Question

The author of Arthashastra Kautilya has been compared with _________.
A. Ploto’s State
B. Machiavelli’s Prince
C. Karl Marx’s Das Kapital
D. Hitler’s Mein Kampf

Answer 1

Hint:
The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian Sanskrit treatise. These treatises are on different kinds of strategy. Kautilya is also known as the Vishnugupta and Chanakya.

Complete answer:

The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise for different kinds of strategy. It is written in the Sanskrit language. It is traditionally credited as the author of the text.

Kautilya’s Arthashastra is a text that gives out meaningful and logical rules and norms for efficiently and successfully running a state and conducting international relations similar to Niccolò Machiavelli's "The Prince".

Different issues such as collective ethics that hold a society or advising the king that in times and in areas devastated by famine, about epidemic and such acts of nature, or by war, he/she should initiate public projects such as creating irrigation waterways and building beautiful forts with remarkable architects around major strategic holdings and towns.

The three names for the text's author are used in various historical sources are:

- Kauṭilya or Kauṭalya
In Kautilya, the text identifies its author by the name "Kauṭilya". In this the spellings appear in manuscripts, commentaries, and references in other ancient texts. In this, it is not certain which one of the spelling is the original of the author's name.

- Vishnugupta
In Vishnugupta, a verse at the end of the text defines its author as "Vishnugupta". It states that Vishnugupta himself composed both the text and its commentary, after noticing "many errors committed by commentators on treatises".

- Chanakya
The second last paragraph states that the treatise was authored by the person who rescued the country from the Nanda kings.

Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Note:
The three names for the text's author are used in various historical sources are Kauṭilya or Kauṭalya, Vishnugupta and Chanakya. The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise written in the Sanskrit language.