Swaveda

Translation

Arthashastraअर्थशास्त्रम्

By Kauṭilya (also called Cāṇakya). Translated by R. Shamasastry, 1915. Public domain.

A treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy, attributed to Kauṭilya, advisor to Chandragupta Maurya. Covers the duties of a king, ministerial appointment, espionage, taxation, jurisprudence, and foreign policy across 15 books and 150 chapters. The first complete English translation, by R. Shamasastry, was published in 1915 and is in the public domain; each chapter is presented alongside the Sanskrit text, with sutra numbers following the critical edition.

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Books

Book 1Concerning Disciplineविनयाधिकारिकम्21 chapters
  1. 1.1The Life of a King
  2. 1.2The End of Sciences
  3. 1.3The End of Sciences
  4. 1.4The End of Sciences
  5. 1.5Association with the Aged
  6. 1.6Restraint of the Organs of Sense
  7. 1.7Restraint of the Organs of Sense
  8. 1.8Creation of Ministers
  9. 1.9The Creation of Councillors and Priests
  10. 1.10Ascertaining by Temptations Purity or Impurity in the Character of Ministers
  11. 1.11The Institution of Spies
  12. 1.12Institution of Spies
  13. 1.13Protection of Parties for or against One's Own Cause in One's Own State
  14. 1.14Winning Over Factions for or against an Enemy's Cause in an Enemy's State
  15. 1.15The Business of Council Meeting
  16. 1.16The Mission of Envoys
  17. 1.17Protection of Princes
  18. 1.18The Conduct of a Prince Kept Under Restraint and the Treatment of a Restrained Prince
  19. 1.19The Duties of a King
  20. 1.20Duty Towards the Harem
  21. 1.21Personal Safety
Book 2The Duties of Government Superintendentsअध्यक्षप्रचारः36 chapters
  1. 2.1Formation of Villages
  2. 2.2Division of Land
  3. 2.3Construction of Forts
  4. 2.4Buildings Within the Fort
  5. 2.5The Duties of the Chamberlain
  6. 2.6The Business of Collection of Revenue by the Collector-general
  7. 2.7The Business of Keeping Up Accounts in the Office of Accountants
  8. 2.8Detection of What Is Embezzled by Government Servants Out of State Revenue
  9. 2.9Examination of the Conduct of Government Servants
  10. 2.10The Procedure of Forming Royal Writs
  11. 2.11Examination of Gems That Are to Be Entered Into the Treasury
  12. 2.12Conducting Mining Operations and Manufacture
  13. 2.13Superintendent of Gold in the Goldsmith's Office
  14. 2.14The Duties of the State Goldsmith in the High Road
  15. 2.15The Superintendent of Storehouse
  16. 2.16The Superintendent of Commerce
  17. 2.17The Superintendent of Forest Produce
  18. 2.18The Superintendent of The
  19. 2.19The Superintendent of Weights and Measures
  20. 2.20Measurement of Space and Time
  21. 2.21The Superintendent of Tolls
  22. 2.22Regulation of Toll-dues
  23. 2.23Superintendent of Weaving
  24. 2.24The Superintendent of Agriculture
  25. 2.25The Superintendent of Liquor
  26. 2.26The Superintendent of Slaughter-house
  27. 2.27The Superintendent of Prostitutes
  28. 2.28The Superintendent of Ships
  29. 2.29The Superintendent of Cows
  30. 2.30The Superintendent of Horses
  31. 2.31The Superintendent of Elephants
  32. 2.32Training of Elephants
  33. 2.33The Superintendent of Chariots; the Superintendent of Infantry and the Duty of the Commander-in-chief
  34. 2.34The Superintendent of Passports
  35. 2.35The Duty of Revenue-collectors; Spies in the Guise of Householders, Merchants and Ascetics
  36. 2.36The Duty of a City Superintendent
Book 3Concerning Lawधर्मस्थीयम्20 chapters
  1. 3.1Determination of Forms of Agreement; Determination of Legal Disputes
  2. 3.2Concerning Marriage. the Duty of Marriage, the Property of a Woman, and Compensations for Remarriage
  3. 3.3The Duty of a Wife; Maintenance of a Woman; Cruelty to Women; Enmity Between Husband and Wife; a Wife's Transgression; Her Kindness to Another; and Forbidden Transactions
  4. 3.4Vagrancy, Elopement and Short and Long Sojournments
  5. 3.5Division of Inheritance
  6. 3.6Special Shares in Inheritance
  7. 3.7Distinction Between Sons
  8. 3.8Buildings
  9. 3.9Sale of Buildings, Boundary Disputes, Determination of Boundaries, and Miscellaneous Hindrances
  10. 3.10Destruction of Pasture-lands, Fields and Roads, and Non-performance of Agreements
  11. 3.11Recovery of Debts
  12. 3.12Concerning Deposits
  13. 3.13Rules Regarding Slaves and Labourers
  14. 3.14Rules Regarding Labourers; and Co-operative Undertaking
  15. 3.15Rescission of Purchase and Sale
  16. 3.16Resumption of Gifts, Sale
  17. 3.17Robbery
  18. 3.18Defamation
  19. 3.19Assault
  20. 3.20Gambling and Betting and Miscellaneous Offences
Book 4The Removal of Thornsकण्टकशोधनम्13 chapters
  1. 4.1Protection of Artisans
  2. 4.2Protection of Merchants
  3. 4.3Remedies against National Calamities
  4. 4.4Suppression of the Wicked Living by Foul Means
  5. 4.5Detection of Youths of Criminal Tendency by Ascetic Spies
  6. 4.6Seizure of Criminals on Suspicion or in the Very Act
