Kautilya's Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economics, and military strategy, divided into 15 books, that provides a pragmatic guide to governance. It details how a ruler should acquire and protect a kingdom by focusing on a strong central authority, a well-trained king, and a balanced approach to internal administration, foreign policy, and law. The text emphasizes that a ruler's duty is to prioritize the welfare of the subjects, and it outlines detailed systems for taxation, a functioning bureaucracy, and judicial procedures. It also covers topics like intelligence networks, military strategy, and economic policies to ensure state prosperity and stability.