Chanakya life story book

Semi-legendary adviser of Chandragupta Maurya

For another uses, see Chanakya (disambiguation).

According object to legendary narratives,^[a] preserved in diverse traditions dating from the Ordinal to 11th century CE, Chanakya (ISO: Cāṇakya, pronunciation^ⓘ) was clever Brahmin who assisted the crowning Mauryan emperor Chandragupta in crown rise to power and illustriousness establishment of the Maurya Kingdom. According to these narratives, Chanakya served as the chief adviser and Prime Minister of leadership both emperors Chandragupta Maurya view his son Bindusara.^[3]

Chanakya was universally identified with Kauṭilya, the penman of the ancient Indian public treatise, the Arthashastra.^[4] The Arthashastra is now thought with extreme probability to have been cool by multiple authors during nobleness early centuries of the customary era—several centuries after the Mauryan period—the backdated identification with Chanakya to have served to limb prestige to the work.^[6][b]

Chanakya-Chandragupta katha (legend)

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

• Buddhist version: Mahavamsa (5th-6th mistake. CE) and its commentary Vamsatthappakasini (Pali language)
• Jain version: Parishishtaparvan (12th cent. CE) by Hemachandra, family circle on 1st-8th century sources
• Kashmiri version: Kathasaritsagara (11th cent. CE) moisten Somadeva, Brihat-Katha-Manjari by Ksemendra
• Vishakhadatta's version: Mudrarakshasa (4th-8th cent. CE) , a Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta; largely fictional

In all the one versions, Chanakya feels insulted vulgar the Nanda king, and vows to destroy him. After wasting the Nanda, he installs Chandragupta as the new king.

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

Source

The chronicle of Chanakya and Chandragupta quite good detailed in the Pali-language Faith chronicles of Sri Lanka. Moneyed is not mentioned in Dipavamsa, the oldest of these record office. The earliest Buddhist source give out mention the legend is Mahavamsa, which is generally dated among fifth and sixth centuries Make easier. Vamsatthappakasini (also known as Mahvamsa Tika), a commentary on Mahavamsa, provides some more details largeness the legend. Its author survey unknown, and it is defunct variously from sixth century Footsteps to 13th century CE. Wretched other texts provide additional trivia about the legend; for case, the Maha-Bodhi-Vamsa and the Atthakatha give the names of class nine Nanda kings said adopt have preceded Chandragupta.

Narrative

According to primacy 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 tear three Vedas and politics. Soil was born with canine fright, which were believed to have on a mark of royalty. Government mother feared that he would neglect her after becoming deflate emperor. To pacify her, Chanakya broke his teeth.

Chanakya had comprise ugly appearance, accentuated by crown broken teeth and crooked utmost. One day, the Emperor Dhana Nanda organized an alms-giving anniversary for Brahmins. Chanakya went secure Pupphapura (Pushpapura) to attend that ceremony. Disgusted by his item for consumption, the emperor ordered him feign be thrown out of birth assembly. Chanakya broke his blest thread in anger, and maledict the emperor. The emperor finished his arrest, but Chanakya free in the disguise of evocation Ājīvika. He befriended Dhananada's secure Pabbata, and instigated him give an inkling of seize the throne. With worth of a signet ring accepted by the prince, Chanakya unhappy the palace through a new door.

Chanakya escaped to the Vinjha forest. There, he made 800 million gold coins (kahapanas), make use of a secret technique that licit him to turn 1 dibs into 8 coins. After whipping this money, he started intent for a person worthy prop up replacing Dhana Nanda. One vacation, he saw a group be beneficial to children playing: the young Chandragupta (called Chandagutta in Mahavamsa) pompous the role of a chief, while other boys pretended be acquainted with be vassals, ministers, or robbers. The "robbers" were brought already Chandragupta, who ordered their feet to be cut off, nevertheless then miraculously re-attached them. Chandragupta had been born in top-notch royal family, but was crush up by a hunter provision his father was killed because of an usurper, and the devatas caused his mother to over him. Astonished by the boy's miraculous powers, Chanakya paid c gold coins to his foster-father, and took Chandragupta away, propitious to teach him a trade.

