Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

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Intorduction The core subject of Kautiliya Arthshastra, Shukra-niti and Brihaspati-sutra is Varta- Economics. Which stands for the three pillars of state prosperity- agriculture, animal farming and commerce. Among these three pillars they have given high priority to agriculture. In this chapter we shall examine the policies of the agriculture development, practices of animal farming and policies of forest conservation applied by Shukra and Kautlya. Varta- National Economy CHAPTER THREE AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL FARMING The common word for the economy in ancient times was Varta. The word varta is derived from vriti or livelihood (Kautiliya Arthashastra-3, 2003: 167). But according to Jayasawal vriti is explained by the following manusyawati. It has therefore to be taken as vritivartanam. Thus the word Vriti is derived from Vartan- meaning existence. He opines that Palan has the sense of growth not merely maintenance. (Jayasawal, 1978: 5n) The word palana which is employed in classical literature to denote the duty of the king combines two elements-seeing to the growth and protection in general. The second 27 is a corollary from the first which alone is found in Vedic formula. Hence policy was directed to keep up and develop the varta or national Economy. In fact it came first in the division of the ruler’s duty; and this position is quite in conformity with the coronation declaration- This state, to thee (is given) for agriculture, for well being, for prosperity; and for growth. 1 (Shatapath, 5.2, Yaju., 9.22, cited by Panthi, 2008:103) Varta or the National Economy, has been described in the following words by Brihaspati, Shukra and Kautilyaa. krisigoraksabanijyani... s[lifuf]/Ifjfl0fHoflg 2 (Brihaspati-sutra, 1929, 2.4) b. Kusdaikrisivanijyam gorakshabartyochyate.. s';Lbs[lifjfl0fHo+ uf]/Iff jft{of]Rot] 3 ===(Shukranitisar, 2008, 1.156) c. Arthanartho vartayam… cyf{gyf]{ jftf{ofd\ 4 === (Kautiliya Arthashastra-1, 1.2.6) There are various English translations of the word Varta. For example, Kangle translates it as Economics and State economy (Kautiliya Arthashastra-2, 2003, 1.2.1 and Kautiliya Arthashastra 3, 2003: 106), L R Smith translates it as K-M state (Smith, 2009: 6), Jayasawal translates it as National Economy (Jayasawal, 1978: 328-29), Wolpert and Basham translate it as Socialist Monarchical Economy, (Boesche, 2006: 67), and Rangrajan translates it as Kautilya Economy (Rangrajan, 1992: 73). Importance of Varta Kautilya believes that the governance and freedom of the country depends on economy- varta. It is by means of treasury and the army obtained solely through varta that the king is able to hold under 28
the control, both his subjects and his enemy.’(Jayasawal, 1972: 327) Since Varta- the economy supplies grain, cattle, money, and various kinds of products to the state. It also supplies labor force, necessary for production in agriculture and commercial sector. From this it may be surmised that labourers engaged in the various economic fields could be recruited for similar state enterprises. Thus, the labor force was also national wealth according to Kautilya. This provides the insight of Kautilya on the modern non-material wealth concept. The state is sustained by the revenues it collects form the subjects. These follow different economic activity from which they make a living and pay taxes to the state. Three principal economic activities are recognized as providing men with the means of livelihood, namely krisi- agriculture, goraksha or pashupalya- animal farming and Banijya- commerce. We can call it K-G-B sector. In the beginning National Economy was three sector, later on, money lending and artisanship were also brought and it became four sector. (Shukranitisar, 2008, 1.156) Like all the activities in the state varta too was rooted (janapadmula) in the country (Kautiliya Arthashastra-2, 2003, 8.1.29). The ideal state is described at length is in Book 6, Chapter 1, Sutra 8. Among other things it is stated that it should be easy to defend, should provide easy means of livelihood, such as arable land, mines, forest, pastures, trade-routes, and so on, and should be inhabited by hard working farmers and men mostly of the lower varnas. Apart from considered of defense the emphasis is on facility for the pursuit of varta. But of course a ruler has to satisfy with such territory as may have fallen to his lot. A choice is however possible when new settlements are planned or new conquests attempted. In such a case he is advised 29 to choose land which abound in water, yields crops without much rain, is suitable for grain crops and so on what is predominantly good agriculture land. (Kautiliya Arthashastra-3, 2003:167) Rural Development Kautilya believed in scientific farming. The state officer-incharge of agriculture was designated as Sitadhayksha- The Superintendent or Head of Agriculture. Literally sita stands for plough. The Superintendent of Agriculture should be qualified in farm technology, have good understanding of soil characteristics and qualities, plants and trees, flowers and fruits and different crops. According to Kautilya- the Superintendent of Agriculture, should have a good knowledge of Krisitantra- the Science of Agriculture, Sulvasastra- Geology, and Botany. (Kautiliya Arthashastra-2, 2003, 2.24.1) These references clear that there were developed sciences on agriculture, forestry, and mines. Parasar and others explained the Science of Grain, and Agniveshya developed the Science of Herbs. The Shulvashastra was related with the Science of Mines. (Kautilyako Arthashastra, 1967, 2.24) Kautilya allows The Superintendent of Agriculture to take assistance of experts if he did not have the knowledge of all these fields. (ibd) This description clears one more thing that the state used to employ the services of experts in various sectors of production. The duty of The Superintendent of Agriculture was to collect in the proper seasons the seeds of all kinds of grains, flowers, fruits, vegetables, bulbous root, roots, creeper fruits and cotton.He was also responsible for providing good quality seeds; get the fields ploughed by workers employed, slaves, and prisoners. (ibid) Since in the K-M 30
Page 1 and 2: CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Hillebrand
Page 3 and 4: was 8800 but at present it consists
Page 5 and 6: view point of modern economics foll
Page 7 and 8: Painna, Mula Sutta, Nandi Sutta and
Page 9 and 10: Kautilya's Definition- The definiti
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Page 17 and 18: supervision were clearly to be supp
Page 19 and 20: He opines that Shali (winter season
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Page 25 and 26: connection that state had framed tr
Page 27 and 28: Regulation of Trade and Protection
Page 29 and 30: judged through the process prescrib
Page 31 and 32: Notes Superintendent of Market was
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Page 39 and 40: Introduction CHAPTER SIX GOVERNMENT
Page 41 and 42: h. Monopoly tax i. Royalty j. Taxes
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