{"product_id":"the-arthashastra-luxury-collectible-edition","title":"The Arthashastra: Luxury Collectible Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn extraordinary detailed manual on statecraft and the science of living by one of classical India's greatest minds; Kautilya; also known as Chanakya and Vishnugupta; wrote the Arthashastra not later than 150 AD though the date has not been conclusively established. Legend has it that he was either a Brahmin from Kerala or from north India; however; it is certain that Kautilya was the man who destroyed the Nanda dynasty and installed Chandragupta Maurya as the King of Magadha. A master strategist who was well-versed in the Vedas and adept at creating intrigues and devising political stratagems; Kautilya's genius is reflected in his Arthashastra which is the most comprehensive treatise of statecraft of classical times. The text contains fifteen books which cover numerous topics viz.; the King; a complete code of law; foreign policy; secret and occult practices and so on. The Arthashastra is written mainly in prose but also incorporates 380 shlokas. Artha; literally wealth; is one of four supreme aims prescribed by Hindu tradition. However; it has a much wider significance and the material well-being of individuals is just a part of it. In accordance with this; Kautilya's Arthashastra maintains that the state or government of a country has a vital role to play in maintaining the material status of both the nation and its people. Therefore; a significant part of the Arthashastra has to do with the science of economics. When it deals with the science of politics; the Arthashastra describes in detail the art of government in its widest sense-the maintenance of law and order as also of an efficient administrative machinery. Read more\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GENRES BSTIN Higher Education Textbooks","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":62420895170930,"sku":"?9780143477525 - PB","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":62420895203698,"sku":"?9780143477525 - HB","price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0914\/6889\/0482\/files\/81czHavnOnL.jpg?v=1790671585","url":"https:\/\/universalreads.com\/products\/the-arthashastra-luxury-collectible-edition","provider":"Universal reads","version":"1.0","type":"link"}