The Arthasastra tradition and ancient Indian value-system

Values are the natural instincts of human nature, that can be realized at the different levels of human consciousness from the satisfaction achieved through the fulfillment of some urge, want or desire. Values have no value if they do not serve the purpose of human urge. In Indian culture, Purusartha- Catustaya has been regarded as a scheme of values, that can be practically performed for achieving higher goals because Indian culture defines man as a moral spiritual being whose ultimate goal is to attain transcendental ideal through fulfilling his worldly duties and obligations, ascribed to him as a member of family and society. The present study tries to develop an insight into the tradition of artha and arthasastra through an axiological approach. More over, attempt has been also made to present a journey of word artha and arthasastra from their initial meaning as value and science of value to much narrower idea of wealth and science of wealth as these are generally understood, now-a-days. Further, the study also analyse the inherent relation of artha and arthasastra with different values coordinated in the scheme of purusartha, which can be regarded as the sole representative of Indian value system.