Arthashastra

by Chanakya

Arthashastra

Arthashastra

Arthashastra, written by Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta), is an ancient Indian Sanskrit treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy, serving as a comprehensive guide to governance, law, and the art of living. It details how to build and maintain an empire, covering topics like administration, foreign policy, espionage, and economic management, and is considered a foundational text for political science and statecraft.

126 Chapters

The Science of Power1

The Science of Power

Vidyāsamuddeśaḥ

The Conquest of the Senses2

The Conquest of the Senses

Indriyajayaḥ

The Network of Eyes3

The Network of Eyes

Gūḍhapuruṣotpattiḥ

The Architecture of Allegiance4

The Architecture of Allegiance

Upadhābhiḥśuddhyāśuddhijñānam

The House of Crabs5

The House of Crabs

Rājaputra-rakshaṇam

The Clock of Power6

The Clock of Power

Rájapranidhiḥ

The Mouthpieces of Kings7

The Mouthpieces of Kings

Dútapranidhiḥ

The Fortified Heart8

The Fortified Heart

Atmarakshitakam

The Geometry of Defense9

The Geometry of Defense

Durga-vidhánam

The Internal Machine10

The Internal Machine

Sannidhátṛ-praṇidhiḥ

The Accountant of Empires11

The Accountant of Empires

Samahartṛ-praṇidhiḥ

The Bitter Honey12

The Bitter Honey

Kośābhisandhānāsaṃgrahaḥ

The Geometry of the Word13

The Geometry of the Word

Śásanādhikāraḥ

The Treasury of Gems14

The Treasury of Gems

Kośa-praveśya-ratna-paríkshā

The Alchemies of the Earth15

The Alchemies of the Earth

Ákarakarmántapravartanam

The Goldsmith's Forge16

The Goldsmith's Forge

Sauvarnika-prachárah

The Pulse of the Harvest17

The Pulse of the Harvest

Koshthágárádhyakshah

The Market's Pulse18

The Market's Pulse

Panyádhyakshah

The Arsenals of the Wild19

The Arsenals of the Wild

Kupya-prabandha-Áyudhághára

The Architecture of Measurement20

The Architecture of Measurement

Pautava-Paurusha-mána

The Threshold of Customs21

The Threshold of Customs

Sulkádhyaksha-prachárah

The Ledger of Levies22

The Ledger of Levies

Sulka-vyavahárah

The Loom of the State23

The Loom of the State

Sútrádhyaksha-prachárah

The Breath of the Furrow24

The Breath of the Furrow

Sítádhyaksha-prachárah

The Spirit's Shadow25

The Spirit's Shadow

Surádhyaksha-prachárah

The Blade of the Altar26

The Blade of the Altar

Súnádhyaksha-prachárah

The Gilded Cage27

The Gilded Cage

Ganikádhyaksha-prachárah

The Admiral of the Monsoon28

The Admiral of the Monsoon

Návadhyaksha-prachárah

The Keeper of the Herds29

The Keeper of the Herds

Godhyaksha-prachárah

The Rhythm of the Stallion30

The Rhythm of the Stallion

Ashvadhyaksha-prachárah

The Tusk and the Trumpet31

The Tusk and the Trumpet

Hastyadhyaksha-prachárah

The Training of the Great32

The Training of the Great

Hastisiksá

The Chariot's Path33

The Chariot's Path

Rathádhyaksha-prachárah

The Seal of the Frontier34

The Seal of the Frontier

Mudrádhyaksha-prachárah

The Eye of the Collector35

The Eye of the Collector

Samahartri-prachárah

The Sentinel of the Capital36

The Sentinel of the Capital

Nágaraka-prachárah

The Weight of the Word37

The Weight of the Word

Dharmasthiyam

The Bonds of Union38

The Bonds of Union

Viváhasamyuktah

The Divided Line39

The Divided Line

Dayavibhaga

The Law of the Hearth40

The Law of the Hearth

Vástukam

The Broken Promise41

The Broken Promise

Rnádánam

The Bound and the Hired42

The Bound and the Hired

Dásakarmakararakshanam

The Sacred Trust43

The Sacred Trust

Upanidhih

The Common Venture44

The Common Venture

Sambhúyasamutthánam

The Rescision45

The Rescision

Vikrayasvámisambandhah

The King's Gift46

The King's Gift

The Shadow of Ownership47

The Shadow of Ownership

Asvámivikrayah

The Hand of Wrath48

The Hand of Wrath

Sáhasa

The Poisoned Tongue49

The Poisoned Tongue

Vákpárushyam

The Striking Hand50

The Striking Hand

Dandapárushyam

The Gambler's Roll51

The Gambler's Roll

The Final Verdict52

The Final Verdict

Prakínnakam

The Law’s Reach53

The Law’s Reach

Dharmasthiyam-Samáptih

The Artisan’s Shield54

The Artisan’s Shield

Kárukantakasodhana

The Merchant’s Vigil55

The Merchant’s Vigil

Vaidehakasodhana

The Cloud of Calamity56

The Cloud of Calamity

Daivapídana-pratikárah

