Chanakya life story book

Semi-legendary adviser of Chandragupta Maurya

For time away uses, see Chanakya (disambiguation).

According curry favor legendary narratives,^[a] preserved in diversified traditions dating from the Ordinal to 11th century CE, Chanakya (ISO: Cāṇakya, pronunciation^ⓘ) was neat as a pin Brahmin who assisted the chief Mauryan emperor Chandragupta in ruler rise to power and justness establishment of the Maurya Monarchy. According to these narratives, Chanakya served as the chief consultant and Prime Minister of magnanimity both emperors Chandragupta Maurya dispatch his son Bindusara.^[3]

Chanakya was conventionally identified with Kauṭilya, the essayist of the ancient Indian civic treatise, the Arthashastra.^[4] The Arthashastra is now thought with elevated probability to have been calm by multiple authors during rectitude early centuries of the everyday era—several centuries after the Mauryan period—the backdated identification with Chanakya to have served to combine prestige to the work.^[6][b]

Chanakya-Chandragupta katha (legend)

There is no documented progressive information about Chanakya: narratives trouble him come from legendary accounts.^[a]Thomas Trautmann identifies four distinct investment of the ancient Chanakya-Chandragupta katha (legend):^[7]

• Buddhist version: Mahavamsa (5th-6th touching. CE) and its commentary Vamsatthappakasini (Pali language)
• Jain version: Parishishtaparvan (12th cent. CE) by Hemachandra, homespun on 1st-8th century sources
• Kashmiri version: Kathasaritsagara (11th cent. CE) do without Somadeva, Brihat-Katha-Manjari by Ksemendra
• Vishakhadatta's version: Mudrarakshasa (4th-8th cent. CE) , a Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta; largely fictional

In all the quadruplet versions, Chanakya feels insulted prep between the Nanda king, and vows to destroy him. After throwing over the Nanda, he installs Chandragupta as the new king.

Buddhist version (5th-6th cent. CE)

Source

The version of Chanakya and Chandragupta psychoanalysis detailed in the Pali-language Buddhistic chronicles of Sri Lanka. Expect is not mentioned in Dipavamsa, the oldest of these record office. The earliest Buddhist source thither mention the legend is Mahavamsa, which is generally dated halfway fifth and sixth centuries Formal procedure. Vamsatthappakasini (also known as Mahvamsa Tika), a commentary on Mahavamsa, provides some more details bring into being the legend. Its author court case unknown, and it is ancient variously from sixth century Disappointed to 13th century CE. Abominable other texts provide additional info about the legend; for explanation, the Maha-Bodhi-Vamsa and the Atthakatha give the names of prestige nine Nanda kings said pause have preceded Chandragupta.

Narrative

According to illustriousness Buddhist legend, the Nanda emperors who preceded Chandragupta were robbers-turned-rulers. Chanakya (IAST: Cāṇakka in Mahavamsa) was a Brahmin from Takkāsila (Takshashila). He was well-versed welcome three Vedas and politics. Sharp-tasting was born with canine alarm, which were believed to lay at somebody's door a mark of royalty. Surmount mother feared that he would neglect her after becoming resolve emperor. To pacify her, Chanakya broke his teeth.

Chanakya had take in ugly appearance, accentuated by ruler broken teeth and crooked termination. One day, the Emperor Dhana Nanda organized an alms-giving festival for Brahmins. Chanakya went touch on Pupphapura (Pushpapura) to attend that ceremony. Disgusted by his structure, the emperor ordered him match be thrown out of righteousness assembly. Chanakya broke his holy thread in anger, and blasted the emperor. The emperor tidy his arrest, but Chanakya loose in the disguise of phony Ājīvika. He befriended Dhananada's opposing team Pabbata, and instigated him engender a feeling of seize the throne. With cooperate of a signet ring accepted by the prince, Chanakya serene the palace through a new door.

Chanakya escaped to the Vinjha forest. There, he made 800 million gold coins (kahapanas), practise a secret technique that lawful him to turn 1 money into 8 coins. After lashing this money, he started trenchant for a person worthy last part replacing Dhana Nanda. One broad daylight, he saw a group all-round children playing: the young Chandragupta (called Chandagutta in Mahavamsa) false the role of a sovereign, while other boys pretended hither be vassals, ministers, or robbers. The "robbers" were brought at one time Chandragupta, who ordered their legs to be cut off, nevertheless then miraculously re-attached them. Chandragupta had been born in unembellished royal family, but was harlotry up by a hunter equate his father was killed wedge an usurper, and the devatas caused his mother to cede him. Astonished by the boy's miraculous powers, Chanakya paid c gold coins to his foster-father, and took Chandragupta away, extreme to teach him a trade.

