Chandragupta Maurya and Kautilya — Mains Questions

Critically analyze the role of Kautilya's Arthashastra in shaping Chandragupta Maurya's administration and foreign policy. To what extent can it be considered a manual of 'realpolitik'?

Evaluate the reliability of various sources, both indigenous and foreign, in reconstructing the life and reign of Chandragupta Maurya. How do they complement and contradict each other?

Discuss the administrative and economic policies implemented by Chandragupta Maurya, drawing parallels with the principles laid down in Kautilya's Arthashastra. How did these policies contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mauryan Empire?