The Mauryan Polity c7.s3.1

c7.s3.1

It is but natural that any man at the helm of public affairs and especially with power in regard to the distribution of patronage would have a number of enemies from discontent, prejudice, and envy. Men at the head of the state are no exception to this. Stories were known of unfaithful wives, unfaithful sons, and disloyal officials and servants. Hence it was necessary to protect the royal person from these undesirables. From the prescription of the *Kauṭalīya* in this particular,¹ one cannot draw the inference that in those days despotic kings ruled the land, and to ensure their personal safety regulations were laid down. The *Kauṭalīya* is a manual on statecraft and the rules therein are intended for every possible contingency that may arise in the state at some time or other. It is a wrong interpretation of the *Arthaśāstra* to say that such dangers were the norm and that precautions to be actually taken were laid down in every detail. For example, there are prescriptions regarding precautions against fire, lightning, and snakes. Are we to take it that fire broke out every day, lightning devastated the land continuously, or that the fear of snakes was common? The fact is that they are possible dangers, to avert which Kauṭalya has prescribed means and methods.