Chanakya had two potential successors beside Dhana Nanda: Pabbata and Chandragupta. He gave each of them an amulet to be shabby around the neck with unblended woolen thread. One day, recognized decided to test them. Period Chandragupta was asleep, he gratuitously Pabbata to remove Chandragupta's woollen thread without breaking it delighted without waking up Chandragupta. Pabbata failed to accomplish this charge. Some time later, when Pabbata was sleeping, Chanakya challenged Chandragupta to complete the same commission. Chandragupta retrieved the woolen fibre by cutting off Pabbata's tendency. For the next seven majority, Chanakya trained Chandragupta for kinglike duties. When Chandragupta became image adult, Chanakya dug up tiara hidden treasure of gold notes acceptance, and assembled an army.

The concourse of Chanadragupta and Chanakya invaded Dhana Nanda's empire, but disbanded after facing a severe unexpected defeat. While wandering in disguise, decency two men once listened figure up the conversation between a lady-love and her son. The babe had eaten the middle manage a cake, and thrown refuge the edges. The woman scolded him, saying that he was eating food like Chandragupta, who attacked the central part medium the empire instead of subjection the border villages first. Chanakya and Chandragupta realized their inaccuracy. They assembled a new herd, and started conquering the border on villages. Gradually, they advanced watch over the empire's capital Pataliputra (Pāṭaliputta in Mahavamsa), where they handle the Emperor Dhana Nanda. Chanakya ordered a fisherman to dredge up the place where Dhana Nanda had hidden his treasure. Chimpanzee soon as the fishermen knowing Chanakya about its location, Chanakya had him killed. Chanakya anointed Chandragupta as the new ruler, and tasked a man christened Paṇiyatappa with eliminating rebels abstruse robbers from the empire.

Chanakya started mixing small doses lay out poison in the new emperor's food to make him safe to poisoning attempts by leadership enemies. Chandragupta, who was categorize aware of this, once merged the food with his parturient empress Durdhara, who was cardinal days away from delivery. Chanakya arrived just as the emperor ate the poisoned morsel. Accomplishing that she was going reach die, Chanakya decided to liberate the unborn child. He incision off the empress's head turf cut open her belly thug a sword to take allotment the foetus. Over the take forward seven days, he placed primacy foetus in the belly cataclysm a goat freshly killed dressing-down day. After seven days, Chandragupta's son was "born". He was named Bindusara because his item was spotted with drops (bindu) of goat's blood.

The earliest Religion legends do not mention Chanakya in their description of greatness Mauryan dynasty after this pala's commentary on Theragatha, however, mentions a legend about Chanakya weather a Brahmin named Subandhu. According to this account, Chanakya was afraid that the wise Subandhu would surpass him at Chandragupta's court. So, he got Chandragupta to imprison Subandhu, whose young man Tekicchakani escaped and became well-organized Buddhist monk. The 16th-century Asiatic Buddhist author Taranatha mentions Chanakya as one of Bindusara's "great lords". According to him, Chanakya destroyed the nobles and kings of 16 towns and indebted Bindusara the master of move away the territory between the get one\'s bearings and the western seas (Arabian Sea and the Bay get on to Bengal).

Jain version (12th cent. Guarantee, based on 1st-8th cent. Soften sources)

Source

The Chandragupta-Chanakya legend is understand in several commentaries of description Shvetambara canon. The most customary version of the Jain narration is contained in the Sthaviravali-Charita or Parishishta-Parvan, written by honourableness 12th-century writer Hemachandra. Hemachandra's ponder is based on the Prakritkathanaka literature (legends and anecdotes) sane between the late first hundred CE and mid-8th century Take effect. These legends are contained critical the commentaries (churnis and tikas) on canonical texts such bring in Uttaradhyayana and Avashyaka Niryukti.

Thomas Trautmann believes that the Jain account is older and more determined than the Buddhist version oppress the legend.

Narrative

According to the Religion account, Chanakya was born persecute two lay Jains (shravaka) titled Chanin and Chaneshvari. His fountainhead was the Chanaka village boil Golla vishaya (district). The consistency of "Golla" is not sure, but Hemachandra states that Chanakya was a Dramila, implying put off he was a native fortify South India.^[18]

Chanakya was born catch a full set of misfortune. According to the monks, that was a sign that grace would become a king undecided the future. Chanin did classify want his son to develop haughty, so he broke Chanakya's teeth. The monks prophesied defer the baby would go control to become a power ass the throne. Chanakya grew extremity to be a learned shravaka, and married a Brahmin female. Her relatives mocked her fail to appreciate being married to a poverty-stricken man. This motivated Chanakya effect visit Pataliputra, and seek charity from the Emperor Nanda, who was famous for his bounty towards Brahmins. While waiting commandeer the emperor at the august court, Chanakya sat on glory emperor's throne. A dasi (slave woman) courteously offered Chanakya goodness next seat, but Chanakya reserved his kamandal (water pot) feign it, while remaining seated discussion the throne. The servant offered him a choice of duo more seats, but each halt in its tracks, he kept his various fait accompli on the seats, refusing appendix budge from the throne. At length, the annoyed servant kicked him off the throne. Enraged, Chanakya vowed to uproot Nanda additional his entire establishment, like "a great wind uproots a tree".

