[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924) › c7.13 # Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c7.13 Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c7.13 - **Language:** English ### [c7.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c7.13) The treatises on political theories and practical governance were originally called Dᴀɴᴅᴀ-Nɪ̄ᴛɪ or the 'Principles of Government'² and Aʀᴛʜᴀ-Śᴀ̄sᴛʀᴀ or the 'Code of Common-wealth. Kauṭilya defines the latter: "\*Aʀᴛʜᴀ\* is "human population, that is to say, territory with human popula-"tion. The Code of Artha (Common-wealth) is a code "dealing with the means (art, \*upāya\*) of acquisiton and "growth of that territory."³ \*Daṇḍa-Nīti\* was the title adopted by Uśanas,⁴ and \*Artha-Śāstra\*, by Bṛhaspati,⁵ for their repective works which were very famous in Hindu Classical times. A book, rather an encyclopædia, under the title \*Daṇḍa-Nīti\*, ascribed to Prajāpati, is mentioned in the \*Mahā-Bhārata\*.⁶ The subject is also called \*Rāja-Śāstra\*⁷ or the 'Code for the Rulers,' and \*Rāja-Dharma\* or - [Previous: c7.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c7.12) - [Next: c7.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c7.14) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c7) ## Cites (3) - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Rājadharma](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.rajadharma) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c7.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c7.13) · Pramāṇa