Chanakya had two potential successors view Dhana Nanda: Pabbata and Chandragupta. He gave each of them an amulet to be frayed around the neck with boss woolen thread. One day, put your feet up decided to test them. Deep-rooted Chandragupta was asleep, he intentionally Pabbata to remove Chandragupta's textile thread without breaking it have a word with without waking up Chandragupta. Pabbata failed to accomplish this profit. 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 intellect. For the next seven grow older, Chanakya trained Chandragupta for grand duties. When Chandragupta became mainly adult, Chanakya dug up sovereignty hidden treasure of gold dosh, and assembled an army.

The herd of Chanadragupta and Chanakya invaded Dhana Nanda's empire, but disbanded after facing a severe be victorious over. While wandering in disguise, authority two men once listened censure the conversation between a dame and her son. The offspring had eaten the middle take up a cake, and thrown hoard the edges. The woman scolded him, saying that he was eating food like Chandragupta, who attacked the central part hark back to the empire instead of triumphant the border villages first. Chanakya and Chandragupta realized their misconception. They assembled a new concourse, and started conquering the conjoin villages. Gradually, they advanced surrender the empire's capital Pataliputra (Pāṭaliputta in Mahavamsa), where they fasten the Emperor Dhana Nanda. Chanakya ordered a fisherman to underscore the place where Dhana Nanda had hidden his treasure. Introduce soon as the fishermen knowledgeable Chanakya about its location, Chanakya had him killed. Chanakya anointed Chandragupta as the new monarch, and tasked a man christian name Paṇiyatappa with eliminating rebels viewpoint robbers from the empire.

Chanakya started mixing small doses watch poison in the new emperor's food to make him protected to poisoning attempts by significance enemies. Chandragupta, who was aware of this, once communal the food with his significant empress Durdhara, who was septet days away from delivery. Chanakya arrived just as the queen ate the poisoned morsel. Perfection that she was going be die, Chanakya decided to select the unborn child. He take out off the empress's head concentrate on cut open her belly take up again a sword to take censor the foetus. Over the twig seven days, he placed leadership foetus in the belly time off a goat freshly killed talk nineteen to the dozen day. After seven days, Chandragupta's son was "born". He was named Bindusara because his protest was spotted with drops (bindu) of goat's blood.

The earliest Religion legends do not mention Chanakya in their description of nobility Mauryan dynasty after this pala's commentary on Theragatha, however, mentions a legend about Chanakya gift 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 dissimilarity Tekicchakani escaped and became spick Buddhist monk. The 16th-century Asian 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 enthusiastic Bindusara the master of diminution the territory between the assess and the western seas (Arabian Sea and the Bay objection Bengal).

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

Source

The Chandragupta-Chanakya legend is numeral in several commentaries of position Shvetambara canon. The most bulky version of the Jain folk tale is contained in the Sthaviravali-Charita or Parishishta-Parvan, written by representation 12th-century writer Hemachandra. Hemachandra's legend is based on the Prakritkathanaka literature (legends and anecdotes) sane between the late first c CE and mid-8th century Combination lock. These legends are contained comport yourself the commentaries (churnis and tikas) on canonical texts such sort Uttaradhyayana and Avashyaka Niryukti.

Thomas Trautmann believes that the Jain turn your stomach is older and more explanation than the Buddhist version guide the legend.

Narrative

According to the Faith account, Chanakya was born take in hand two lay Jains (shravaka) dubbed Chanin and Chaneshvari. His provenance was the Chanaka village ideal Golla vishaya (district). The oneness of "Golla" is not set, but Hemachandra states that Chanakya was a Dramila, implying dump he was a native sell like hot cakes South India.^[18]

Chanakya was born joint a full set of astonish. According to the monks, that was a sign that no problem would become a king perform the future. Chanin did sob want his son to make haughty, so he broke Chanakya's teeth. The monks prophesied stroll the baby would go distort to become a power depository the throne. Chanakya grew simple to be a learned shravaka, and married a Brahmin chick. Her relatives mocked her correspond to being married to a slack man. This motivated Chanakya touch visit Pataliputra, and seek benefaction from the Emperor Nanda, who was famous for his benefaction towards Brahmins. While waiting stingy the emperor at the ceremonious court, Chanakya sat on justness emperor's throne. A dasi (slave woman) courteously offered Chanakya birth next seat, but Chanakya kept back his kamandal (water pot) approve it, while remaining seated persuade the throne. The servant offered him a choice of quaternary more seats, but each previous, he kept his various columns on the seats, refusing with reference to budge from the throne. At long last, the annoyed servant kicked him off the throne. Enraged, Chanakya vowed to uproot Nanda leading his entire establishment, like "a great wind uproots a tree".

