Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s13.5

v2.c41.s13.5

Most scholars have missed a cardinal point about the *Arthaśāstra*. Although the text deals with technology, economics and politics, and accepts the Vedic religion, it does not subscribe to the views (1.2.2-7) that any one of the above subjects should occupy supreme position in human society. Kautilya gave maximum importance to *Ānvīkṣikī*, which may be translated as philosophy of critical investigation based upon reasoning, and which constituted of *Sāmkhya*, Yoga and *Lokāyata* (all these were non-Vedic) philosophical systems. *Ānvīkṣikī* was supposed to bring out the merits as well as the fallacies of economics, politics and also the Vedic religion :