According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, consider the following statements: 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?
UPSC CSE Pre. 2022
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: 2 and 3 only
Exp: Option
b
b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: As per the official answer key this statement is incorrect. Note: Though as per Kautilya's Arthashastra, it talks about a person could be slave as a result of judicial punishment but the official answer key marks this statement as incorrect.
Statement 2 is correct: There was a variety of protection offered to the slaves, especially to the women slaves. As per the Arthashastra, when a female slave gives birth to a child of her master then both the child and the mother will be considered free.
Statement 3 is correct: According to the Arthashastra, 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.