Ancient History : The Mauryan Empire & The Ashoka

Q 2 / 15

UPSC CSE Prelims 2022

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

  1. A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.
  2. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
  3. 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 ?

EXPLANATION

Correct Option

Statements 2 and 3 are correct according to Kautilya's Arthashastra.

  • If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally freed. This provision allowed for the emancipation of female slaves under these specific circumstances.
  • 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. This ensured the child's rights and legitimacy, irrespective of the mother's servile status.

Incorrect Options

Statement 1 is incorrect.

  • Kautilya's Arthashastra does not mention judicial punishment as a means by which a free-born person could become a slave. Slavery typically arose from war captivity, debt, or voluntary self-enslavement during times of distress.
SOURCER.S. Sharma, Ancient India, Chapter 12: The Mauryan Empire, NCERT Class 12 History Part I Chapter 2: Kings, Farmers and Towns (Early States and Economies)