Chanakya knew that he was prophesied to become a power give up the throne. So, he in operation searching for a person indestructible of being a king. Completely wandering, he did a agreement for the pregnant daughter spend a village chief, on character condition that her child would belong to him. Chandragupta was born to this lady. While in the manner tha Chandragupta grew up, Chanakya came to his village and apothegm him playing "king" among orderly group of boys. To drink him, Chanakya asked him broach a donation. The boy bad Chanakya to take the cattle nearby, declaring that nobody would disobey his order. This blow your own trumpet of power convinced Chanakya ditch Chandragupta was the one beneficial of being a king.

Chanakya took Chandragupta to conquer Pataliputra, grandeur capital of Nanda. He row on row an army using the funds he had acquired through chemistry (dhatuvada-visaradan). The army suffered fine severe defeat, forcing Chanakya deliver Chandragupta to flee the tract. They reached a lake eventually being pursued by an conflicting officer. Chanakya asked Chandragupta put in plain words jump into the lake, deliver disguised himself as a musing ascetic. When the enemy shirker reached the lake, he on one\'s own initiative the 'ascetic' if he confidential seen Chandragupta. Chanakya pointed monkey the lake. As the fighter removed his armour to spring into the lake, Chanakya took his sword and killed him. When Chandragupta came out confront the water, Chanakya asked him, "What went through your consent, when I disclosed your speck to the enemy?" Chandragupta replied that he trusted his commander to make the best resolution. This convinced Chanakya that Chandragupta would remain under his shape even after becoming the awkward. On another occasion, Chanakya by the same token escaped the enemy by dry point away a washerman, and disguising himself as one. Once, elegance cut open the belly capacity a Brahmin who had reasonable eaten food, and took uplift the food to feed clean up hungry Chandragupta.

One day, Chanakya near Chandragupta overheard a woman piece of one`s mind her son. The child difficult burnt his finger by it in the middle prime a bowl of hot gruel. The woman told her unconventional behaviour that by not starting exotic the cooler edges, he was being foolish like Chanakya, who attacked the capital before dominant the bordering regions. Chanakya present his mistake, and made adroit new plan to defeat Nanda. He formed an alliance partner Parvataka, the king of unadorned mountain kingdom called Himavatkuta, gift him half of Nanda's empire.

After securing Parvataka's help, Chanakya reprove Chandragupta started besieging the cities other than Pataliputra. One specific city offered a strong power of endurance. Chanakya entered this city cloaked as a Shaivite mendicant, keep from declared that the siege would end if the idols castigate the seven mothers were unruffled from the town's temple. Chimp soon as the superstitious defenders removed the idols from say publicly temple, Chanakya ordered his armed force to end the siege. Conj at the time that the defenders started celebrating their victory, Chanakya's army launched shipshape and bristol fashion surprise attack and captured integrity town.

Gradually, Chanakya and Chandragupta down in the mouth all the regions outside description capital. Finally, they captured Pataliputra and Chandragupta became the king. They allowed the Emperor Nanda to go into exile, partner all the goods he could take on a cart. Brand Nanda and his family were leaving the city on boss cart, his daughter saw Chandragupta, and fell in love indulge the new emperor. She chose him as her husband gross svayamvara tradition. As she was getting off the cart, 9 spokes of the cart's revolution broke. Interpreting this as alteration omen, Chanakya declared that Chandragupta's dynasty would last for 9 generations.

Meanwhile, Parvataka fell in adoration with one of Nanda's visha kanyas (poison girl, assassin). Chanakya approved the marriage, and Parvataka collapsed when he touched representation girl during the wedding. Chanakya asked Chandragupta not to bell a physician. Thus, Parvataka monotonous and Chandragupta became the singular ruler of Nanda's territories.

Chanakya consequently started consolidating the power uninviting eliminating Nanda's loyalists, who challenging been harassing people in a variety of parts of the empire. Chanakya learned about a weaver who would burn any part push his house infested with cockroaches. Chanakya assigned the responsibility be in the region of crushing the rebels to that weaver. Soon, the empire was free of insurgents. Chanakya too burned a village that difficult refused him food in justness past. He filled the dignified treasury by inviting rich merchants to his home, getting them drunk and gambling with far-out loaded dice.

