'Nitisara', an early work on politics and statecraft, was written by:

The "Nitisara" ("Essence of Polity") is a Sanskrit work on politics and statecraft attributed to Kamandaka (also called Kamandaki). It is generally dated to the Gupta period, roughly the 4th to 7th centuries CE.

About the Nitisara:

• It is written in verse and is largely based on the ideas of Kautilya's "Arthashastra".
• Kamandaka himself pays tribute to Kautilya (Vishnugupta) at the beginning of the work and describes him as his teacher in the science of politics.

It deals with the duties of a king, the training and self-control of rulers, the appointment of ministers, the seven elements of the state ("saptanga": king, minister, territory, fort, treasury, army and ally), diplomacy, war and peace.

It discusses the "mandala" theory of inter-state relations, which identifies natural enemies and allies according to their location.

It also explains the four methods of dealing with other states: "sama" (conciliation), "dana" (gifts), "bheda" (creating division) and "danda" (force).

It was an important text for later political thinking in India and was known even in Bali and Java, in Indonesia.

Other ancient Indian works on politics:

Kautilya (Chanakya, also called Vishnugupta): "Arthashastra", written around the time of Chandragupta Maurya (4th century BCE). It was rediscovered in 1905 by R. Shamasastry in Mysore.

Somadeva Suri (Jain scholar, 10th century): "Nitivakyamrita".

Shukra: "Shukranitisara" (later medieval work).

Vishakhadatta: "Mudrarakshasa", a play about Chanakya's political strategies in helping Chandragupta Maurya win the throne.

Manusmriti: also discusses the duties of kings ("rajadharma").

The Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata: Bhishma's teachings on rajadharma.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Kautilya wrote the "Arthashastra".
• ✗Vishakhadatta wrote the play "Mudrarakshasa".
• ✗Somadeva Suri wrote the "Nitivakyamrita".