  7. 4.7Examination of Sudden Death
  8. 4.8Trial and Torture to Elicit Confession
  9. 4.9Protection of All Kinds of Government Departments
  10. 4.10Fines in Lieu of Mutilation of Limbs
  11. 4.11Death with or Without Torture
  12. 4.12Sexual Intercourse with Immature Girls
  13. 4.13Punishment for Violating Justice
Book 5The Conduct of Courtiersयोगवृत्तम्6 chapters
  1. 5.1Concerning the Awards of Punishments
  2. 5.2Replenishment of the Treasury
  3. 5.3Concerning Subsistence to Government Servants
  4. 5.4The Conduct of a Courtier
  5. 5.5Time-serving
  6. 5.6Consolidation of the Kingdom and Absolute Sovereignty
Book 6The Source of Sovereign Statesमण्डलयोनिः2 chapters
  1. 6.1The Elements of Sovereignty
  2. 6.2Concerning Peace and Exertion
Book 7The End of the Six-Fold Policyषाड्गुण्यम्18 chapters
  1. 7.1The Six-fold Policy, and Determination of Deterioration, Stagnation and Progress
  2. 7.2The Nature of Alliance
  3. 7.3The Character of Equal, Inferior and Superior Kings; and Forms of Agreement Made by an Inferior King
  4. 7.4Neutrality After Proclaiming War or After Concluding a Treaty of Peace;
  5. 7.5Considerations About Marching against an Assailable Enemy and a Strong Enemy; Causes Leading to the Dwindling, Greed, and Disloyalty of the Army; and Considerations About the Combination of Powers
  6. 7.6The March of Combined Powers; Agreement of Peace with or Without Definite Terms; and Peace with Renegades
  7. 7.7Peace and War by Adopting The
  8. 7.8The Attitude of an Assailable Enemy; and Friends That Deserve Help
  9. 7.9Agreement for the Acquisition of a Friend or Gold
  10. 7.10Agreement of Peace for the Acquisition of Land
  11. 7.11Interminable Agreement
  12. 7.12Agreement for Undertaking a Work
  13. 7.13Considerations About an Enemy in the Rear
  14. 7.14Recruitment of Lost Power
  15. 7.15Measures Conducive to Peace with a Strong and Provoked Enemy; and the Attitude of a Conquered Enemy
  16. 7.16The Attitude of a Conquered King
  17. 7.17Making Peace and Breaking It
  18. 7.18The Conduct of a Madhyama King, a Neutral King, and of a Circle of States
Book 8Concerning Vices and Calamitiesव्यसनाधिकारिकम्5 chapters
  1. 8.1The Aggregate of the Calamities of the Elements of Sovereignty
  2. 8.2Considerations About the Troubles of the King and of His Kingdom
  3. 8.3The Aggregate of the Trouble of Men
  4. 8.4The Group of Molestations, the Group of Obstructions, and the Group of Financial Troubles
  5. 8.5The Group of Troubles of the Army, and the Group of Troubles of a Friend
Book 9The Work of an Invaderअभियास्यत्कर्म7 chapters
  1. 9.1The Knowledge of Power, Place, Time, Strength, and Weakness; the Time of Invasion
  2. 9.2The Time of Recruiting the Army; the Form of Equipment; and the Work of Arraying a Rival Force
  3. 9.3Consideration of Annoyance in the Rear; and Remedies against Internal and External Troubles
  4. 9.4Consideration About Loss of Men, Wealth, and Profit
  5. 9.5External and Internal Dangers
  6. 9.6Persons Associated with Traitors and Enemies
  7. 9.7Doubts About Wealth and Harm; and Success to Be Obtained by the Employment of Alternative Strategic Means
Book 10Relating to Warसांग्रामिकम्6 chapters
  1. 10.1Encampment
  2. 10.2March of the Camp; and Protection of the Army in Times of Distress and Attack
  3. 10.3Forms of Treacherous Fights; Encouragement to One's Own Army and Fight Between One's Own and Enemy's Armies
  4. 10.4Battlefields; the Work of Infantry, Cavalry, Chariots, and Elephants
  5. 10.5The Distinctive Array of Troops in Rfspect of Wings, Flanks, and Front; Distinction Between Strong and Weak Troops; and Battle with Infantry, Cavalry, Chariots and Elephants
  6. 10.6The Array of the Army Like a Staff, a Snake, a Circle, or in Detached Order; the Array of the Army against That of an Enemy
Book 11The Conduct of Corporationsसंघवृत्तम्1 chapter
  1. 11.1Causes of Dissension; and Secret Punishment
Book 12Concerning a Powerful Enemyआबलीयसम्5 chapters
  1. 12.1The Duties of a Messenger
  2. 12.2Battle of Intrigue
  3. 12.3Slaying the Commander-in-chief and Inciting a Circle of States
  4. 12.4Spies with Weapons, Fire, and Poison; and Destruction of Supply, Stores and Granaries
  5. 12.5Capture of the Enemy by Means of Secret Contrivances or by Means of the Army; and Complete Victory
Book 13Strategic Means to Capture a Fortressदुर्गलम्भोपायः5 chapters
  1. 13.1Sowing the Seeds of Dissension
  2. 13.2Enticement of Kings by Secret Contrivances
  3. 13.3The Work of Spies in a Siege
  4. 13.4The Operation of a Siege
  5. 13.5Restoration of Peace in a Conquered Country
Book 14Secret Meansऔपनिषदिकम्4 chapters
  1. 14.1Means to Injure an Enemy
  2. 14.2Wonderful and Delusive Contrivances
  3. 14.3The Application of Medicines and Mantras
  4. 14.4Remedies against the Injuries of One's Own Army
Book 15The Plan of a Treatiseतन्त्रयुक्तिः1 chapter
  1. 15.1Paragraphical Divisions of This Treatise