Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c3.49

c3.49

Fourthly, a careful consideration of the style of the *Arthaśāstra* would also indicate its individual authorship. Broadly speaking, the course of literary development in India embraces three well-marked stages: in the *first* stage the previously accumulated tradition or discipline undergoes development in and through a school or schools devoted thereto; the *second* stage is that of the composition of *Sūtras*, which lead to some *siddhāntas*, or definite formulæ and conclusions, the exposition of which is conducted by the school, though the contents receive thereby a further expansion; the *third* stage is that of the composition of *Bhāṣyas*, which lead to freedom from the control of the schools, and ushers in the stage of individual authorship. Thus, while the text-books produced by schools (e.g. the *Śrauta-Dharma-Gṛihya-Sūtras*) show the style of *Sūtras*, the works of individual authors (e.g. Yāska’s *Nirukta*, Patañjali’s *Mahābhāshya*, etc.) bear a different character. They contain dogmatic statements, together with discussion supporting their own views, and the style passes from that of the *Sūtras* to the style of the *Bhāshyas*. Similarly, in Kauṭilya’s work there are some parts characterized by the brevity and dogmatism of the *Sūtras*, while there are other parts in which the author indulges in certain breadth and minuteness of details after the manner of the *Bhāshyas*. Thus the *Arthaśāstra* partakes of the character of both *Sūtra* and *Bhāshya* at the same time, and this is also admitted by the couplelet added at the end of the book, viz.:—