UPSC Prelims 2022 · Question 60 of 98
UPSC Prelims 2022 question on Kautilya Arthashastra Slavery
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2022
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectAncient History
- TopicMauryan Age
- DifficultyHard
- TypeStatement
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?
Show answer
Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3
Verdict
All three statements are correct → Option (d).
Analysis
The Arthashastra states that a man could be a slave either by birth, by voluntarily selling himself, by being captured in war, or as a result of a judicial punishment. Slavery was a recognized institution and the legal relationship between master and slave was clearly defined.
Statement by statement
Statement 1 – CORRECT: A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment — explicitly confirmed in the Arthashastra.
Statement 2 – CORRECT: If a female slave bore her master a son, not only was she legally free but the child was entitled to legal status of the master's son.
Statement 3 – CORRECT: 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 — confirmed in the Arthashastra.