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Elements of Sovereignty
Elements of Sovereignty lays down a list of qualities which an ideal king, ideal minister and a perfect fort and a perfect kingdom should possess. Chapter I of Book VI in Arthashastra, includes the king, the minister, the country, the fort, the treasury and the army as the basic elements of sovereignty

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Elements of Sovereignty gives a comprehensive picture of the state which includes a responsible king, reliable minister, a stable country, a strong fort, a resourceful treasury, and a strong army with a reliable, trustworthy friend. Chapter I of Book VI in Arthashastra lays down the features of an ideal king who should possess qualities like born in a high family, godly, possessed of valour, seeing through the medium of aged persons, virtuous, truthful, etc. While qualities like inquiry, hearing, perception, retention in memory, reflection, deliberation, inference and steadfast adherence to conclusion are some of the qualities of intellect; valour, determination of purpose, quickness and probity are the aspects of enthusiasm which is vital for a successful king.

Elements of Sovereignty then provides that a king should be possessed of a sharp intellect, strong memory, and keen mind energetic, powerful, trained in all kinds of arts, free from vice capable of paying in the same coin by way of awarding punishments or rewards, possessed of dignity, capable of taking remedial measures against dangers, possessed of foresight, etc which shall form the qualities of self possessions.

Elements of Sovereignty enlists certain qualities for an ideal minister in which Arthashastra creates a strong a cabinet of prime minister and council of ministers who shall assist the king in his internal and external administration. The creation and working of the ministers, and council of ministers and their carrying out of business has been discussed at length in the chapters on Creation of Ministers, Creation of councillors and priests and Business of council meetings in Book I of Arthashastra.

Elements of Sovereignty further lay down the criteria for an ideal country which includes the country which is possessed of capital cities both in the centre and the extremities of the kingdom, productive of subsistence not only to its own people but also to outsiders on occasions of calamities, repulsive to enemies, powerful enough to put down neighbouring kings, free from miry, rocky, uneven, and desert tracts, as well as from conspirators, tigers, wild beasts, and large tracts of wilderness, beautiful to look at, containing fertile lands, mines, timber and elephant forests, and pasture grounds, artistic, containing hidden passages, full of cattle, not depending upon rain for water, possessed of land and waterways, rich in various kinds of commercial articles, capable of bearing the burden of a vast army and heavy taxation, inhabited by agriculturists of good and active character, full of intelligent masters and servants and with a population noted for its loyalty and good character; all these shall form the good qualities of a country .

Elements of Sovereignty also includes the qualities of a strong, secured fort which has been elaborately death with in Construction of Forts in Duties of Superintendent, Book II, in Arthashastra. In case of best treasury, Arthashastra states that a justly obtained either by inheritance or by self-acquisition, rich in gold and silver, filled with an abundance of precious gems of various colours and gold coins, or capable of withstanding calamities for long duration is some of the signs of best treasury. Regarding the army the treatise provides that a good army shall possess people coming down either directly or from father and grandfather, who is ever strong, obedient, happy in keeping their sons and wives well contented, not averse to making a long sojourn, ever and everywhere invincible, endowed with the power of endurance, trained in fighting various kinds of battles, skilful in handling various forms of weapons, ready to share in the weal or woe of the king, and consequently not falling foul with him, and purely composed of soldiers of Kshatriya caste. In case of friends also they can be of various types which include friends coming directly or from generations of father and grand father, long standing, open to conviction, never falling foul and capable of making preparations for war quickly and on a large scale shall be regarded as one of the best friends.

Except the enemies the seven elements shall form the elements of sovereignty. It has been reiterated that a wise king shall make the poor and miserable happy and prosperous whereas the wicked king shall destroy every thing in his kingdom.


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