Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

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teachers used to learn lessons. The pedagogy of learning is expressed in dialogues, observations, case studies etc. Most of the Upanishads initiate the lesson with some social or economic issues. (Bokare, 2009: 90) The most ancient among the Smritis were in prose, and are known as the Dharma-sutras. Only a few fragments of some of these works have yet been discovered. The Dharma-shastras appear to have been later redactions in verse of the earlier Dharmasutras. The most important of the Smriti works at present known are those attributed to Gautama, Apastamba, Vasishtha, Bodhayana, Vishnu, Manu,Yagyavalkya, and Narada. They all devote some of their chapters to discussions of political subjects like the duties of kings, public finance, civil and criminal laws, and judicial procedure. These chapters are of inestimable value to the student of ancient Political Economy. (Banerji, 1916 : 4) In Yagyavalkya-smriti economic topics on wage, rent, interest, partnership, ownership of property, and anti monopoly regulations are found. But Ideas of Political Economy in Manu-smriti5 are more mature than anyother of Smritis. After making a comparison between Manu-smrit and Kautiliya Arthashastra Gautam concluded that Kautiliya Arthashastra is only a revised version of Manu-smriti. (Gautam, 2009) Some economic ideas of Manu-smriti are as follows- • Divine Theory of state • Taxes to the king are his remuneration for keeping law and order • Taxes are fixed by rules • Beside cash taxes labour taxes were taken • The council of ministers shall have a minister for finance • Fixed percent of profit is allowed to the traders • Compound interest is not permissible The Puranas appear to be works which were originally composed for the purpose of giving instruction to the less advanced sections of the community in all matters concerning this world and the next. Their great value from the historical standpoint lies in the fact that they contain a considerable amount of genuine historical tradition and preserve more or less correct lists of the various dynasties of kings who ruled in Aryawarta from the earliest times until towards the close to the Hindu period in the history. (Banerji, ibid, 5) Agni Purana treats of Public Finance in considerable detail. Similarly Matsya Purana deals with Political Economy. Ramayana and Mahabharata The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are not historical works in the modern sense of the term ; but they give us a graphic and fairly accurate picture of the life of the Aryas. The stories found in these Epics are largely based on real occurrences, and although the main themes of the Epics are the wars of the heroes, both of these great works present us with glimpses of the Political Economy of early Hindu society. (Banerji, ibid, 3) According to William Monyir the date of Rmayana may be 300 BC but Kieth opines that the date is actually 600 BC. The Political Economy has been described in detail in two chapters- Kiskindha-Kand and Ayodhya-Kand. The state in Ramayana has been described as a combination of seven organs- the king, the ministers, geographical area, capital city, force, and friends. Ramayana suggests that statesman should have a good knowledge of Arthashastra (a loose name of Economics). CV Vaidya opines that Mahbharata has three editions. The first edition of this book was Jaya and was presented by Vyas. The second edition of the book was Bharta Samhita and it was presented by Sauti. Finally Vaishampayana revised it in the present form of Mahabharata. (Vaidya, 1905, Chap 1-2) The number of slokas of the first edition 3 4
was 8800 but at present it consists of 100 thousands slokas distributed in 100 chapters. In the Mahabharata, a mythical account is given for the origin of the Science of Political Economy.According to the legend, Brahman composed by his own intelligence a treatise consisting of a hundred thousand slokas. Its name was Paitamaha Tantra. In it were treated the subjects of dharma- right conduct, artha- wealth, and kam- pleasure. A large portion of it was devoted to the Science of Governance, that is to say, the growth, conservation, prosperity and destruction of states. It was first studied by Shiva and abridged by him for the benefit of mankind. Further abridgments were made by Indra, Brihaspati, Shukra, and others respectively.(Banerji, 1969: 3n) From the view point of Economics following discussions are useful (Bokare, 2009:91)- • The king is responsible to protect and promote livelihood of the citizens. • The state should build roads, drinking water facilities and other social service activities. • Academic institutions should be sustained by charities by the government. • The state should promote market places. • If there is partnership in work, profit or loss should be equally shared. Liabilities also shared equally. • The collection of tax is necessary for the welfare of people. Brihaspati-sutra Brihaspati is also known as Guru, Vachaspati, and Angiras. The only historical source about the information of Brihaspati is Kautilya Arhashastra. For detail information about Brihaspati and his Artha- sutra we depend on the stories explained in Mahabhrata and in various, Puranas. Bhoja in his Yuktikalpataru (11 th century AC) while referring to the Niti literature says that Brihaspati and Ausanas are two reverend teachers 6 . Ashvaghosha in his Buddha Charita (about first century AC) has remarked about Brihaspati. (Brihaspati-sutra, 1929: 3) The well-known Kamasutras of Vatsyayana refers to Brihaspati as the compiler of Arthashastra. (ibid) 7 Bhasa refers to a Barhaspatya Arthashastra in his play named Pratima 8 . So we know that the Barhspatya Shastra claims a great antiquity in the history of Hindu literature 9 . (ibid) Three compilations are known in the names of Brihaspati- Brihaspati-smriti, Brihaspati-samhita, and Brihaspati-sutra. The Smriti of Brihaspati was also in verses but that work is, however, lost now. The small collection of some slokas which is generally called the Brihaspati-smriti is available but it is a child’s play as compared with the Barhaspatya shastra referred to in the Mahabharata. Prof. Julius Jolly collected fragments of Brihaspati Smriti from different law books and their commentaries but these fragments are also incomplete. (ibid: 7) The other treatise connected with the name of Brihaspati is the Barhaspatya Samhita. We find it often quoted in other different books 10 . It is in the form of a dialogue between Nahusha and Brihaspati. The work is in the mixed style of prose and verse. This Samhita also, as is apparent from the numerous quotations in the above mentioned work, bears no connection with the present sutras. (ibid: 9) Another work of Brihaspati is Brihaspati-sutra. The present Brihasaptai sutras even if they do, possess but a very remote connection with the Barhaspatya Arthashastra. These sutras may only here and there contain a view of the old Barhaspatya School. As regards the date of this work, nothing can be said with certainty. This much however, is certain that the work is not anterior to the sixth or seventh century AC. (ibid: 9) 5 6
Page 1: CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Hillebrand
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
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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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Page 47 and 48: CHAPTER SEVEN CONCLUSION Kautilya a
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Bokare, M G.2009.Hindu Economics, P
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Shukra-niti.1987.translated by D B
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ECONOMICS OF KAUTILYA SHUKRA AND BR
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CONTENT Chapter 1: Introduction 1 C
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