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Which of the following statements about Kautilya's Arthashastra is/are correct ?
1. It is the first Indian text to describe a State.
2. It does not contain any reference to the Mauryas.
3. It is a theoretical text.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Explanation
Kautilya's Arthashastra is a foundational treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy. Statement 1 is correct because it is the first Indian text to systematically describe the concept of a 'State' through the Saptanga (seven limbs) theory. Statement 2 is correct; despite Kautilya being traditionally identified as the Prime Minister of Chandragupta Maurya, the text itself is a general manual of governance and contains no specific mention of the Maurya dynasty, the king Chandragupta, or the capital Pataliputra. Statement 3 is correct as it is a prescriptive and theoretical shastra (treatise) that provides a normative framework for how a state should be organized and managed, rather than providing a historical or descriptive account of a particular empire.