Rules regarding slavery and progeny in Kautilya's Arthashastra
Question
According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct? Which of the statements given above 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.
Options
1 and 2
2 only
1 and 3
1, 2 and 3
Explanation
All three statements accurately reflect the highly regulated institution of slavery in Mauryan India as prescribed by Kautilya. Slavery could be imposed as a judicial punishment or fine default. Kautilya explicitly provided human rights protections: a female slave bearing her master's child gained immediate legal freedom, and the child was fully legitimized as the master's heir.
Answer: (d).
Question details
Year
2022
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q60
Subject
History
Sub-topic
Ancient: Mauryan & Gupta
Type
Statement-based
Difficulty
Hard
Nature
Static
Source hint
Kautilya Arthashastra Social Jurisprudence
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