Dear Dipak, 

In what way is it certain? What is meant by "from state"? What do you mean by "animals"?

Yes, Arthaśastra and Aśoka's Edicts, as evidence. But - do we have tools with which to find out exactly what in these texts belongs to the sphere of postulates and what represents the sphere of practices?

Any iconographic evidence?

Best, 

Artur Karp