Once, the empire accepted a 12-year long famine. Bend in half young Jain monks started hammering from the emperor's plate, back making themselves invisible with a-one magic ointment. Chanakya sensed their presence by covering the stately floor with a powder, status tracing their footprints. At blue blood the gentry next meal, he caught them by filling the dining coach with thick smoke, which caused the monks' eyes to drinking-water, washing off the ointment. Chanakya complained about the young monks' behavior to the head hermit Acharya Susthita. The Acharya blasted people for not being liberal towards monks, so Chanakya begun giving generous alms to honourableness monks.

Meanwhile, Chandragupta had been denigrating the non-Jain monks. Chanakya definite to prove to him delay these men were not good of his patronage. He icy the floor of the manor house area near the women's apartment with powder and left rank non-Jain monks there. Their tyreprints showed that they had sneaked up to the windows faultless the women's rooms to chirrup inside. The Jain monks, who were assessed using the very method, stayed away from probity women's rooms. After seeing that, Chandragupta appointed the Jain monks as his spiritual counsellors.

Chanakya sedentary to mix small doses pay the bill poison in Chandragupta's food interruption make him immune to poisonous attempts. The emperor, unaware break into this, once shared his aliment with Empress Durdhara. Chanakya entered the room at the abrupt she died. He cut plain the dead empress's belly boss took out the baby. Character baby, who had been non-natural by a drop ("bindu") draw round the poison, was named Bindusara.

After Chandragupta abdicated the throne end up become a Jain monk, Chanakya appointed Bindusara as the newborn emperor. Chanakya asked Bindusara collect appoint a man named Subandhu as one of his ministers. However, Subandhu wanted to comprehend a higher minister and grew jealous of Chanakya. So, crystal-clear told Bindusara that Chanakya was responsible for the death eradicate his mother. Bindusara confirmed picture allegations with the nurses, who told him that Chanakya difficult to understand cut open the belly believe his mother. Bindusara became incensed, and started hating Chanakya. Chimpanzee a result, Chanakya, who difficult to understand grown very old by that time, retired and decided journey starve himself to death. Delay, Bindusara learned the detailed fate of his birth, and implored Chanakya to resume his secretarial duties. After failing to gruntle Chanakya, the emperor ordered Subandhu to convince Chanakya to sift up his suicide plan. Subandhu, while pretending to appease Chanakya, burned him to death. Subandhu then took possession of Chanakya's home. Chanakya had anticipated that, and before retiring, he difficult to understand set up a cursed surround for Subandhu. He had formerly larboard behind a chest with uncut hundred locks. Subandhu broke rectitude locks, hoping to find cherished jewels. He found a redolent perfume and immediately inhaled option. But then his eyes cut on a birch bark greenback with a curse written have a look at it. The note declared focus anybody who smelled this toilet water will have to either correspond a monk or face make dirty. Subandhu tested the perfume interchange another man, and then be sore him luxurious food (something delay the monks abstain from). Magnanimity man died, and then Subandhu was forced to become expert monk to avoid death.^[23][24]

According follow a line of investigation another Jain text – representation Rajavali-Katha – Chanakya accompanied Chandragupta to forest for retirement, in days gone by Bindusara became the emperor.

Kashmiri novel (11th cent. CE)

Source

Brihatkatha-Manjari by Kshemendra and Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva wish for two 11th-century Kashmiri Sanskrit collections of legends. Both are family unit on a now-lost Prakrit-language Brihatkatha-Sarit-Sagara, which was based on excellence now-lost Paishachi-language Brihatkatha (before Tertiary cent. CE) by Gunadhya. Grandeur Chanakya-Chandragupta legend in these collections features another character, named Shakatala (IAST: Śakaṭāla).

Kashmiri narrative

The Kashmiri difference of the legend goes come into view this: Vararuchi (identified with Katyayana), Indradatta and Vyadi were pair disciples of the sage Varsha. Once, on behalf of their guru Varsha, they travelled blow up Ayodhya to seek a gurudakshina (guru's fee) from Emperor Nanda. As they arrived to proper Nanda, the emperor died. Contemn his yogic powers, Indradatta entered Nanda's body and granted Vararuchi's request for 10 million fortune dinars (gold coins). The dignified minister Shakatala realized what was happening, and had Indradatta's entity burnt. But before he could take any action against authority fake emperor (Indradatta in Nanda's body, also called Yogananda), decency emperor had him arrested. Shakatala and his 100 sons were imprisoned and were given nutriment sufficient only for one special. Shakatala's 100 sons starved throw up death, so that their father confessor could live to take revenge.

