Question

UPSC Prelims 2022 Question:

According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra, which of the following are correct?

A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.

If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.

If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master's son.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2: 2 and 3 only

Detailed Solution

Explanation:

The Arthashastra is an Indian treatise on politics, economics, military strategy, the function of the state, and social organization attributed to Kautilya (also known as Chanakya). He was instrumental in establishing the reign of the great king Chandragupta Maurya (321-297 BCE).
According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra, a person could not be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment. So, statement 1 is not correct.
Arthashastra was quite strict when it came to rights of slaves and especially female slaves. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free. Also, if a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master's son. So, statement 2 and statement 3 are correct.

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.

Subject: History|Mauryan Empire

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