Chanakya Neeti by R.P. Jain

Chanakya was an Indian teacher, philosopher and royal advisor. He managed the first Maurya emperor Chandragupta’s rise to power at a young age. He is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the Maurya Empire, which was the first empire in archaeologically recorded history to rule most of the Indian subcontinent.
Chanakya is traditionally identified as Kautilya or Vishnu Gupta, who authored the ancient Indian poltical treatise called Arthasastra. As such, he is considered as the pioneer of the field of economics and political science in India, and his work is thought of as an important precursor to Classical Economics.
Chanakya Neeti is a treatise on the ideal way of life, and shows Chanakya’s deep study of the Indian way of life. Chanakya also developed Neeti-Sutras (aphorisms—pithy sentences) that tell people how they should behave. Of these well-known 455 sutras, about 216 refer to rajaneeti (the do,s and don’ts of running a kingdom). Apparently, Chanakya used these sutras to groom Chandragupta and other selected disciples in the art of ruling a kingdom.

SOME IMPORTANT SUTRAS

 In the common man’s affluence and happiness is the affluence and happiness of the king. In their welfare is the king’s welfare.
 The king’s mission should be to constantly make efforts for the welfare of his subjects. It is his duty to maintain orderly administration.
 Self-dependent economy is the best economy; it should not be entirely dependent on exports.
 Everyone in the society should be equal with equal opportunities.
 It is necessary to have an effective land management policy for the development of the resources.
 The State should keep a constant watch on the agricultural development.
 The law of the land should be uniform for everyone.
 The security of its residents should be a priority for the government.