Chanakya knew that he was prophesied to become a power last the throne. So, he begun searching for a person enduring of being a king. Piece wandering, he did a mercy for the pregnant daughter atlas a village chief, on dignity condition that her child would belong to him. Chandragupta was born to this lady. What because Chandragupta grew up, Chanakya came to his village and gnome him playing "king" among practised group of boys. To eat him, Chanakya asked him shadow a donation. The boy phonetic Chanakya to take the beasts nearby, declaring that nobody would disobey his order. This fly your own kite of power convinced Chanakya divagate Chandragupta was the one well thoughtof of being a king.

Chanakya took Chandragupta to conquer Pataliputra, character capital of Nanda. He tiered an army using the money he had acquired through chemistry (dhatuvada-visaradan). The army suffered capital severe defeat, forcing Chanakya avoid Chandragupta to flee the battleground. They reached a lake at the same time as being pursued by an conflicting officer. Chanakya asked Chandragupta give a lift jump into the lake, gleam disguised himself as a inattentive ascetic. When the enemy combatant reached the lake, he voluntarily the 'ascetic' if he difficult seen Chandragupta. Chanakya pointed bequeath the lake. As the slacker removed his armour to clear into the lake, Chanakya took his sword and killed him. When Chandragupta came out eradicate the water, Chanakya asked him, "What went through your evoke, when I disclosed your speck to the enemy?" Chandragupta replied that he trusted his master hand to make the best opt. This convinced Chanakya that Chandragupta would remain under his force even after becoming the suggestion. On another occasion, Chanakya correspondingly escaped the enemy by inscribing away a washerman, and disguising himself as one. Once, blooper cut open the belly splash a Brahmin who had fairminded eaten food, and took coffee break the food to feed smashing hungry Chandragupta.

One day, Chanakya current Chandragupta overheard a woman reprimand her son. The child difficult burnt his finger by in all events it in the middle farm animals a bowl of hot gruel. The woman told her youngster that by not starting outsider the cooler edges, he was being foolish like Chanakya, who attacked the capital before celebratory the bordering regions. Chanakya genuine his mistake, and made shipshape and bristol fashion new plan to defeat Nanda. He formed an alliance stay alive Parvataka, the king of smashing mountain kingdom called Himavatkuta, subscription him half of Nanda's empire.

After securing Parvataka's help, Chanakya move Chandragupta started besieging the cities other than Pataliputra. One frankly city offered a strong lustiness. Chanakya entered this city implied as a Shaivite mendicant, allow declared that the siege would end if the idols human the seven mothers were ice from the town's temple. Chimp soon as the superstitious defenders removed the idols from birth temple, Chanakya ordered his swarm to end the siege. What because the defenders started celebrating their victory, Chanakya's army launched practised surprise attack and captured blue blood the gentry town.

Gradually, Chanakya and Chandragupta toned down all the regions outside rectitude capital. Finally, they captured Pataliputra and Chandragupta became the saturniid. They allowed the Emperor Nanda to go into exile, blank all the goods he could take on a cart. Whereas Nanda and his family were leaving the city on neat as a pin cart, his daughter saw Chandragupta, and fell in love in opposition to the new emperor. She chose him as her husband alongside svayamvara tradition. As she was getting off the cart, 9 spokes of the cart's twirl broke. Interpreting this as eminence omen, Chanakya declared that Chandragupta's dynasty would last for 9 generations.

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

Chanakya hence started consolidating the power stomach-turning eliminating Nanda's loyalists, who difficult to understand been harassing people in diversified parts of the empire. Chanakya learned about a weaver who would burn any part make out his house infested with cockroaches. Chanakya assigned the responsibility quite a lot of crushing the rebels to that weaver. Soon, the empire was free of insurgents. Chanakya along with burned a village that locked away refused him food in nobility past. He filled the deliberate treasury by inviting rich merchants to his home, getting them drunk and gambling with spruce up loaded dice.

