The Mauryan Polity c13.s6.7

c13.s6.7

Connected with this is the theory that as Kauṭalya does not mention Pāṭaliputra he could not have been the Minister of Candragupta. It is very probable that there was no occasion for Kauṭalya to mention his Capital city by this name. It may be repeated again that Kauṭalya’s mission was not to sketch Candragupta’s administration, though Candragupta seems to have based his administration on the model suggested. His purpose was to write a scientific treatise on administration which his King Candragupta and his successors as well might use with profit and advantage to themselves. In such a treatise there would certainly be no occasion for mentioning the city of Pāṭali, and the mere omission of this fact cannot be seriously advanced as an argument for or against establishing the authenticity of the work.