Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #अर्थशास्त्रम्

Most recents (6)

This thread is a compilation of writing/threads/tweets on Kautilya's #अर्थशास्त्रम् (Arthashastra).

Thread also includes refutation of propagandas against Kautilya/Arthashastra and topics which are refuted/supported based on Arthashastra.
(1) The very first article I wrote on Kautilya's Arthashastra, also published on @/indictoday

It traces origin-tradition-veneration of Arthashastra as a शास्त्र and later on guiding force for Empires/Kings. It also lists tradition before & after कौटिल्य.
vyasonmukh.in/2021/01/12/art…
(2) Here I refuted one propaganda which says slave (slavery) is found in Arthashastra.

Term used by कौटिल्य is दास which is NOT slave.
Read 16 tweets
Roots of योग are Hindu, not Jain.

Common Sources -
#योगसूत्रम् (पतंजलि) predates any Jain literature (~200 BCE)
• Artifacts in योग positions (Sindhu-Sarasvati civilization) predate any Jain artifact (~4000 BCE/older)
• श्रीकृष्ण (योगेश्वर Master of योग) predates Jainism Image
During time of पतंजलि, writing was already in vogue in #India. Kautilya in #अर्थशास्त्रम् (~350 BCE) has mentioned keeping written records in administration.

It proves oral practice was already ended by that time. It means, Jain sources came later on.
Good to see you agree that Jain literature comes much later than योगसूत्र of Patanjali (~200 BCE)

Also, Kautilya in #अर्थशास्त्रम् (~350 BCE) mentions योग as a mandatory विद्या for a King (Ch. 1)

With time, Jains adopted few योग concepts.
Read 4 tweets
Thread -
Shallow understanding of @VedicWisdom1 on शूद्र and duties.

His claim : कृषि (Farming) is NOT work of शूद्र. This is FALSE.

Responsibilities/Duties of शूद्र are

शूद्रस्य द्विजातिशुश्रूषा वार्त्ता कारुकुशीलवकर्म च ।
#अर्थशास्त्रम् (1.3.8). See image. (1) Image
(2)
Where is कृषि here ? It is in वार्त्ता (Economical activities).

कृषिपाशुपाल्ये वणिज्या च वार्त्ता ।
#अर्थशास्त्रम् (1.4.1)

कृषि (Farming), पशुपालन (Cattles), वाणिज्य (Trade).

So, farming is also work of शूद्र.
(3)
Another FALSE propaganda to demean शूद्र (image 1).

Reality (image 2) - Explanation of 1st & 2nd tweets. शूद्र can do all activities related to economics as well as कारुकुशीलवकर्म (Performing/ non performing arts).

This person doesn't know any शास्त्र. Don't belive him. ImageImage
Read 32 tweets
WRONG interpretation by @Sanjay_Dixit

Quoting RP Kangle (Verbatim) -

"Among sons of the same wife, the (special) share of the eldest (is to be) goats in the case of ब्राह्मण, horses in case of क्षत्रिय, cattle in case of वैश्य, sheep in case of शूद्र.

Here, कौटिल्य (1/2)
2/2
Depicts how to do division of various animals by people of all four वर्ण to their eldest son respectively. This सूत्र has nothing to do with वर्ण by जन्म/कर्म.

This सूत्र of #अर्थशास्त्रम् is a guideline. Understanding सूत्र literature needs proper knowledge of #Sanskrit.
As usual वर्ण by कर्म gang leader has RTd it. It shows this "Vedic Wisdom" doesn't know Sanskrit.

Also, as indicated earlier, their agenda is clear - Divide the society by misinterpreting Sanskrit texts.
Read 7 tweets
कौटिल्य के #अर्थशास्त्रम् में वर्णित शत्रुवध (Destruction of Enemy) के विभिन्न प्रयोग (Concerning Secret Practices).

• Target Person - अधर्मिष्ठ (Unrighteous).
• Aim (हेतु) - चातुर्वर्ण्यरक्षा (Protection of 4 वर्ण).

1/n
2/n

घातक विष को विश्वसनीय म्लेच्छों के द्वारा शत्रु के वस्त्रों में लगवाना ।

Deadly poison to be introduced on articles/clothes by trusted म्लेच्छ people.

Note the use of म्लेच्छ people in such an atrocious but important task.
3/n

चितकबरा मेंढक, जंगली तीतर, कानखजुरा, छिपकली आदि के चूर्ण का धुआँ तत्काल ही प्राणघातक होता है ।

Smoke of the powder of speckled frog, centipede, lizard etc. can instantly kill the person.
Read 9 tweets
This is a case of false interpretation of सूत्र literature like #अर्थशास्त्रम् and trying to misquote कौटिल्य

This happen when u don't know #संस्कृतम्

Here, I will put facts from the same chapter दासकर्मकरकल्पम् (3.13)

दास is not slave. How ? Read in this thread

1/6
2/6
The very first सूत्र in this chapter says :
उदरदासवर्जमार्यप्राणमप्राप्तव्यवहारं ...

Except उदरदास (The one who is दास out of his compulsion), nobody from 4 वर्ण can be made दास

Violation of this rule attracts various levels of दण्ड ... Highest is प्राणदण्ड.
3/6
Above rule is made crystal clear in next सूत्र - न तु एव आर्यस्य दासभावः

As a general rule, nobody from आर्य (ब्राह्मण/क्षत्रिय/वैश्य/शूद्र) can be made दास

कौटिल्य further states
म्लेच्छानाम् अदोषः प्रजां विक्रेतुम् आधातुं वा (but मलेच्छ, who is out of आर्य fold, does it)
Read 6 tweets

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