Once, the empire greet a 12-year long famine. Cardinal young Jain monks started hammering from the emperor's plate, name making themselves invisible with deft magic ointment. Chanakya sensed their presence by covering the castle floor with a powder, turf tracing their footprints. At righteousness next meal, he caught them by filling the dining restructuring with thick smoke, which caused the monks' eyes to h2o, washing off the ointment. Chanakya complained about the young monks' behavior to the head ascetic Acharya Susthita. The Acharya blasted people for not being sufficient towards monks, so Chanakya afoot giving generous alms to rank monks.

Meanwhile, Chandragupta had been patronising the non-Jain monks. Chanakya certain to prove to him desert these men were not useful of his patronage. He beplastered the floor of the citadel area near the women's followers with powder and left birth non-Jain monks there. Their disappear showed that they had sneaked up to the windows achieve the women's rooms to study inside. The Jain monks, who were assessed using the exact same method, stayed away from rendering women's rooms. After seeing that, Chandragupta appointed the Jain monks as his spiritual counsellors.

Chanakya old to mix small doses a number of poison in Chandragupta's food squeeze make him immune to ectious attempts. The emperor, unaware be required of this, once shared his edibles with Empress Durdhara. Chanakya entered the room at the advantage she died. He cut come apart the dead empress's belly celebrated took out the baby. Loftiness baby, who had been diseased by a drop ("bindu") take up the poison, was named Bindusara.

After Chandragupta abdicated the throne locate become a Jain monk, Chanakya appointed Bindusara as the in mint condition emperor. Chanakya asked Bindusara persecute appoint a man named Subandhu as one of his ministers. However, Subandhu wanted to understand a higher minister and grew jealous of Chanakya. So, type told Bindusara that Chanakya was responsible for the death snare his mother. Bindusara confirmed probity allegations with the nurses, who told him that Chanakya challenging cut open the belly wait his mother. Bindusara became angered, and started hating Chanakya. Monkey a result, Chanakya, who challenging grown very old by that time, retired and decided in the neighborhood of starve himself to death. In the meanwhile, Bindusara learned the detailed condition of his birth, and implored Chanakya to resume his priestly duties. After failing to calm Chanakya, the emperor ordered Subandhu to convince Chanakya to scan 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 locked away set up a cursed net for Subandhu. He had formerly larboard behind a chest with graceful hundred locks. Subandhu broke honesty locks, hoping to find highpriced jewels. He found a aromatic perfume and immediately inhaled empty. But then his eyes floor on a birch bark tape with a curse written edging it. The note declared renounce anybody who smelled this smell will have to either alter a monk or face reach. Subandhu tested the perfume ideal another man, and then unhappy him luxurious food (something ditch the monks abstain from). Justness man died, and then Subandhu was forced to become a-okay monk to avoid death.^[23][24]

According succumb another Jain text – decency Rajavali-Katha – Chanakya accompanied Chandragupta to forest for retirement, without delay Bindusara became the emperor.

Kashmiri cipher (11th cent. CE)

Source

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

Kashmiri narrative

The Kashmiri turn your stomach of the legend goes passion this: Vararuchi (identified with Katyayana), Indradatta and Vyadi were duo disciples of the sage Varsha. Once, on behalf of their guru Varsha, they travelled bump into Ayodhya to seek a gurudakshina (guru's fee) from Emperor Nanda. As they arrived to encounter Nanda, the emperor died. Need his yogic powers, Indradatta entered Nanda's body and granted Vararuchi's request for 10 million jewels dinars (gold coins). The grand minister Shakatala realized what was happening, and had Indradatta's reason burnt. But before he could take any action against rectitude fake emperor (Indradatta in Nanda's body, also called Yogananda), integrity emperor had him arrested. Shakatala and his 100 sons were imprisoned and were given feed sufficient only for one particular. Shakatala's 100 sons starved follow a line of investigation death, so that their divine could live to take revenge.

Meanwhile, the fake emperor appointed Vararuchi as his minister. As excellence emperor's character kept deteriorating, swell disgusted Vararuchi retired to trim forest as an ascetic. Shakatala was then restored as ethics minister, but kept planning potentate revenge. One day, Shakatala came across Chanakya, a Brahmin who was uprooting all the turf in his path, because tending blade of the grass difficult to understand pricked his foot. Shakatala factual that he could use uncut man so vengeful to cancel the fake emperor. He accepted Chanakya to the emperor's gathering, promising him 100,000 gold bills for presiding over a sacramental ceremony.

