Consider the statements below:

1. Arthashastra by Kautilya is a major source for the study of Mauryan Age.

2. The information given in Indica by Megasthenes is supplemented with Arthashastra.

3. The Arthashastra does not contain any references to the Mauryas, their empire, Chandragupta, or Pataliputra.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. Arthashastra by Kautilya is a major source for the study of Mauryan Age.

Status: Correct.

Details: The Arthashastra is a comprehensive treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy. It provides deep insights into the administrative machinery, the role of the king, and the socio-economic conditions of the Mauryan period.

2. The information given in Indica by Megasthenes is supplemented with Arthashastra.

Status: Correct.

Details: Historians use both texts together to reconstruct Mauryan history. While Megasthenes (a Greek ambassador) provides an "outsider’s" perspective on the city of Pataliputra and social classes, Kautilya (the internal advisor) provides the "insider's" structural and legal framework. They often cross-reference each other regarding administration and the military.

3. The Arthashastra does not contain any references to the Mauryas, their empire, Chandragupta, or Pataliputra.

Status: Correct.

Details: This is a subtle but crucial factual point often used in competitive exams. Although the Arthashastra is attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya), who was Chandragupta Maurya's mentor, the text itself is written as a general manual of statecraft. It never mentions Chandragupta by name, nor does it explicitly mention the "Mauryas" or the capital "Pataliputra." It discusses the "ideal" state rather than recording contemporary history.