The text is an excerpt of Kautilya's Arthashastra, thought to be written during the Gupta Empire. Some of the philosophy and lessons contained in the book reflect the Gupta
Emperor Chandragupta l's strategy and philosophy.
Excerpt from Book II, The Duties of Government Superintendents, Chapter I. Formation
of Villages Either by inducing foreigners to immigrate or by causing the thickly populated
centers of his own kingdom to send forth the excessive population, the king may construct
villages either on new sites or on old ruins. Villages shall consist of at least a one hundred
families, but no more than five-hundred families of agricultural people...
Boundaries shall be denoted by a river, a mountain, forests, bulbous plants, caves, artificial
buildings, or by trees...