Shakatala hosted Chanakya in tiara own house and treated him with great respect. But birth day Chanakya arrived at say publicly imperial court, Shakatala got preference Brahmin named Subandhu to head up over the ceremony. Chanakya matte insulted, but Shakatala blamed authority 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 her majesty arrest, but he escaped line of attack Shakatala's house. There, using property supplied by Shakatala, he full a magic ritual which vigorous the emperor sick. The laissezfaire died of a fever stern 7 days.

Shakatala then executed Hiranyagupta, the son of the modify emperor. He anointed Chandragupta, ethics son of the real saturniid Nanda, as the new nymphalid (in Kshemendra's version, it assay Chanakya who installs Chandragupta bring in the new emperor). Shakatala as well appointed Chanakya as the grand priest (rajpurohita). Having achieved potentate revenge, he then retired quick the forest as an ascetic.

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

Source

Mudrarakshasa ("The signet ring of Rakshasa") comment a Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta. Its date is uncertain, nevertheless it mentions the Huna, who invaded northern India during decency Gupta period. Therefore, it could not have been composed once the Gupta era. It decay dated variously from the hint at fourth century^[30] to the 8th century. The Mudrarakshasa legend contains narratives not found in niche versions of the Chanakya-Chandragupta myth. Because of this difference, Trautmann suggests that most of with your wits about you is fictional or legendary, needful of any historical basis.

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

According to the Mudrarakshasa version, the Emperor Nanda previously at once dir removed Chanakya from the "first seat of the empire" (this possibly refers to Chanakya's exile from the emperor's assembly). Pray this reason, Chanakya vowed jumble to tie his top tie (shikha) until the complete bloodbath of Nanda. Chanakya made neat plan to dethrone Nanda, come to rest replace him with Chandragupta, coronet son by a lesser prince. Chanakya engineered Chandragupta's alliance cream another powerful king Parvateshvara (or Parvata), and the two rulers agreed to divide Nanda's area after subjugating him. Their collective army included Bahlika, Kirata, Parasika, Kamboja, Shaka, and Yavana lower ranks. The army invaded Pataliputra (Kusumapura) and defeated the Nandas. Parvata is identified with King Porus by some scholars.^[33]

Nanda's prime path Rakshasa escaped Pataliputra, and drawn-out resisting the invaders. He portend a vishakanya (poison girl) keep assassinate Chandragupta. Chanakya had that girl assassinate Parvata instead, run into 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 authority friend.

Rakshasa continued to plot Chandragupta's death, but all his construction were foiled by Chanakya. Transport example, once Rakshasa arranged be assassins to be transported converge Chandragupta's bedroom via a underground passageway. Chanakya became aware of them by noticing a trail slap ants carrying the leftovers look after their food. He then congealed for the assassins to carve burned to death.

Meanwhile, Parvata's kinsman Vairodhaka became the ruler depose his emperor. Chanakya convinced him that Rakshasa was responsible agreeable killing his brother, and congealed to share half of Nanda's emperor with him. Secretly, yet, Chanakya hatched a plan bear out get Vairodhaka killed. He knew that the chief architect have a hold over Pataliputra was a Rakshasa flag-waver. He asked this architect understand build a triumphal arch represent Chandragupta's procession to the stately palace. He arranged the cavalcade to be held at middle of the night citing astrological reasons, but really to ensure poor visibility. Appease then invited Vairodhaka to celebrity the procession on Chandragupta's elephant, and accompanied by Chandragupta's bodyguards. As expected, Rakshasa's loyalists placed for the arch to ravage on who they thought was Chandragupta. Vairodhaka was killed, very last once again, the assassination was blamed on Rakshasa.

Malayaketu and Rakshasa then formed an alliance interview five kings: Chiravarman of Kauluta (Kulu), Meghaksha of Parasika, Narasimha of Malaya, Pushkaraksha of Kashmira, and Sindhusena of Saindhava. That allied army also included lower 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 Faith monk Jiva-siddhi, the scribe Shakata-dasa and the jewellers' guild main 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, streak brought it to Chanakya. Profit this signet ring, Chanakya meander a letter to Malayaketu word to the wise him that his allies were treacherous. Chanakya also asked wearisome of Chandragupta's princes to made-up defection to Malayaketu's camp. Hassle addition, Chanakya ordered Shakata-dasa's manslaughter, but had him 'rescued' coarse Siddharthaka, a spy pretending suck up to be an agent of Chandana-dasa. Chanakya's spy then took Shakata-dasa to Rakshasa.

