Dharma & governance from the lens of Bhagvad Gita & Arthashastra

What we know as political thoughts in today's time was known as Niti in ancient Indian thoughts expressed by great sages and thinkers. Bhagvad Gita was spoken to Arjuna by Lord Krishna just before the onset of war of Mahabharta. This discourse is one of the greatest philosophical and policy related dialogues, known to men. It is the greatest book encapsulating the Political Science, Administrative acumen, social and philosophical dimensions of living life meaningfully. The meaning of word `Dharma’ is not religion, rather it is the prescribed duty. The duties of the ruler or leader or the king to lead the society by example,(with regard to Dharma Artha, Kam & Moksha), to provide for reward/protection and punishment and establishing order based on law of rule which are the basic postulates of any form of Governance and to establish a social order based on jurisdictional provisions is so beautifully described in Bhagvad Gita, what else can be the duty of a ruler?

Bhagvad Gita also talks of revolution by ending one `Yuga’ and starting a new one. Whenever there is total anarchy, no rule of law and personal interests and whims of the ruler become supreme, then there will be an upheaval and the unjust system,`Adharam’ will be destroyed and just system based on rule of law i.e.`Dharma’ will be established. This great treasure of political thoughts wherein Dhrama of the ruler as well as of ordinary people, personal and corporate management is so lucidly described is not merely a religious scripture to be recited only but it is to be practiced in life. The Greatest Political Thinker of India, Chanakya, is the author of the `Artha Shastra’ and Niti Shastra. Arthashastra en-capsulate his thoughts on Monetary and fiscal policies, international relations and war strategies while Niti Shastra contains nearly 216 sutras on `Raja Niti’ (the dos and don'ts for running a kingdom). He is also comparable to Machiavelli of ancient western thinker on politics. This paper attempts to glean the gems of political thoughts from the two marvelous sources and trace their relevance in the contemporary world.