History2022
According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra, which of the following are correct?
- A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial
- If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally
- 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
The correct option of "2 and 3 only" reflects Kautilya's legal framework in the Arthashastra regarding slavery and lineage. According to the text, while a person could indeed become a slave through judicial punishment (statement 1), the focus of Kautilya's laws emphasized maternal lineage and legal paternity; thus, a female slave who bore a master’s son gained freedom (statement 2), and that son was recognized as a legitimate heir to the father's status (statement 3). This illustrates the significance of maternal and paternal rights in ancient Indian law, highlighting the intricacies of social hierarchy and ownership in that era, relevant for understanding governance and social order in historical India as per UPSC syllabus.