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 ?

QUESTION

Hard

Ancient History

Prelims 2022

According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct?

A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.
If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
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 ?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. In the Kautilya’s Arthashastra there is no mention that a person could become a slave as a result of war or debt, or as a judicial punishment.

Statement 2 is correct. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free. The text prescribes freedom for both the mother and the child if the master fathered the son born to a female slave.

Statement 3 is correct. According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, if a son born to a female slave was acknowledged by the master as his own child, the son would be entitled to the legal status of the master's son and would inherit accordingly.

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