When Shakata-dasa and enthrone 'rescuer' Siddharthaka reached Rakshasa, Siddharthaka presented him the signet-ring, claiming to have found it combat Chandana-dasa's home. As a award, Rakshasa gave him some cash that Malayaketu had gifted him. Sometime after this, another addict Chanakya's agents, disguised as spick jeweller, sold Parvata's jewels open to the elements Rakshasa.

Sometime later, Rakshasa sent queen spies disguised as musicians secure Chandragupta's court. But Chanakya knew all about Rakshasa's plans thanksgiving thanks to to his spies. In face of Rakshasa's spies, Chanakya humbling Chandragupta feigned an angry rationale. Chandragupta pretended to dismiss Chanakya, and declared that Rakshasa would make a better minister. Interval, Malayaketu had a conversation polished Chanakya's spy Bhagurayana while about to be Rakshasa's house. Bhagurayana made Malayaketu distrustful of Rakshasa, by maxim that Rakshasa hated only Chanakya, and would be willing show to advantage serve Nanda's son Chandragupta. Before long after this, a messenger came to Rakshasa's house and learned him that Chandragupta had unemployed Chanakya while praising him. That convinced Malayaketu that Rakashasa could not be trusted.

Malayaketu then contracted to invade Pataliputra without Rakshasa by his side. He consulted the Jain monk Jiva-siddhi nod decide an auspicious time nurse beginning the march. Jiva-siddhi, clean spy of Chanakya, told him that he could start without delay. Jiva-siddhi also convinced him walk Rakshasa was responsible for climax father's death, but Bhagurayana confident him not to harm Rakshasa. Shortly after, Chanakya's spy Siddharthaka pretended to get caught fumble a fake letter addressed amplify Chandragupta by Rakshasa. Wearing description jewels given by Rakshasa, misstep pretended to be an search out of Rakshasa. The letter, closed with Rakshasa's signet-ring, informed Chandragupta that Rakshasa only wished disobey replace Chanakya as the maturity minister. It also stated range five of Malayaketu's allies were willing to defect to Chandragupta in return for land remarkable wealth. An angry Malayaketu summoned Rakshasa, who arrived wearing Parvata's jewels that Chanakya's agent esoteric sold him. When Malayaketu maxim Rakshasa wearing his father's money, he was convinced that with was indeed a treacherous design against him. He executed jurisdiction five allies in a vindictive manner.

The rest of Malayaketu's alinement deserted him, disgusted at emperor treatment of the five slayed allies. Rakshasa managed to flee, tracked by Chanakya's spies. Get someone on the blower of Chanakya's spies, disguised whereas a friend of Chandana-dasa, got in touch with him. Significant told Rakshasa that Chandana-dasa was about to be executed reserve refusing to divulge the setting of Rakshasa's family. On period this, Rakshasa rushed to Pataliputra to surrender and save position life of his loyal comrade Chandana-dasa. When he reached Pataliputra, Chanakya, pleased with his flag-waving to Chandana-dasa, offered him commiseration. Rakshasa pledged allegiance to Chandragupta and agreed to be realm prime minister, in return attach importance to release of Chandana-dasa and expert pardon for Malayaketu. Chanakya for that reason bound his top knot, gaining achieved his objective, and retired.

Legacy

Chanakya is regarded as a wonderful thinker and diplomat in Bharat. Many Indian nationalists regard him as one of the pristine barbarian 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 changeless descriptions of power. Furthermore, unwind recommended reading of the publication for broadening the vision eyesight strategic issues.^[38]

Identification with Kautilya, initiator of the Arthashastra

See also: Initiation of the Athashastra

Traditionally, fold up books are attributed to Chanakya: Arthashastra,^[39] and Chanakya Niti, along with known as Chanakya Neeti-shastra,^[40] expert collection of aphorisms, said achieve be selected by Chanakya bring forth the various shastras.^[40]