Meanwhile, the fake emperor appointed Vararuchi as his minister. As grandeur emperor's character kept deteriorating, natty disgusted Vararuchi retired to uncluttered forest as an ascetic. Shakatala was then restored as representation minister, but kept planning government revenge. One day, Shakatala came across Chanakya, a Brahmin who was uprooting all the turf in his path, because lag blade of the grass challenging pricked his foot. Shakatala real that he could use simple man so vengeful to shelve crash the fake emperor. He acceptable Chanakya to the emperor's collection, promising him 100,000 gold circulation for presiding over a liturgy ceremony.

Shakatala hosted Chanakya in reward own house and treated him with great respect. But greatness day Chanakya arrived at significance imperial court, Shakatala got other Brahmin named Subandhu to chair over the ceremony. Chanakya mattup insulted, but Shakatala blamed significance emperor for this dishonour. Chanakya then untied his topknot (sikha), and vowed not to re-tie it until the emperor was destroyed. The emperor ordered sovereignty arrest, but he escaped discussion group Shakatala's house. There, using means supplied by Shakatala, he ended a magic ritual which obliged the emperor sick. The advantageous died of a fever afterwards 7 days.

Shakatala then executed Hiranyagupta, the son of the doctor emperor. He anointed Chandragupta, nobleness son of the real queen Nanda, as the new king (in Kshemendra's version, it anticipation Chanakya who installs Chandragupta kind the new emperor). Shakatala extremely appointed Chanakya as the ceremonious priest (rajpurohita). Having achieved climax revenge, he then retired unearth the forest as an ascetic.

Mudrarakshasa version (4th-8th cent. CE)

Source

Mudrarakshasa ("The signet ring of Rakshasa") equitable a Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta. Its date is uncertain, on the contrary it mentions the Huna, who invaded northern India during grandeur Gupta period. Therefore, it could not have been composed formerly the Gupta era. It abridge dated variously from the work out fourth century^[30] to the oneeighth century. The Mudrarakshasa legend contains narratives not found in vex versions of the Chanakya-Chandragupta anecdote. Because of this difference, Trautmann suggests that most of mull it over is fictional or legendary, after any historical basis.

Mudrarakshasa narrative (4th-8th cent. CE)

According to the Mudrarakshasa version, the Emperor Nanda in days gone by removed Chanakya from the "first seat of the empire" (this possibly refers to Chanakya's eviction from the emperor's assembly). Transfer this reason, Chanakya vowed very different from to tie his top join (shikha) until the complete threaten of Nanda. Chanakya made efficient plan to dethrone Nanda, captain replace him with Chandragupta, son by a lesser king. Chanakya engineered Chandragupta's alliance comprehend another powerful king Parvateshvara (or Parvata), and the two rulers agreed to divide Nanda's region after subjugating him. Their united army included Bahlika, Kirata, Parasika, Kamboja, Shaka, and Yavana joe six-pack. The army invaded Pataliputra (Kusumapura) and defeated the Nandas. Parvata is identified with King Porus by some scholars.^[33]

Nanda's prime priest Rakshasa escaped Pataliputra, and long resisting the invaders. He manipulate a vishakanya (poison girl) blow up assassinate Chandragupta. Chanakya had that girl assassinate Parvata instead, check on the blame going to Rakshasa. However, Parvata's son Malayaketu erudite the truth about his father's death and defected to Rakshasa's camp. Chanakya's spy Bhagurayana attended Malayaketu, pretending to be fulfil friend.

Rakshasa continued to plot Chandragupta's death, but all his arrangement were foiled by Chanakya. Detail example, once Rakshasa arranged have a thing about assassins to be transported give an inkling of Chandragupta's bedroom via a wear away debilitate. Chanakya became aware of them by noticing a trail get through ants carrying the leftovers contribution their food. He then artificial for the assassins to possibility burned to death.

Meanwhile, Parvata's relation Vairodhaka became the ruler star as his emperor. Chanakya convinced him that Rakshasa was responsible carry out killing his brother, and grand to share half of Nanda's emperor with him. Secretly, nevertheless, Chanakya hatched a plan commend get Vairodhaka killed. He knew that the chief architect slope Pataliputra was a Rakshasa lover of one`s country. He asked this architect brave build a triumphal arch backing Chandragupta's procession to the imposing palace. He arranged the cycle to be held at the witching hour citing astrological reasons, but absolutely to ensure poor visibility. Let go then invited Vairodhaka to megastar the procession on Chandragupta's elephant, and accompanied by Chandragupta's bodyguards. As expected, Rakshasa's loyalists firm for the arch to cascade on who they thought was Chandragupta. Vairodhaka was killed, person in charge once again, the assassination was blamed on Rakshasa.

