Kautilya and Shanti Parva Political Science YouTube Lecture Handouts
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Kautilya and Shanti Parva
Shanti Parva-Introduction
- It is one of the eighteenth books of Mahabharata- the India epic.
- It has 3 sub books and chapters.
- It is the longest book of Mahabharata.
- It has treatise on Statecraft and how King should dispose his duties towards his state.
Sub Books of Shanti Parva
- Rahdharma Anusasana Parva: It contains the information about duties of Kings and leaders among other things.
- Apaddharma Anusasana Parva: It contains information about the means to the end a King should achieve for the welfare of his state.
- Moksha Dharma: It contains the information about achieving the Moksha (Relinquishment from the cycle of Birth and Death)
Concepts of Polity Derived from Shanti Parva
- Taxation system of the State: It should not burdensome and the taxpayer should not be crushed with it.
- Ministers should sharp and devoted to the king.
- There should be a council of Ministers and the King should seek their advice before any step but the last decision has to be made by Him solely.
- The concept of philosopher king as established by Plato has also highlighted in Shanti Parva.
- A king has nothing to do with himself everything should be for the state and by the means of state.
Kautilya- A Strategic Thinker
- Known by the names Chanakya or Vishnugupta who was the royal advisor of Chandragupta Maurya.
- Known for his work “Arthashastra” and “Chanakya Niti” a treatise on polity, economics, judicial system, and Statecraft.
- Advisor of Chandragupta and helped him to rise to power and establish Mauryan Empire.
- Information about Chanakya can be found in Pali language Buddhist text.
- Sometimes also referred as the “Machiavelli of India.”
Works of Kautilya- Statecraft
- The concepts of statecraft as propounded by Chanakya are still relevant in the modern world.
- The judicial system, spy system, tax system and other aspect of dealing with the affairs of the state are very important current scenario.
- He was one of the first thinkers who established in order to create a strong country unity is the foremost virtue of that country to achieve.
- A king has nothing of his own. Every subject of the King should for the state and by the means of state.
- Provided the formula of Saptanga-the seven pillars of state: SWAMI, AMATYA, JANAPADA, DURGA, KOSHA, DANDA, MITRA
Chapters:
0: 00 Kautilya And Shanti Parva
0: 40 Introduction of Shanti Parva
2: 05 Sub Books of Shanti Parva
5: 53 Concepts of Polity derived from Shanti Parva
7: 55 Kautilya - A Strategic Thinker
9: 40 Works of Kautilya - Statecraft
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✍ Mayank