The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian text written between the 2nd and 3rd century BCE by Kautilya, and it served as a treatise on rulership, politics, economics and military strategy for the rulers of the time (starting with Chandragupta Maurya).
This text establishes a set of guidelines for emperors so they could be the best possible leaders for the people.
One of the aspects that the <em>Arthashastra</em> explains is that it envisioned that the king is - above all - fair to its people looking to provide them with happiness. While his relationship with his subjects was kind, the monarch didn´t trust them.
He kept a team of spies that were tasked with informing everything of the conduct of not only government officials but also the people. This body of spies in addition to an ample set of political and economic measures were the cornerstone to the grasp of the king to power.
Another one of this measures was the punishment to criminals.
The law system was mainly run by the king, guided by the <em>Dharma</em> - and in compliance to the <em>Arthashastra</em> - should deliver the harshest penalties to the people that committed <em>crimes that</em> <em>affected the country as a whole</em>, like it was the case with economic crimes.
Additionally, the Raja (King) should protect the wellbeing of every living bean (Human or animal) by sticking to the practice of the <em>Ahimsa </em>(non-violence towards all living things).
Considering these elements, the answer is: B, C, and E.