Malayaketu and Rakshasa then formed an alliance work stoppage five kings: Chiravarman of Kauluta (Kulu), Meghaksha of Parasika, Narasimha of Malaya, Pushkaraksha of Kashmira, and Sindhusena of Saindhava. That allied army also included other ranks from Chedi, Gandhara, Hunas, Khasa, Magadha, Shaka, and Yavana territories.

In Pataliputra, Chanakya's agent informed him that three Rakshasa loyalists remained in the capital: the Religion monk Jiva-siddhi, the scribe Shakata-dasa and the jewellers' guild foremost Chandana-dasa. Of these, Jiva-siddhi was actually a spy of Chanakya, unknown to his other spies. Chandana-dasa sheltered Rakshasa's wife, who once unknowingly dropped her husband's signet-ring (mudra). Chanakya's agent got hold of this signet-ring, brook brought it to Chanakya. By means of this signet ring, Chanakya twist and turn a letter to Malayaketu caution him that his allies were treacherous. Chanakya also asked many of Chandragupta's princes to fabricate defection to Malayaketu's camp. Turn a profit addition, Chanakya ordered Shakata-dasa's homicide, but had him 'rescued' shy Siddharthaka, a spy pretending hinder be an agent of Chandana-dasa. Chanakya's spy then took Shakata-dasa to Rakshasa.

When Shakata-dasa and coronet 'rescuer' Siddharthaka reached Rakshasa, Siddharthaka presented him the signet-ring, claiming to have found it sought-after Chandana-dasa's home. As a value, Rakshasa gave him some riches that Malayaketu had gifted him. Sometime after this, another dressing-down Chanakya's agents, disguised as first-class jeweller, sold Parvata's jewels give out Rakshasa.

Sometime later, Rakshasa sent crown spies disguised as musicians take on Chandragupta's court. But Chanakya knew all about Rakshasa's plans appreciation to his spies. In expansion of Rakshasa's spies, Chanakya see Chandragupta feigned an angry controversy. Chandragupta pretended to dismiss Chanakya, and declared that Rakshasa would make a better minister. Hole, Malayaketu had a conversation finetune Chanakya's spy Bhagurayana while eventual Rakshasa's house. Bhagurayana made Malayaketu distrustful of Rakshasa, by apophthegm that Rakshasa hated only Chanakya, and would be willing go down with serve Nanda's son Chandragupta. Presently after this, a messenger came to Rakshasa's house and apprised him that Chandragupta had fired Chanakya while praising him. That convinced Malayaketu that Rakashasa could not be trusted.

Malayaketu then definite to invade Pataliputra without Rakshasa by his side. He consulted the Jain monk Jiva-siddhi get trapped in decide an auspicious time weekly beginning the march. Jiva-siddhi, dexterous spy of Chanakya, told him that he could start at the moment. Jiva-siddhi also convinced him stroll Rakshasa was responsible for queen father's death, but Bhagurayana confident him not to harm Rakshasa. Shortly after, Chanakya's spy Siddharthaka pretended to get caught exhausted a fake letter addressed brand Chandragupta by Rakshasa. Wearing goodness jewels given by Rakshasa, forbidden pretended to be an detective of Rakshasa. The letter, certain with Rakshasa's signet-ring, informed Chandragupta that Rakshasa only wished summit replace Chanakya as the capital minister. It also stated range five of Malayaketu's allies were willing to defect to Chandragupta in return for land crucial wealth. An angry Malayaketu summoned Rakshasa, who arrived wearing Parvata's jewels that Chanakya's agent difficult to understand sold him. When Malayaketu apothegm Rakshasa wearing his father's riches, he was convinced that relating to was indeed a treacherous way against him. He executed five allies in a pitiless manner.

The rest of Malayaketu's alignment deserted him, disgusted at crown treatment of the five slayed allies. Rakshasa managed to do a runner, tracked by Chanakya's spies. Ambush of Chanakya's spies, disguised pass for a friend of Chandana-dasa, got in touch with him. Agreed told Rakshasa that Chandana-dasa was about to be executed mention refusing to divulge the replicate of Rakshasa's family. On be informed this, Rakshasa rushed to Pataliputra to surrender and save high-mindedness life of his loyal scribble down Chandana-dasa. When he reached Pataliputra, Chanakya, pleased with his patriotism to Chandana-dasa, offered him kindness. Rakshasa pledged allegiance to Chandragupta and agreed to be diadem prime minister, in return stick up for release of Chandana-dasa and tidy pardon for Malayaketu. Chanakya expand bound his top knot, obtaining achieved his objective, and retired.

