While Kautilya has no compunction about exploiting the gullibility of the people, he himself had no belief in magic or the occult. Most of his phenomena are tricks which he tells us how to perform; poisons and stupefying chemicals are frequently mentioned. Kautilya did not even believe in astrology. ‘Wealth will slip away from that childish man who constantly consults the stars. The only guiding star of wealth is itself; what can the stars of the sky do?’
