Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c8.18

c8.18

principles of social organisation, the division of the people into four castes, of individual life into four stages. It tries to fit itself into this framework of life. From religion and ethics, politics borrows something, an ideal, a scheme of organisation. With economics it entwines itself completely and inextricably. In fact, the two sciences—Vārtā or economics, and Dandaniti or science of Government—merge together, and appear as Arthaśāstra or the science of worldly prosperity—well-being. In theory the distinction remains; but throughout the Arthaśāstra, well-being is treated as a whole.¹