Shukra-Niti

Shukranīti (शुक्रनीति–Śukranīti), also known as Shukranītisara (शुक्रनीतिसार–Śukranītiśāstra) and Shukracharya's System of Morals, is a part of the Dharmasastra. It is a treatise on government, instructing how to use political theory to uphold morality. The code is authored by Shukracharya, also known as Usanas, and was claimed to have been written during the Vedic period. However, modern historians claim the composition could date as early as the 4th century AD during the Gupta period, or as late as a 19th-century forgery. The term Niti is derived from the Sanskrit word which translates to To Lead. Shukra-Niti focuses on morality, which it states to be vital for the overall well being of the people and the state (Rajya). Thus, the ruler must regulate the economic, social, and political aspects of human activity. According to the Shukranīti, the main responsibilities of the king should be towards the protection of his subjects and punishment of the offenders, and such actions cannot be enacted without a guideline (Niti). According to Shukracharya: a person can live without grammar, logic, and Vedanta, but cannot do in absence of Niti, and describes it as an essential aspect required for maintaining social order in the society.