Arthasastra Satya Deva This article argues that, if we use the society, State and bureaucracy portrayed in the Arthasastra as a test case for different theoretical models, we find that the Marxian model alone can expain it. The State balanced the two exploiting classes of tribal chiefs and farmer-traders. The bureaucracy functioned as a ruling class. Power tons exercised through legitimation, bureaucratic organisation, coercion, and im- morality. In so far as a rational bureaucratic organisation was present, Weber' s model