Important Technical Words (In The Work on Ancient Indian Polity and Their Significance)

Prof.P. Shashirekha's book "Important Technical Words In The Works on Ancient Indian Polity And Their Significance is a presentation of a whole gamut of terminology available in the ancient Indian texts on public administration. The author's main field of study is Kautilya's Arthashastra and Manu Smiriti. This has helped her in bringing out this small compendium of technical terms relevant to public governance.
This glossary need not be used as a dictionary, but can be used as a regular narrative on the social and political life in ancient India. A study of the terminology presents very clear picture about different aspects of social and political life, various occupations, departments. in administration, different types of services, different. institutions in judiciary, army and other such aspects.
Every language is enriched by borrowing words from other languages. All Indian languages have enriched by borrowing words from Sanskrit in a fairly large proportion. The official language commissions in the States are faced with the problem of creating adequate terminology for various fields of study and most often they create words which are Sanskrit derivatives. A study of the present book will definitely help such writers to use certain established terms instead of contriving new terminology. The book is a useful addition to the repertoire of writers in Sanskrit and in Indian languages.

The present work deals with the "Important Technical Words In the works on Ancient Indian Polity and Their Significance". There are many Dictionaries for the terms Sanskrit to Sanskrit, Sanskrit to English and Vice Versa. Any literature is so vast that words can not be exhausted. In the works on Ancient Indian Polity we come across many technical words of which some are based on etymology and some are coined by the authors. For example Kautilya, the great states man uses the word generally means a cool house or seashore house, in the sense of a sealed house Manu and Yajnavalkya explain what does a mean. Sukraniti gives an elaborative description of each term like etc. These words are rarely found in the works of general literature. Therefore, I have made an attempt to collect all such important technical words which throw light on the wisdom of political thinkers in Ancient India. With this background I have taken the minor poject which was to be completed with in one year. After completing the work I wanted to bringout in a book form so that it would be useful for the young researchers in the field of Sanskrit. Before bringing it into a book form I have approached my professor Mahamahopadhyaya Prof. P. Sri Ramachandrudu, for the guidance. He has given some suggestions regarding the format of the book.
Following his advise, this book is divided into two parts the first part deals with the words arranged topic wise and the other with the words in an alphabetical order. While collecting the words I found that Kautilya's Arthasastra is full of technical words which are not found in other works. Therefore, I have planned to collect the words which are purely technical in all the works taken for my project. As a result a major portion of the words appear from Kautilya's Artha Sastra and minor portion is taken from the other works. The works mainly consulted are Manusmriti, Mahabharata (Santiparva), Kautilya's. Arthasastra, Yajnavalkya Smriti and Sukraniti. The special feature of Sukraniti is it gives meaning to a word in the form of definition that too in a Sloka form. Thus it is also felt by me that there is a wider scope for further research exclusively on the technical terms of Sukraniti.
However, the present work is a humble attempt and is like a stepping stone to enter the great ocean of Sanskrit language and to procure the precious gems from it. It is not out of the place to quote Kalidasa's words Which is true in my case.
After completing the work I have approached my teacher, the great scholar, ocean of knowledge, personification of Goddess Sarasvati, an ornament to Andhradesa, Mahamahopadhyaya Prof. P. Sri Ramachandrudu, who is a driving and guiding force throughout my academic jounery and expressed my desire to dedicate this small to his lotus feet. He has kindly accepted my request. I bow my head with reverence and express respectful thanks to him.
A Scholar, Sanskrit lover, proficient in and Sri K. Aravinda Rao, IPS, Director General, ACB, Andhra Pradesh, has agreed to write a foreword to this book at my request. I express my sincere and heart felt thanks to him.
I am submitting this work to the world of scholars in Sanskrit and to the lovers of Sanskrit with a hope that it may be received well and useful in their academic persuits.