The Mauryan Polity c8.s4.t4.13

c8.s4.t4.13

The nature of capital punishments in practice in the 4th century B.C. in India and the principle on which such punishments were inflicted are clearly furnished in the chapter on *śuddhścitraścadaṇḍakalpaḥ* of the *Kauṭaliya*.¹ Death-penalty was not the rule. Two classes of criminals are distinguished—those who are cruel in their offences, and those who are not cruel. Death-penalty without torture to the former is recommended. Even in this prescription the *Arthaśāstra* distinctly mentions that this ruling had the authority of the *śāstras* behind.²