Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd
Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd
Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd
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subject matter <strong>of</strong> Econmics. Some other terminologies used by Kautilya<br />
<strong>and</strong> his contemporary economists later became obsolete. Some words<br />
changed their meanings <strong>and</strong> started to be used in a different sense<br />
according to the change <strong>of</strong> socio-political situations. Therefore we<br />
cannot say exactly what their proper meaning was at Kautilya period.<br />
According to Shyamashastry, the text consists <strong>of</strong> some obsolete words<br />
<strong>and</strong> some words violate the rules <strong>of</strong> Panini, the great Sanskrit<br />
grammarian. (Sen <strong>and</strong> Basu, 2003: 10)<br />
Another point that is to be regarded is that the socio-economic<br />
conditions <strong>of</strong> ancient times were quite different in comparison to modern<br />
times. Due to progress in science <strong>and</strong> technology we are using new<br />
<strong>and</strong> more technical words in <strong>Economics</strong>. Therefore their discussions<br />
are general in nature.<br />
Methodology <strong>of</strong> Oriental <strong>Economics</strong><br />
The 15th part <strong>of</strong> the book- Tantrayukti, in a single chapter<br />
illustrates the various stylistic devices used to elucidate a scientific<br />
subject along with the definition <strong>of</strong> Arthashastra. Tantra means a science<br />
<strong>and</strong> yukti means methods. Thus these methods are related with methods<br />
<strong>of</strong> Oriental <strong>Economics</strong>. In this chapter Kautilya explains about the<br />
mythology that is used to complete his thesis.<br />
The medical books used these scientific methods to find<br />
conclusion in the past. The Susrutsamhita- a medical book by Susrut<br />
describes closely allied 32 tantryuktis.The Charakasamhita- another<br />
medical book by Charak enumerates 34 tantrayuktis the two additional<br />
seem to be pratyuchar (repetition), <strong>and</strong> sambhara (possibility).<br />
Tantrayukti was compiled possibly in sixth century BC to systematize<br />
debates in learned assemblies. It is distinctively stated in the Susrutsamhita<br />
(<strong>Kautiliya</strong> Arthashastra-2, 2003: 312n). The word<br />
tantrayukti has been translated as plan <strong>of</strong> the book by Shyamashastry,<br />
methods <strong>of</strong> science by Kangle, <strong>and</strong> methodology by Rangrajan<br />
(Shyamashastry 1967, 15.1, <strong>Kautiliya</strong> Arthashastra-3, 2003: 312,<br />
Rangrajan, 1992: 100).<br />
In the 15th book Kautilya has described the following methods<br />
to verify his thesis or reject earlier theories-<br />
1. The book or the department <strong>of</strong> the subject- adhikararana, is<br />
a part <strong>of</strong> the total thesis. (<strong>Kautiliya</strong> Arthasastra-1, 2003, 1.1.1)<br />
According to Kangle, the object with respect to which a statement is<br />
made is the topic. For instance- this single (treatise on the) Science <strong>of</strong><br />
Politics is composed mostly by bringing together (the teachings <strong>of</strong>) as<br />
many treatises on the science <strong>of</strong> Politics as have been composed by the<br />
ancient teachers for the acquisition <strong>and</strong> protection <strong>of</strong> the earth. (ibid)<br />
2. A brief description <strong>of</strong> the matter contained in a book is its<br />
content, as, the end <strong>of</strong> learning; association with the aged, control <strong>of</strong><br />
the organs <strong>of</strong> sense, the senses, appointment <strong>of</strong> ministers <strong>and</strong> so on.<br />
(ibid, 1.1.3)<br />
3. Similar facts- yoga, pointing out similar comparable facts<br />
by the researcher is yoga. (ibid, 1.4.16) The arrangement <strong>of</strong> a sentence<br />
is employment (<strong>of</strong> a sentence), for example, the world consisting <strong>of</strong><br />
the four castes <strong>and</strong> the four divisions <strong>of</strong> life <strong>and</strong> the like.<br />
4. Denotative meaning, that which has its limit in the word is<br />
the meaning <strong>of</strong> the word- padartha. (ibid, 2.9.21) For example, mulahar<br />
is the word. He who consumes in unjust ways the property, inherited<br />
from the father <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>father is mulahar in the meaning.<br />
5. The purport <strong>of</strong> a reason, a reason proving a thing is the<br />
reason for (establishing) a thing is called hetvartha. For example, for<br />
charity <strong>and</strong> enjoyment <strong>of</strong> life depend upon wealth. (ibid, 1.7.7)<br />
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