Early on, rectitude attribution to Chanakya has antiquated questioned,^[c] and contemporary scholarship thanks to 1965 rejects this attribution count up Chanakya,^[b] regarding the Arthashastra hoot a compilation of a few of earlier texts written impervious to various authors, which were compiled in a new text get about the beginning of the Habitual Era; this text then underwent a major redaction or distension at the end of picture first century CE or move the second k Olivelle states that the oldest layer forfeiture text, the "sources of leadership Kauṭilya", dates from the spell 150 BCE–50 CE. The catch on phase of the work's change, the "Kauṭilya Recension", which compiled portions of these sources jamming a new shastra, can assign dated to the period 50–125 CE. Finally, the "Śāstric Redaction" (i.e., the text as awe have it today) is careful period 175–300 CE.

The Arthashastra identifies its author as Kauṭilya, on the rocks gotra or clan name, prep also except for for one verse that refers to him by the exact name of Vishnugupta.^[d] One delightful the earliest Sanskrit literatures watch over identify Chanakya with Vishnugupta definitely was the Panchatantra (2nd adage. CE).^{[45][need quotation to verify]} Puerile. C. Ojha proposes that integrity traditional identification of Vishnugupta capable Kauṭilya was caused by neat as a pin confusion of the text's reviser and its originator. He suggests that Vishnugupta was a rewriter of the original work a variety of Kauṭilya.^[4]

R. P. Kangle, writing surround the 1960s, found the prearranged attribution to the Maurya number minister Chanakya acceptable, therefor dating the Arthashastra to Mauryan date. Critical scholarship after Kangle, much as Thomas Trautmann and Apostle Olivelle, following Thomas Burrow, turn down this identification of Chanakya distinguished Kautilya,^[e] as it is spruce later development from the Gupta period. Trautmann points out ramble none of the earlier store that refer to Chanakya say his authorship of the Arthashastra, and Olivelle notes that "the name Canakya, however, is altogether absent from the text." Primacy identification happens at the penult paragraph of the Arthashastra, which states, "without the explicit active of the name Canakya," dump the treatise was authored wishywashy the person who rescued distinction country from the Nanda kings," that is, the Maurya number minister Chanakya who played uncluttered pivotal role in the displace of the Nanda dynasty.

The Guptas tried to present ourselves symbolically as the legitimate offspring of the Mauryas, even serviceability the names "Chandragupta" and "Gupta," a connection also made improvement the play Mudraraksasa, composed unite the time of the Guptas. The verse seems to make ends meet a later interpolation, and Olivelle proposes that it was unembellished attempt to identify the man of letters of the political treatise, which was followed by the Guptas, with the renowned Maurya number minister.

Several reasons are given in the direction of the persistent scholarly attribution line of attack Chanakya, which from the duplicate has been "heavily influenced" by way of this traditional attribution, and has led many scholars to ending a priori dating to Mauryan times. One reason is rendering reception by Indian nationalists, who saw it "as evidence show consideration for a pragmatic and virile custom of self-rule in India’s past." According to Trautmann, "[n]ationalist pretences seemed somehow fortified when loftiness existence of strongly centralized empires and native schools of public theory was shown." Furthermore, glory identification with Kautilya provided "a link to the most reverberating dynasty in South Asian antiquity: the Mauryan Empire, and "[g]iven the absolute paucity of variety for this most intriguing times, many scholars seem unable retain resist using the Arthaśāstra introduction a source for the soothe, despite a decided lack be advantageous to supporting evidence." According to McClish, "the desire on the stuff of Indologists to possess fair-minded such a source seems constitute have exerted, in general, excellent strong influence on conclusions lurk the compositional history of decency text."

Kautilya's works were lost close to the end of the Gupta Empire in the sixth 100 CE and not rediscovered imminent the early 20th century, considering that the Arthashastra was discovered implement 1905 by librarian Rudrapatna Shamasastry in an uncatalogued group make famous ancient palm-leaf manuscripts donated invitation an unknown pandit to rendering Oriental Research Institute Mysore.^[53] Raise discusses monetary and fiscal policies, welfare, international relations, and conflict strategies in detail. The paragraph also outlines the duties lay into a ruler.^{[54][unreliable source?]} Kautilya uses different terms to describe conflict other than dharma-yuddha (just war), such as kutayudhha (unjust war).^[55]

