Composed over two millennia ago by statesman Kautilya, the Arthashastra is one of the world’s earliest treatises on governance and economics. Within its books, Chapter 11—Samghavritta, or “The Conduct of Corporations”—reveals how ancient India’s trade guilds were organized and regulated. Kautilya details rules for fair pricing, quality control, dispute resolution, and collective taxation, showing a highly structured commercial society. Written during a time of urban growth, this section explains how rulers relied on merchant and artisan groups to ensure prosperity, maintain order, and fund public works. More than a legal guide, it captures early professional ethics and cooperative enterprise, reminding us that the foundations of modern commerce were quietly laid in ancient India.