The Mauryan Polity c12.35

c12.35

This science has been composed by Kauṭalya, easily understandable, correct in the exposition of truth and in the use of words, and all free from errors. J. J. Meyer in his translation of the *Arthaśāstra* furnishes a convincing reply.² Based as it is on old works ‘every sūtra having original opinion of the author necessarily became *apadeśa*’. It is a commonplace practice in India to give the author’s name in his works.³ Jacobi’s observations are to the point: “The agreement obtaining between the words of Kauṭalya and the character of his work, and the personality that characterises them would be difficult to understand, if those were not the very words of the author. A later writer who wanted to palm off his own lucubration of that of his school on the name of the famous statesman, would surely have faltered somewhere. From this view-point the higher criticism must acknowledge the authenticity of the Kauṭaliya.”⁴