Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c2: Preface
Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya), Vol. I c2
- Language
- English
Preface
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In the present work an attempt is made to describe some of the features and activities of the civil government of the ancient Hindus, as outlined in the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya. Such an attempt will, I trust, be useful in throwing some light on the secular and practical achievements of the ancient Hindus, as distinguished from the spiritual and intellectual, which latter are more widely studied and appreciated than the former.
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I am, however, painfully conscious of the difficulties with which the subject is beset. The quaint and terse language of Kauṭilya, combined with the technical terms used by him, adds much to the difficulties. The Commentary of Bhaṭṭasvāmī is fragmentary and confined only to a portion of the Second Book. I should, however, acknowledge my indebtedness to the edition and translation of the work by Mr. R. Shama Sastri, B.A., whose pioneering work has paved the way for the investigations of other scholars.
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My deep gratitude is due to Prof. Radhakumud Mookerji, M.A., Premchand Roychand Scholar and author of “A History of Indian Shipping,” for valuable help rendered and for the Introduction he has written to this work. I am also thankful to Pundit Jogendranath Tarka-Vedânta-tîrtha and Pundit Vihdusekhar Sastri for their kind assistance, and to my uncle, Mr. Nanda Lal Dey, M.A., B.L., author of the “Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediæval India,” for his valuable suggestions. My acknowledgments are likewise due to Mr. Ramananda Chatterji, M.A., editor of the *Modern Review*, for his courteous permission to reproduce such portions of this work as appeared in his *Review*, and to Messrs. Surendra Nath Kumar, B.A., and Hiralal Roy, A.B., for their kind assistance; also to my brother Mr. Surendra Nath Law, and to Messrs. Kumud Lal Dey, Nalin Chandra Paul, B.L., Satya Churn Law,
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M.A., and Moni Mohun Sil, for the help I have received from them.
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I am fully conscious of my own limitations and the difficulty of the task before me; and I shall consider my labour amply rewarded if my inadequate performance secures for the subject a proper attention and treatment.
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NARENDRA NATH LAW.
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96, AMHERST STREET, CALCUTTA. August, 1913.