The Arthasastra Material in the Raghuvamsa
Summary
Dasharatha Sharma analyses how Kalidasa’s epic ‘Raghuvamsa’ draws on Kautilya’s ‘Arthasastra’. The poem’s later cantos, which deal with lesser‑known Raghus, lack heroic narratives and instead describe royal administration, diplomacy and law. Sharma demonstrates that this material closely parallels the Arthasastra: the poem’s term ‘niyoga‑vikalpa’ for mandatory versus optional duties echoes Arthasastra XV.1, while descriptions of provincial governors and civic functions mirror Arthasastra VII.15. Kalidasa’s portrayal of the Mandala theory, likening a king to the hub of a wheel with neighbouring rulers as spokes, reflects Arthasastra I.1 and VI.2. The article also notes parallels concerning the virtues of a ‘dharma‑vijayin’ king and procedures for handling a ruler’s illness or death. By compiling these examples, Sharma argues that Kalidasa adapted political concepts from the Arthasastra, indicating the treatise’s widespread influence in the Gupta era. He suggests that Kalidasa may have used an older recension of the Arthasastra and that his poetic adaptation provides insights into ancient Indian political thought.
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Conclusion
Sharma concludes that the later cantos of the ‘Raghuvamsa’ are heavily indebted to the Arthasastra. Kalidasa’s use of technical terminology, foreign policy theories and administrative procedures closely mirrors passages in the treatise. This intertextuality implies that the Arthasastra was widely read during the Gupta period and that poets drew on it to give moral and political depth to their narratives. The study underscores the value of reading classical literature alongside treatises on statecraft.