Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c3.59

c3.59

In the first passage the expression “सुखग्रह्यविस्पष्टं,” as pointed out by Prof. Jacobi, is a clear indication of individual authorship, for “so speaks the author of a text-book meant for self-instruction,” for individual learners, and not for the school, for a *Sūtra* need not be सुबोधविविध्रेय, because for its understanding the teacher has to look to the school. This inference is also in keeping with the meaning of the opening words of our text, viz. “पृथिव्या लाभे पालने च यावन्त्यर्थशास्त्राणि पूर्वैराचार्यैः प्रस्थापितानि प्रायशस्तानि संहृत्यैकमियमेर्थशास्त्रं कृतम्।” Here there is a reference to individual authors, the earlier masters, and not to school traditions or schools, as must have been the case had the work of Kauṭilya been the product of a school.