Public Administration in Ancient India c19.16

c19.16

Chānakya was the great champion of a universal monarchy in India, and as such he regarded the acquisition of territory by means of conquest as a very desirable object. “A conqueror, well versed in the science of Politics,” says Chānakya, “who acquires territory from enemies gains superiority”; and in his opinion any ruler who opposes such an attempt was to be crushed, whatever might be the cost of the undertaking.²