Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c19.5

c19.5

| *Asoka's Edicts.* | *Kauṭilya's Arthaśāstra.* |
| 4. In KRE. I, there is a reference to judicial torture causing death and to Asoka's intention to check such abuses. | 4. Kauṭilya also refers to the severity of judicial torture of which the arbitrary and excessive applications and abuses he makes penal [IV. 8; 9; 11]. |
| 5. *Nikhāmayisa hedisameva vagam* [KRE. I]—'depute a similar body of officers.' | 5. The word *Varga* is also used in the same sense by Kauṭilya [I. 11] (*svaṁ svaṁ vargam*). |
| 6. *“Te Mahamātā nikhāmisamti anusayānam”* [Ib]—'these Mahāmātras would thus set out on tour.' | 6. Kauṭilya uses the word *niryāṇa* for the king's tour [I. 21]. He also refers to transfer of government servants (*Yuktas*) from one post to another to prevent embezzlement [II, 9]. Some interpret the word *anusaṁyāna* in the sense of 'transfer.' |
| 7. *Samāja* [RE. I] of both objectionable and commendable kinds. | 7. Kauṭilya in one passage [II. 25] refers to *utsava*, *samāja*, and *yātrā* where the drinking of wine was unrestricted for 4 days. This is the objectionable kind of *samāja* mentioned by Asoka. Kauṭilya also mentions the commendable kind of *samāja* which it is the duty of the king to respect [XIII. 5]. |
| 8. Reference to import of medicinal herbs, roots, | 8. Kauṭilya [II. 21] also encourages the import of |