The Mauryan Polity c13.s12.50

c13.s12.50

(i) In four different places of the *Indika*³ there are statements which definitely mention that the Indians do not know slavery. It has been pointed out how Megasthenes was wrong if servants were also slaves. Kauṭalya mentions a number of slaves with the prescription that an Ārya slave could regain his liberty by a compensation price.⁴ There were both male and female slaves. In this particular Megasthenes' report is decidedly incorrect and if such portions of the report are not correct, one is tempted to ask, what amount of credit can be given to the other portions of the same report? During his brief sojourn, Megasthenes apparently took some notes at random and that in an indiscriminate manner. Therefore it is not right on our part to use such doubtful materials as authorities and build theories upon them unless they are corroborated by other evidences.¹