State and Government in Ancient India c8.s1.17

c8.s1.17

To conclude, in the early stages of the development of the science, it was known as Rājadharma; Daṇḍanīti became a more popular term a little later, and Arthaśāstra was suggested as an alternative to it. In course of time, however, the word Rājañīti-śāstra, abridged into Nītiśāstra became most popular and gradually supplanted the other terms.