Artha means wealth or money.
Chankya or Kautilya always said,
"Money obtained through Dharma is Artha and money obtained through Adharma is Anartha"
Story Of Chanakya's Life
Chanakya is one of the biggest legacies of this great nation of ours. He is considered one of the greatest statesmen-philosophers-economists-royal advisors-teachers of all time...he was the royal advisor to Chandragupta Maurya, and is credited with helping the young prince grow into a powerful emperor...
Friend, Philosopher, Guide
Chanakya initially taught Artha Shastra or economics at the famed Takshashila University. However, he soon assumed the role of royal advisor to a young Magadha prince, grooming him with political strategy skills so as to become fit to rule the huge Mauryan empire, spread over most of the Indian subcontinent.
The Mighty Mauryan Empire
The Mauryan Empire spread from the north-western part of the Indian sub-continent to the far-eastern and southern part. It comprised Takshila, Indraprastha, Mathura, Pattala, Pataliputra, Ujjain, Bodh Gaya and Sanchi.
Artha Shastra: Treatise on Economics
Chanakya, whose original name was Vishnu Gupta (also known as Kautilya), wrote the ancient Indian economical treatise known as Artha Shastra. He may well have been the pioneer author of economics in India. However, his work got lost near the end of the Gupta dynasty and was rediscovered only much later.
Many Versions
The Chanakya-Chandragupta Maurya saga is the stuff legends are made of. But this legend has not one but many differing versions. There is a Buddhist version (Mahavamsa and its commentary Vamsatthappakasini), a Jain version (Parisistaparvan by Hemachandra), a Kashmiri version (Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva and Brihat-Katha-Manjari by Ksemendra), Vishakhadatta's version (Mudrarakshasa, a Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta).
The Spirit Of Revenge
While these variants differ when it comes to the origin of Chanakya, there is no confusion when it comes to the main legend. They all agree that King Dhana Nanda, ruler of the Nanda empire, insulted Chanakya, which was the spark that led him to swear revenge against the Nanda Empire by joining forces with the Mauryas. Insulted Ìn Nanda's court, Chanakya untied his sikha (lock of hair) and swore that he would not tie it back till he destroyed the Nanda kingdom.
The Ideal Disciple
He found the ideal protege in Chandragupta. Chandragupta was the son of a royal concubine named Mura and spent his childhood in the Nanda palace. Chanakya took the young boy to Takshashila and began training him to become a Prince.
Strategic Pact
Chanakya and Chandragupta signed a pact with Parvataka (King Porus) that helped defeat the Nandas. The combined army had Shaka, Yavana (Greek), Kirata, Kamboja and Vahlik soldiers. Following their victory, the territories of the Nanda empire were divided between Parvataka and Chanakya's associate Chandragupta.
Greed And Glory
After Parvataka's death, his son Malayaketu sought control of all former Nanda territories. He was supported by Rakshasaa, a former Nanda minister, who made several attempts to kill Chandragupta - all of which were foiled by Chanakya.
Faking A Rift
As part of Chanakya's game-plan, he and Chandragupta pretended to have a difference of opinion. Chandragupta removed Chanakya from his ministerial post, declaring that Rakshasa is better than him. Chanakya's men in Malayaketu's court simultaneously turned the king against Rakshasa by suggesting that Rakshasa was poised to replace Chanakya in Chandragupta's court.
Chanakya Scores
With the rift between Malayaketu and Rakshasa now widened, Chanakya's spies fooled Malayaketu into believing that five of his allies were planning to join Chandragupta, prompting Malayaketu to order their killings. In the end, Rakshasa ends up joining Chandragupta's side. Thus, Malayaketu's coalition is completely undone by Chanakya.
Chandragupta Defeats Nanda
Later, with help from Chanakya and Katyayan (the former Prime Minister of Magadha), Chandragupta defeats Nanda, who is put to death by Chanakya. Thus, his revenge becomes complete.
Chanakya Neeti
Chanakya Neeti is a treatise by Chanakya on the smartest code of conduct one can adopt. It is a sum of all his lessons learnt in the main game of his life - defeating his political adversary. One such lesson he learnt by simply watching a mother and child.
Conquer The Outer To Win The Inner
Once, Chanakya came across a mother scolding her child for burning himself by eating from the middle of a bowl of hot porridge rather than first tasting the cooler edge. Immediately, Chanakya realised why he was not making a headway in his battle plans. He realised he was making a futile attempt of attacking Magadha, the heart of the Nanda territory, instead of first capturing areas at the periphary of the Nanda empire!
Chanakya's Legacy
Chanakya continued to serve as advisor to Chandragupta after the establishment of the Maurya Empire. Even when Chandragupta gave up the throne and followed Jain saint Bhadrabahu to lead an ascetic life, Chanakya stayed on in court to advice Chandragupta's son, Bindusara...
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