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Who was the author of the 'Arthashastra'?
Kalidasa
Chanakya
Banabhatta
Vishakhadatta
Chanakya
The Arthashastra was authored by Chanakya, also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta, who was the chief minister and mentor of Chandragupta Maurya. This monumental treatise is written in Sanskrit and serves as a comprehensive guide on statecraft, economic policy, military strategy, and governance in ancient India.
The Arthashastra was authored by Chanakya, also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta, who was the chief minister and mentor of Chandragupta Maurya. This monumental treatise is written in Sanskrit and serves as a comprehensive guide on statecraft, economic policy, military strategy, and governance in ancient India.
Ancient Indian History: Mauryan Empire administration and political literature of the 4th century BCE.
Authored by Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta)
Written in Sanskrit, comprising 15 books (Adhikaranas) and 180 chapters
Focuses extensively on statecraft, taxation, law, diplomacy, and military strategy
Option A (Kalidasa) was a classical Sanskrit writer known for plays like Abhijnanasakuntalam and poetry like Meghaduta.
Option C (Banabhatta) was the court poet of King Harsha and authored Harshacharita and Kadambari.
Option D (Vishakhadatta) wrote the political drama Mudrarakshasa, which details Chanakya's strategies to place Chandragupta on the throne.
B is correct тАФ Chanakya is the renowned author of the ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, the Arthashastra.
Questions on ancient texts and their authors are frequently paired with Mauryan administration or Gupta period literature in Indian competitive exams.