CAPF AC 2023 Q18: Ancient History – Mauryan Empire
Which one of the following activities was not a part of the daily time-table for a King as prescribed in Arthashastra?
- (a) Receive reports on defense
- (b) Visit the town incognito
- (c) Receive revenue in cash
- (d) Consult his Council of Ministers
Answer: (b) Visit the town incognito
Explanation
A king's day in the Arthashastra
How to think: Kautilya divides the king's day and night into eight parts each.
Every part has a fixed duty.
Going round the town in disguise is not in that list; watching the people was the work of spies.
| Part of the day | Duty prescribed |
|---|---|
| 1st | Receive reports on defence, revenue and expenditure |
| 2nd | Hear the petitions of townsmen and country people |
| 3rd | Bath, meal and study |
| 4th | Receive revenue in cash (gold) and assign tasks to heads of departments |
| 5th | Consultation with the council of ministers; receive secret information from spies |
| 6th | Recreation or reflection |
| 7th | Inspect elephants, horses, chariots and troops |
| 8th | Discuss military plans with the commander-in-chief |
Answer: (b) Visit the town incognito.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Reports on defence are received in the first part of the day.
- (b) CORRECT. Visiting the town incognito is not in Kautilya's timetable.
- (c) Incorrect. Revenue in cash is received in the fourth part of the day.
- (d) Incorrect. The king consults his ministers in the fifth part of the day.
Key point
Arthashastra (Kautilya, also called Chanakya or Vishnugupta): 15 books; saptanga theory of the state; king's day and night each divided into eight parts; large spy system; found and published by R. Shamasastry (1905-09).
Remember
Kautilya's king follows a fixed timetable; spies do the secret watching.
Common mistakes
- Carrying over stories of kings like Vikramaditya roaming in disguise.
- Thinking the Arthashastra leaves the king's daily routine to his own choice.
- Missing the word not in the question.
Exam tip
Educated guess: Kautilya is famous for his network of spies. A king who has spies everywhere has no need to wander the town in disguise himself.
Sources
- Kautilya, Arthashastra, Book I, Chapter 19 (Rules for Kings), translated by R. Shamasastry and by L. N. Rangarajan
- NCERT Class XII History — Themes in Indian History Part I, Chapter 2: Kings, Farmers and Towns