The Arthasastra is an ancient
Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy
and military strategy which identifies its author
by the names 'Kautilya' and 'Vishnaugupta', both
names that are traditionally identified with
Chanakya (c. 350-283 BC), who was a scholar at
Takshashila and the teacher and guardian of
Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of
Mauyan Empire. Because of its harsh political
pragmatism, the Arthasastra has often been
compared to Machiavelli's The Prince.