Hinglish

The Mighty Mauryas: Chandragupta and Kauṭilya

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 5: The Rise of Empires · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 5.4

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Around 321 BCE, Chandragupta Maurya overthrew the Nandas and founded the Maurya Empire, with Pāṭaliputra as its capital. He was guided by Kauṭilya (also called Chāṇakya or Viṣhṇugupta), a teacher at the famous centre of learning at Takṣhaśhilā. Stories say Dhana Nanda insulted Kauṭilya when he advised the king to change his ways, and Kauṭilya vowed to end Nanda rule. Chandragupta defeated the Greek satraps in the northwest and built an empire from the northern plains to the Deccan.

After defeating the Greeks, Chandragupta kept friendly ties with them and hosted the Greek envoy Megasthenes, who described India in his book Indika (now known only from quotations). Kauṭilya's Arthaśhāstra, "the science of governance and economics", gives advice on defence, economy, justice, town planning, farming and welfare. Its idea of the saptānga, the seven parts of a kingdom, is: the king (swāmi), ministers (amātya), territory and people (janapada), forts (durga), treasury (koṣha), force and law (daṇḍa) and allies (mitra).

Kauṭilya wrote that a king gains power by caring for the countryside, the source of all economic activity, and rewarding those who build embankments and bridges. His central idea: "In the happiness of his subjects lies the king's happiness; in their welfare his welfare." However powerful, a ruler must put the people's interests first.

Explore: Kauṭilya's saptānga.

  1. Match each meaning to its Sanskrit name.

Remember

  • Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire around 321 BCE with Kauṭilya's help.
  • Kauṭilya's Arthaśhāstra and saptānga put the people's welfare at the heart of governance.

Quick check

Who guided Chandragupta Maurya and wrote the Arthaśhāstra?

  1. Kauṭilya
  2. Megasthenes
  3. Pāṇini
  4. Porus
Answer

Kauṭilya. Kauṭilya was also called Chāṇakya.

Think about it

Which of Kauṭilya's seven parts of a kingdom can you still see in a modern country?

One answer

Nearly all: a head of government, ministers and officials, territory and citizens, defended cities, a treasury and budget, armed forces and police, and allies.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.