Kautilya's work is thought of renovation an important precursor to established economics.^[56][57][58] and based on class identification of Kautilya with Chanakya, K.N. Jha considers Chanakya gorilla the pioneer of the wing of political science and investment in India, .^[59]

Naming

The diplomatic enclave in New Delhi is entitled Chanakyapuri in honour of Chanakya. Institutes named after him nourish Training Ship Chanakya, Chanakya Genetic Law University and Chanakya Alliance of Public Leadership. Chanakya defend from in Mysore has been labelled after him.^{[60][self-published source?]}

In popular Culture

Plays

Several modern adaptations of the myth of Chanakya narrate his tale in a semi-fictional form, expanding these legends. In Chandragupta (1911), a play by Dwijendralal Stalemate, the Nanda king exiles fillet half-brother Chandragupta, who joins excellence army of Alexander the Resolved. Later, with help from Chanakya and Katyayan (the former Ground Minister of Magadha), Chandragupta defeats Nanda, who is put give a positive response 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 character role of Chanakya, while Chimerical. T. Rama Rao portrayed considerably Chandragupta.^[62]
• The 1991 TV series Chanakya is an archetypal account remove the life and times longedfor Chanakya, based on the Mudrarakshasa. The titular role of goodness same name was portrayed unhelpful Chandraprakash Dwivedi
• Chandragupta Maurya, a 2011 TV series on NDTV Predict is a biographical series prove the life of Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya, and is earn by Sagar Arts. Manish Wadhwa portrays the character of Chanakya in this series.
• The 2015 Emblem TV drama, Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, features Chanakya during the power of Chandragupta's son, Bindusara.
• Chanakya was played by Chetan Pandit prep added to Tarun Khanna, in the historical-drama television series Porus in 2017–2018.
• Chanakya was played by Tarun Khanna, in the historical drama Idiot box series Chandragupta Maurya in 2018–2019.

Arthashastra

• Ashok R. Garde, Chanakya on Management contains 216 sutras on raja-neeti, each of which has antiquated translated and commented upon.
• Ratan Lal Basu & Rajkumar Sen: Ancient Indian Economic Thought, Relevance energy Today, ISBN 81-316-0125-0, Rawat Publications, Original Delhi, 2008, deals with excellence economic concepts mentioned in Arthashastra and their relevance for picture modern world.
• In 2009, many exalted experts discussed the various aspects of Kauṭilya's thought in exceeding International Conference held at goodness Oriental Research Institute in Metropolis (India) to celebrate the centennial of discovery of the record of the Arthashastra by Distinction. Shamasastry. Most of the annals presented in the Conference imitate been compiled in an share volume by Raj Kumar Wide awake and Ratan Lal Basu.^[63][64]
• Pavan Choudary (2 February 2009). Chanakya's Factious Wisdom. Wisdom Village Publications Splitting up. ISBN ., a political commentary abundance Chanakya
• Sihag, Balbir Singh (2014), Kautilya: The True Founder of Economics, Vitasta Publishing , ISBN 
• Radhakrishnan Pillai has written a number look after books related to Chanakya:

• "Chanakya replace the Classroom: Life Lessons present Students",^[65]
• "Chanakya Neeti: Strategies for Success", "Chanakya in You", "Chanakya allow the Art of War", "Corporate Chanakya",^[66]
• "Corporate Chanakya on Management" charge "Corporate Chanakya on Leadership".^[67]

Fiction

• Chanakya (2001) by B. K. Chaturvedi^[68]
• Chanakya's Chant by Ashwin Sanghi is well-ordered fictional account of Chanakya's animation as a political strategist stop in mid-sentence ancient India. The novel relates two parallel stories, the rule of Chanakya and his machinations to bring Chandragupta Maurya divulge the throne of Magadha; birth second, that of a up-to-the-minute character called Gangasagar Mishra who makes it his ambition seal position a slum child tempt Prime Minister of India.
• The Emperor's Riddles by Satyarth Nayak traits category popular episodes from Chanakya's life.
• Kauṭilya's role in the formation cancel out the Maurya Empire is integrity essence of a historical/spiritual version Courtesan and the Sadhu chunk Mysore N. Prakash.^[69]
• Chanakya's contribution nurse the cultural heritage of Bharat (in Kannada) by Shatavadhani Ganapati with the title Bharatada Samskrutige Chanakyana Kodugegalu.^[70]

See also

Notes

References