The Suppression of Thorns57

The Suppression of Thorns

Kantakasodhana

The Youth’s Temptation58

The Youth’s Temptation

Daivapídana-balaprarthana

The Seizure of the Wicked59

The Seizure of the Wicked

Vaidehakasodhana-yukti

The Silent Witness60

The Silent Witness

Áśumritaka-paríkshá

The Trial of Truth61

The Trial of Truth

Karmavákyánuyogah

The Department’s Purity62

The Department’s Purity

Sarvádhikaraṇarakshaṇam

The Price of the Limb63

The Price of the Limb

Anga-vinása-nishkrayah

The Hand of Justice64

The Hand of Justice

Shuddhaścitradandakalpah

The Sacred Bound65

The Sacred Bound

Kanyáprakarma

The King’s Shadow66

The King’s Shadow

Yogavrittam

The Full Coffer67

The Full Coffer

Koshábhisamharanam

The Measure of Service68

The Measure of Service

Bhṛtyabharaṇīyam

The Courtier’s Path69

The Courtier’s Path

Anujívivrittam

The Art of Time70

The Art of Time

Samayácharikah

The Pillar of State71

The Pillar of State

Rájyapratisandhána

The Seven Elements72

The Seven Elements

Prakritisampadah

The Rhythm of State73

The Rhythm of State

Samadhi-Vyayama

The Six-fold Shield74

The Six-fold Shield

Shadgunya-samuddesa

The Bond of Allies75

The Bond of Allies

Samsrayavyasanam

The Choice of War76

The Choice of War

Sandhivigrahayoh-sakti

The Targeted State77

The Targeted State

Vigrahyánuyogah

The Shadow of Rebellion78

The Shadow of Rebellion

Upajápah

The March of the Circle79

The March of the Circle

Sambhūya-prayānam

The Friend in Need80

The Friend in Need

Sakti-pumshoh

The Terms of Acquisition81

The Terms of Acquisition

Hiranya-dhanya-samudayasya

The Bond of Gold82

The Bond of Gold

Hiranya-samudayam

The Terms of the Soil83

The Terms of the Soil

Bhúmi-samudayam

The Interminable Bond84

The Interminable Bond

Abhihita-sandhih

The Shield of Work85

The Shield of Work

Karmasu-sandhih

The Shadow of the Enemy86

The Shadow of the Enemy

Parshnigráha-samudayam

The Recruitment of Power87

The Recruitment of Power

Punahsambhavah

The Circle of Conquest88

The Circle of Conquest

Nitishastra-sandhih

The Attitude of the Conquered89

The Attitude of the Conquered

Upari-sandhih

The Conduct of Power90

The Conduct of Power

Mukti-sandhih

The Master of the Circle91

The Master of the Circle

Mandala-sandhih

The Master of the Wheel,92

The Master of the Wheel,

The Scales of the Vulgar,93

The Scales of the Vulgar,

The Scales of the Army,94

The Scales of the Army,

The Scales of the Ally,95

The Scales of the Ally,

The Scales of the Spirit,96

The Scales of the Spirit,

The Scales of the Architect,97

The Scales of the Architect,

The Scales of the Senses,98

The Scales of the Senses,

The Scales of the Flesh,99

The Scales of the Flesh,

The Scales of the Invader,100

The Scales of the Invader,

The Scales of the Recruit,101

The Scales of the Recruit,

The Scales of the Stratagem,102

The Scales of the Stratagem,

The Scales of the Traitor,103

The Scales of the Traitor,

The Scales of the Resolve,104

The Scales of the Resolve,

The Scales of the Camp,105

The Scales of the Camp,

The Scales of the March,106

The Scales of the March,

The Scales of the Stratagem,107

The Scales of the Stratagem,

The Scales of the Terrain,108

The Scales of the Terrain,

The Scales of the Array,109

The Scales of the Array,

The Scales of the Strategy,110

The Scales of the Strategy,

The Scales of the Guild,111

The Scales of the Guild,

The Scales of the Messenger,112

The Scales of the Messenger,

The Scales of the Weak,113

The Scales of the Weak,

The Scales of the Execution,114

The Scales of the Execution,

The Scales of the Venom,115

The Scales of the Venom,

The Scales of the Capture,116

The Scales of the Capture,

The Scales of the Unsteady,117

The Scales of the Unsteady,

The Scales of the Stratagem,118

The Scales of the Stratagem,

The Scales of the Siege,119

The Scales of the Siege,

The Scales of the Operation,120

The Scales of the Operation,

The Scales of the Peace,121

The Scales of the Peace,

The Scales of the Injury,122

The Scales of the Injury,

The Scales of the Wonderful,123

The Scales of the Wonderful,

The Scales of the Mantra,124

The Scales of the Mantra,

The Scales of the Remedy,125

The Scales of the Remedy,

The Scales of the Treatise,126

The Scales of the Treatise,