Aupanisadika (Book XIV) of the Arthashastra, attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya) of the Mauryan era, is a compact manual of covert statecraft. Composed in classical Sanskrit and preserved through medieval manuscripts, it details the arts of intelligence, secret agents, surveillance, counter‑espionage and covert influence—techniques for detecting conspiracies, protecting the sovereign and shaping rivals. Key themes include the disciplined use of spies, clandestine communication, psychological manipulation and legal‑political safeguards to preserve order. Historically rooted in practical governance, its hard‑headed realism about power and security resonates today: modern intelligence, policing, cybersecurity and ethical debates about privacy and state power all echo Aupanisadika’s enduring lessons on balancing secrecy, accountability and the common good.