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 correct: According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra, a person could become a slave as a result of judicial punishment. Slavery in ancient India, as described in the text, had various origins — including birth, purchase, capture in war, or judicial punishment for certain crimes or debts.

Statement 2 is correct: The Arthashastra states that if a female slave bore her master a son, she would be legally free. This provision reflects an early recognition of limited rights and social mobility within the system of servitude.

Statement 3 is correct: If a female slave’s son was fathered by her master, the child was entitled to the legal status of the master’s son, i.e., recognized as a legitimate heir with rights to inheritance, though interpretations suggest this depended on acknowledgment by the father.

UPSC official answer key says "Option B" is correct.

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