Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

In the very beginning of the treatise Kautilya pays respect to
two of his teachers Shukra and Brihaspati. Kautilya quotes some 112
scholars in the text. In 25 of these opinions are attributed to schools
of the shastra, namely, the Barhaspatya (in six places), the Ausanas
(in seven places), the Manavas (in five places) the Parasaras (in six
places), and the Ambhiyas (in one). In 28 places the opinions are
ascribed to individual teachers, Bhardwaj (seven times), Vishalaksha
(seven times), Pisuna (five times), Kaunapadanta (four times), and
Bahudantiputra (once), in remaining 59 cases the opinions are attributed
to Acharyas- the teachers. A term referring to most or all of these
predecessors; twice we have the some used once, Apare- others.
(Kautiliya Arthashastra- 3, 2003 : 42) A list of ancient scholars is
given in the table. 1.2
Table 1.2. Schools and Thinkers of Arthashastra
Manava Barhaspatya Ausanas
Bhardwaj-Drona Vaisalaksa Parasar
Pisuna Kaunapadanta Vatvyadhi
Bahudantiputra Vatsyayan Karnika Bhardwaj
Charayana Ghotmukha Kinjalka
Pisuna-Putra Ambhiyas Unknown
Source: Jayasawal, 1978 : 4
Besides these persons there are many other thinkers whose
contribution has been given high importance in ancient times. For
example, in Aswalayana Grihya sutra a name is found- Aditya, who
was thought of a great scholar of his time. (Jayasawal, 1978:4)
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Arthashastra after Kautilya
Jayasawal opines that the tradition of Arthashastra continued
after Kautilya and Kamandak also, who was a statesman and a pupil of
Kautilya. In this tradition, he opines, the most valuable work is
Nitivakyamrit of a Jain Scholar Somdev Suri. The date of the manuscript
of this books is estimated by Jayasawal as 1463 in the reign of Sultan
Bahalol Lodi. In this book 31 scholars have been cited all are related
with the Arthashastra School. Out of 31 there is found the names of
20 authors whose names are not to be found in any other places.
Probably they are all later than Kautilya and Kamandak. (Jayasawal,
1978: 8-14) Gairola supports this view of Jayasawal in his translation
of Rajnitiratnakar. It is one of the important books written in the tradition
of Kautiliya Arthashastra. The author of this book, Acharya
Chandeswor- was a minister in the state of Mithila in the times of
Harisimha Deva. In this treatise he has quoted 16 names in his book.
Among them Kulluk Bhatta, Shrikar and Laxmidhar are new ones.
(Rajnitiratnakar of Chandeshwor, 1969: 20-25) According to
Jayasawal and Gairola during Moghul and large part of the British rule
the importance of this subject gradually diminished. (Jayasawal, Ibid;
Kautiliya Arthashastram, 1960: 71-73)
Boudha and Jaina Scriptures
Boudha scriptures provide the detail information about political
and economic conditions in ancient period. Lord Buddha’s discourses
are collected in three Pitakas- Sutta, Abhidhamma and Vinaya. Jatak
stories provide information about administration, trade, and professions
in ancient period.Vardhaman Mahabir is the founder Jainism. His
thoughts are scattered in different scriptures known as Anga, Upanga,
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