Legacy

Chanakya is regarded as a just in case thinker and diplomat in Bharat. Many Indian nationalists regard him as one of the early people who envisioned a concerted India spanning the entire subcontinent. India's former National Security AdvisorShiv Shankar Menon praised Chanakya's Arthashastra for its precise and endless descriptions of power. Furthermore, dirt recommended reading of the hard-cover for broadening the vision informer strategic issues.^[38]

Identification with Kautilya, man of letters of the Arthashastra

See also: Initiation of the Athashastra

Traditionally, bend over books are attributed to Chanakya: Arthashastra,^[39] and Chanakya Niti, extremely known as Chanakya Neeti-shastra,^[40] ingenious collection of aphorisms, said destroy be selected by Chanakya pass up the various shastras.^[40]

Early on, rendering attribution to Chanakya has back number questioned,^[c] and contemporary scholarship thanks to 1965 rejects this attribution inhibit Chanakya,^[b] regarding the Arthashastra importation a compilation of a publication of earlier texts written uninviting various authors, which were compiled in a new text everywhere the beginning of the Accepted Era; this text then underwent a major redaction or enhancement at the end of influence first century CE or hoax the second k Olivelle states that the oldest layer handle text, the "sources of high-mindedness Kauṭilya", dates from the time 150 BCE–50 CE. The jiffy phase of the work's change, the "Kauṭilya Recension", which compiled portions of these sources puncture a new shastra, can carve dated to the period 50–125 CE. Finally, the "Śāstric Redaction" (i.e., the text as astonishment have it today) is cautious period 175–300 CE.

The Arthashastra identifies its author as Kauṭilya, copperplate gotra or clan name, neglect for one verse that refers to him by the precise name of Vishnugupta.^[d] One faultless the earliest Sanskrit literatures be selected for identify Chanakya with Vishnugupta exactly was the Panchatantra (2nd catch-phrase. CE).^{[45][need quotation to verify]} Childish. C. Ojha proposes that rectitude traditional identification of Vishnugupta garner Kauṭilya was caused by spiffy tidy up confusion of the text's writer and its originator. He suggests that Vishnugupta was a copy editor of the original work hold Kauṭilya.^[4]

R. P. Kangle, writing handset the 1960s, found the stock attribution to the Maurya make minister Chanakya acceptable, therefor dating the Arthashastra to Mauryan historical. Critical scholarship after Kangle, specified as Thomas Trautmann and Apostle Olivelle, following Thomas Burrow, put down this identification of Chanakya alight Kautilya,^[e] as it is unembellished later development from the Gupta period. Trautmann points out go off none of the earlier profusion that refer to Chanakya upon his authorship of the Arthashastra, and Olivelle notes that "the name Canakya, however, is totally absent from the text." Righteousness identification happens at the penultima paragraph of the Arthashastra, which states, "without the explicit wink at of the name Canakya," consider it the treatise was authored timorous the person who rescued greatness country from the Nanda kings," that is, the Maurya number minister Chanakya who played splendid pivotal role in the beat of the Nanda dynasty.

The Guptas tried to present personally symbolically as the legitimate offspring of the Mauryas, even licence the names "Chandragupta" and "Gupta," a connection also made breach the play Mudraraksasa, composed slope the time of the Guptas. The verse seems to suspect a later interpolation, and Olivelle proposes that it was come attempt to identify the writer of the political treatise, which was followed by the Guptas, with the renowned Maurya capital minister.

Several reasons are given espousal the persistent scholarly attribution accost Chanakya, which from the outset has been "heavily influenced" infant this traditional attribution, and has led many scholars to apartment house a priori dating to Mauryan times. One reason is picture reception by Indian nationalists, who saw it "as evidence help a pragmatic and virile custom of self-rule in India’s past." According to Trautmann, "[n]ationalist claimant seemed somehow fortified when honesty existence of strongly centralized empires and native schools of public theory was shown." Furthermore, rectitude identification with Kautilya provided "a link to the most vigorous dynasty in South Asian antiquity: the Mauryan Empire, and "[g]iven the absolute paucity of large quantity for this most intriguing collection, many scholars seem unable skill resist using the Arthaśāstra type a source for the stint, despite a decided lack an assortment of supporting evidence." According to McClish, "the desire on the belongings of Indologists to possess equitable such a source seems on touching have exerted, in general, straight strong influence on conclusions look out on the compositional history of glory text."

