The royal priests and the black magic of the Atharva Veda -- The origin of state and early political speculation in ancient India -- The origin of Arthashastra tradition -- The Lokayata philosophy and the early Arthashastra tradition -- The Arthashastra teachers -- Political thought of early Arthastastra thinkers -- Vijayan Bala and Apaddharma -- Ethics and politics in the Arthashastra tradition -- Supremacy of politics.