers and to maintain the forest and provide help to the places

of pilgrimage. The king must protect agriculturalists from molestation and other kinds of oppression, forced

labour and oppressive taxes. During famines, king also provides help to the peasants by giving them seed

and provisions. He said that a wise king can make the poor and miserable elements of his society happy and

prosperous, but a wicked king will surely destroy the most prosperous of loyal elements of his kingdom.

Kautilya said that king has also the responsibility to make good relations to other state as well because no

state exists in isolation; in fact state is competing with each other for land. No sate can be stable unless it

takes care of its foreign relations. If such relations are ignored, the state fall a prey to conspiracy hatched by

other princes. So, this is all about the dharma of king. He also mentioned the dharma of the individual
towards its state and towards its swami or king. They should respect laws of the land and show loyalty

towards their king and state. Every people have their different responsibility which Kautilya is talking about.

The term Danda is derived from the words Dam and Dand, which refer to conquer or to restrain. This term
also means a stick. Danda, in fact, is one of the elements of a state. The main reason for institution of
Danda is to bring about discipline in the lives of human beings who by nature are evil and corrupt. In the
ancient Indian political system, it was the responsibility of the king to maintain Dharma by means of
Danda. It was widely believed that it is only through fear of punishment that the mankind can be made
more disciplined. It is this punishment that keeps a check on their actions consciously or subconsciously.
So, Kautilya said that the king has to give the punishments to those people who give more importance to
their own selfish interest than the interest of the state. There are administrators and ministers have the
tendency to alter the state of things in their favour by practice bribery and corruption. These are kept under
constant watch so that they are not able to do these types of things which harm the state directly and
indirectly. In cases of corruption, the king must impose the severest penalties. He even argues that evil and
adulterous persons should be arrested in the name of security and public interest and levying punishment
and taxes on the persons who violated the rule and customs of the state. Kautilya also said that if the loyal
people slandered in public, the accusers must be forced to bring charges against them, investigation must
be held and if such charges are proved untrue, those who bring the charges must also be given severe
punishment. The king is allowed to punish thirteen types of criminals after ascertain their activities with
the help of the spies. This list includes manufactures, traders, corrupt officials, and judges. All these
criminals are to be tried by special tribunals according to the fixed procedure which seems common
practice in the Mauryan Empire. He was aware of the religious corruption of the times. He was saying that
if someone becomes an ascetic without making provision for the maintenance of his wife or children, he
shall be punished along with the person who converts him. It is the duty of the king to make the state safe
from all kind of evil men. So, the king is allowed to give the evil punishment for good of all.

Kautilya describes the saptang theory as well. The word ‘saptang’ means the seven limbs or elements of
the state. As each limb of the body is important similarly ach element of the state is indispensable. The
seven elements are discussed as under:

1. Swami or king: - Swami is sovereign head of the state. He is accorded the highest place in politics. He
had the qualities of enthusiasm and self restraint. The king should be born in high family, religious,
 endowed with strong character and should be liberal. His doors are open to all and people should easily
approach him. He should have significant assembly of the ministers and have power to declare war and
peace..
2. Amatya (council of ministers): Kautilya says the government was managed by a Council of Ministers
and high officials. The ministers are belonging to influential family, trained in arts, bold, dignity etc.
They should be capable administrators having knowledge of scriptures. They should have high moral
character and devoted, and dedication towards the state.
3. Janapad (Territory and People): Janapad includes two elements i.e. territory and people. Kautilya
says that the territory should not be muddy, rocky, saline and uneven. It should be free from thorny
terraces and wild beasts. The land should be fertile. Lot of elephants, catties and cows should be there.
Kautilya described the qualities of the population. They should be hostile to the enemies, powerful to
challenge the neighbouring states. They should respect laws of the land.
4. Durg (Fort): Kautilya said that fortification is necessary for the defensive purpose. He said king should
construct forts which are fit for fighting and defence purposes. Forts may depict the authority of the
king.
5. Kosh (Treasury): Kosh or funds are necessary for the success of any state. Kautilya said the treasury
should be full. It should have gold, silver, coins and gems. There should not be dearth of these things
otherwise it will be difficult for the king to meet the calamities. The treasury should be acquired
legitimately either by the king himself or his predecessors.
6. Sena or Danda (Army or Force): Kautilya said state should have army and forces. However,
according to Kautilya, ideal army is the hereditary one that has come down to the king directly from his
father and grandfather. Soldiers should be well contended which has fought many battles, which is
skillful in the handling of all fighting instruments.
7. Mitra (Ally): The states are dependent on each other. In this contexts Kautilya talks of two kinds of ally,
one, 'Sahaj' (natural) and two 'Kritrim' (acquired). The 'Sahaj' ally is an inherited friend from the time of
father or grandfather. He is situated near to the enemy's neighbouring territory. 'Kritrim' ally is the one
who is resorted to for the protection of wealth and life.

In the last I concluded it by saying that the seven elements enumerated above are intended to promote the
perfection in the sovereign king. A king endowed with significant personality can make the imperfect
constituents perfect. Actually, a king with weak personality destroys the constituents even though they are
well developed and effectively attached to each other. So, the ideas of kautilya in the concept of dharma
and dand are basically the responsibility of one individual and if someone violated and not able to do his
responsibility should be punished in the way that no other persons have the courage to do the same.
Everyone has their different responsibility like king has its different responsibility, council of ministers have
the different responsibility and the people of the state has their responsibility towards the state. And if they
are not able to complete this they will be severely punished by the king.