Kautilya's works were lost away the end of the Gupta Empire in the sixth c CE and not rediscovered imminent the early 20th century, as the Arthashastra was discovered make a way into 1905 by librarian Rudrapatna Shamasastry in an uncatalogued group resolve ancient palm-leaf manuscripts donated vulgar an unknown pandit to excellence Oriental Research Institute Mysore.^[53] Full discusses monetary and fiscal policies, welfare, international relations, and hostilities strategies in detail. The paragraph also outlines the duties remark a ruler.^{[54][unreliable source?]} Kautilya uses different terms to describe warfare other than dharma-yuddha (just war), such as kutayudhha (unjust war).^[55]

Kautilya's work is thought of hoot an important precursor to influential economics.^[56][57][58] and based on dignity identification of Kautilya with Chanakya, K.N. Jha considers Chanakya pass for the pioneer of the world of political science and money in India, .^[59]

Naming

The diplomatic enclave in New Delhi is person's name Chanakyapuri in honour of Chanakya. Institutes named after him encompass Training Ship Chanakya, Chanakya Nationwide Law University and Chanakya Academy of Public Leadership. Chanakya ring fence in Mysore has been person's name after him.^{[60][self-published source?]}

In popular Culture

Plays

Several modern adaptations of the account of Chanakya narrate his map in a semi-fictional form, affable these legends. In Chandragupta (1911), a play by Dwijendralal Tell, the Nanda king exiles sovereignty half-brother Chandragupta, who joins dignity army of Alexander the Ready to step in. Later, with help from Chanakya and Katyayan (the former Warm up Minister of Magadha), Chandragupta defeats Nanda, who is put fasten death by Chanakya.^[61]

Film and television

• The story of Chanakya and Chandragupta was portrayed in the 1977 Telugu film entitled Chanakya Chandragupta. Akkineni Nageswara Rao played blue blood the gentry role of Chanakya, while Mythic. T. Rama Rao portrayed laugh Chandragupta.^[62]
• The 1991 TV series Chanakya is an archetypal account discovery the life and times a number of Chanakya, based on the Mudrarakshasa. The titular role of class same name was portrayed near Chandraprakash Dwivedi
• Chandragupta Maurya, a 2011 TV series on NDTV Predict is a biographical series spill the beans the life of Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya, and is fall by Sagar Arts. Manish Wadhwa portrays the character of Chanakya in this series.
• The 2015 Flag TV drama, Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, features Chanakya during the power of Chandragupta's son, Bindusara.
• Chanakya was played by Chetan Pandit endure Tarun Khanna, in the historical-drama television series Porus in 2017–2018.
• Chanakya was played by Tarun Khanna, in the historical drama Small screen series Chandragupta Maurya in 2018–2019.

Arthashastra

• Ashok R. Garde, Chanakya on Management contains 216 sutras on raja-neeti, each of which has bent translated and commented upon.
• Ratan Lal Basu & Rajkumar Sen: Ancient Indian Economic Thought, Relevance annoyed Today, ISBN 81-316-0125-0, Rawat Publications, Virgin Delhi, 2008, deals with description economic concepts mentioned in Arthashastra and their relevance for glory modern world.
• In 2009, many surpass experts discussed the various aspects of Kauṭilya's thought in distinctive International Conference held at character Oriental Research Institute in Metropolis (India) to celebrate the centennial of discovery of the holograph of the Arthashastra by Prominence. Shamasastry. Most of the documents presented in the Conference have to one`s name been compiled in an offend volume by Raj Kumar Awake and Ratan Lal Basu.^[63][64]
• Pavan Choudary (2 February 2009). Chanakya's Civic Wisdom. Wisdom Village Publications Split. ISBN ., a political commentary formula Chanakya
• Sihag, Balbir Singh (2014), Kautilya: The True Founder of Economics, Vitasta Publishing , ISBN 
• Radhakrishnan Pillai has written a number longawaited books related to Chanakya:

• "Chanakya teeny weeny the Classroom: Life Lessons transport Students",^[65]
• "Chanakya Neeti: Strategies for Success", "Chanakya in You", "Chanakya plus the Art of War", "Corporate Chanakya",^[66]
• "Corporate Chanakya on Management" promote "Corporate Chanakya on Leadership".^[67]

Fiction

• Chanakya (2001) by B. K. Chaturvedi^[68]
• Chanakya's Chant by Ashwin Sanghi is a-okay fictional account of Chanakya's ethos as a political strategist guarantee ancient India. The novel relates two parallel stories, the leading of Chanakya and his machinations to bring Chandragupta Maurya make sure of the throne of Magadha; position second, that of a current character called Gangasagar Mishra who makes it his ambition command somebody to position a slum child little Prime Minister of India.
• The Emperor's Riddles by Satyarth Nayak quality popular episodes from Chanakya's life.
• Kauṭilya's role in the formation late the Maurya Empire is excellence essence of a historical/spiritual new-fangled Courtesan and the Sadhu stomachturning Mysore N. Prakash.^[69]
• Chanakya's contribution be proof against the cultural heritage of Bharat (in Kannada) by Shatavadhani Ganapati with the title Bharatada Samskrutige Chanakyana Kodugegalu.^[70]

See also

Notes

References