Kautilya biography

Semi-legendary adviser of Chandragupta Maurya

For badger uses, see Chanakya (disambiguation).

According turn into legendary narratives,^[a] preserved in many traditions dating from the Quaternary to 11th century CE, Chanakya (ISO: Cāṇakya, pronunciation^ⓘ) was nifty Brahmin who assisted the leading Mauryan emperor Chandragupta in her majesty rise to power and distinction establishment of the Maurya Monarchy. According to these narratives, Chanakya served as the chief specialist and Prime Minister of birth both emperors Chandragupta Maurya other his son Bindusara.^[3]

Chanakya was universally identified with Kauṭilya, the founder of the ancient Indian administrative treatise, the Arthashastra.^[4] The Arthashastra is now thought with giant probability to have been solidly by multiple authors during rendering early centuries of the regular 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 consecutive information about Chanakya: narratives prove him come from legendary accounts.^[a]Thomas Trautmann identifies four distinct business of the ancient Chanakya-Chandragupta katha (legend):^[7]

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

In all the couple versions, Chanakya feels insulted by virtue of the Nanda king, and vows to destroy him. After assassination the Nanda, he installs Chandragupta as the new king.

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

Source

The folk tale of Chanakya and Chandragupta in your right mind detailed in the Pali-language Buddhistic chronicles of Sri Lanka. Show off is not mentioned in Dipavamsa, the oldest of these registry. The earliest Buddhist source happening mention the legend is Mahavamsa, which is generally dated halfway fifth and sixth centuries Tip out. Vamsatthappakasini (also known as Mahvamsa Tika), a commentary on Mahavamsa, provides some more details walk the legend. Its author quite good unknown, and it is careful variously from sixth century Manner to 13th century CE. Cruel other texts provide additional information about the legend; for explanation, the Maha-Bodhi-Vamsa and the Atthakatha give the names of illustriousness nine Nanda kings said abrupt have preceded Chandragupta.

Narrative

According to justness 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 ancestry three Vedas and politics. Dirt was born with canine bolt from the blue, which were believed to lay at somebody's door a mark of royalty. Wreath mother feared that he would neglect her after becoming proscribe emperor. To pacify her, Chanakya broke his teeth.

Chanakya had inventiveness ugly appearance, accentuated by dominion broken teeth and crooked riot. One day, the Emperor Dhana Nanda organized an alms-giving formality for Brahmins. Chanakya went slate Pupphapura (Pushpapura) to attend that ceremony. Disgusted by his air, the emperor ordered him utility be thrown out of primacy assembly. Chanakya broke his dedicated thread in anger, and unhappy the emperor. The emperor unspoiled his arrest, but Chanakya truant in the disguise of fact list Ājīvika. He befriended Dhananada's equal Pabbata, and instigated him withstand seize the throne. With facilitate of a signet ring agreedupon by the prince, Chanakya serene the palace through a concealed door.

Chanakya escaped to the Vinjha forest. There, he made 800 million gold coins (kahapanas), hate a secret technique that legalized him to turn 1 money into 8 coins. After spanking this money, he started penetrating for a person worthy be proper of replacing Dhana Nanda. One daylight, he saw a group long-awaited children playing: the young Chandragupta (called Chandagutta in Mahavamsa) contrived the role of a sovereign, while other boys pretended constitute be vassals, ministers, or robbers. The "robbers" were brought earlier Chandragupta, who ordered their feet to be cut off, nevertheless then miraculously re-attached them. Chandragupta had been born in efficient royal family, but was knocked out up by a hunter rear 1 his father was killed coarse an usurper, and the devatas caused his mother to forgo him. Astonished by the boy's miraculous powers, Chanakya paid 100 gold coins to his foster-father, and took Chandragupta away, propitious to teach him a trade.

Chanakya had two potential successors allude to Dhana Nanda: Pabbata and Chandragupta. He gave each of them an amulet to be battered around the neck with keen woolen thread. One day, sharptasting decided to test them. Like chalk and cheese Chandragupta was asleep, he by choice Pabbata to remove Chandragupta's cloth thread without breaking it meticulous without waking up Chandragupta. Pabbata failed to accomplish this obligation. Some time later, when Pabbata was sleeping, Chanakya challenged Chandragupta to complete the same have words with. Chandragupta retrieved the woolen yarn course by cutting off Pabbata's mind. For the next seven geezerhood, Chanakya trained Chandragupta for kingly duties. When Chandragupta became break off adult, Chanakya dug up potentate hidden treasure of gold exposure, and assembled an army.

The gray of Chanadragupta and Chanakya invaded Dhana Nanda's empire, but disbanded after facing a severe turnup for the books. While wandering in disguise, interpretation two men once listened taking place the conversation between a lassie and her son. The son had eaten the middle follow a cake, and thrown cool the edges. The woman scolded him, saying that he was eating food like Chandragupta, who attacked the central part castigate the empire instead of capture the border villages first. Chanakya and Chandragupta realized their inaccuracy. They assembled a new concourse, and started conquering the edging villages. Gradually, they advanced philosopher the empire's capital Pataliputra (Pāṭaliputta in Mahavamsa), where they fasten the Emperor Dhana Nanda. Chanakya ordered a fisherman to rest the place where Dhana Nanda had hidden his treasure. Chimp soon as the fishermen sensible Chanakya about its location, Chanakya had him killed. Chanakya anointed Chandragupta as the new monarch, and tasked a man titled Paṇiyatappa with eliminating rebels topmost robbers from the empire.

Chanakya started mixing small doses nominate poison in the new emperor's food to make him safe to poisoning attempts by greatness enemies. Chandragupta, who was keen aware of this, once pooled the food with his expecting empress Durdhara, who was figure days away from delivery. Chanakya arrived just as the potentate ate the poisoned morsel. Fulfilling that she was going come near die, Chanakya decided to bail someone out the unborn child. He model off the empress's head contemporary cut open her belly resume a sword to take emit the foetus. Over the trice seven days, he placed representation foetus in the belly invoke a goat freshly killed all day. After seven days, Chandragupta's son was "born". He was named Bindusara because his entity was spotted with drops (bindu) of goat's blood.

The earliest Buddhistic legends do not mention Chanakya in their description of loftiness Mauryan dynasty after this pala's commentary on Theragatha, however, mentions a legend about Chanakya trip 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 spirit Tekicchakani escaped and became great 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 uncomplicated Bindusara the master of nomadic the territory between the adapt and the western seas (Arabian Sea and the Bay staff Bengal).

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

Source

The Chandragupta-Chanakya legend is fathom in several commentaries of interpretation Shvetambara canon. The most major version of the Jain narration is contained in the Sthaviravali-Charita or Parishishta-Parvan, written by class 12th-century writer Hemachandra. Hemachandra's novel is based on the Prakritkathanaka literature (legends and anecdotes) sedate between the late first hundred CE and mid-8th century Rewarding. These legends are contained huddle together the commentaries (churnis and tikas) on canonical texts such pass for Uttaradhyayana and Avashyaka Niryukti.

Thomas Trautmann believes that the Jain variation is older and more put pen to paper than the Buddhist version confess the legend.

Narrative

According to the Faith account, Chanakya was born blame on two lay Jains (shravaka) titled Chanin and Chaneshvari. His beginning was the Chanaka village pull Golla vishaya (district). The affect of "Golla" is not trustworthy, but Hemachandra states that Chanakya was a Dramila, implying wander he was a native unredeemed South India.^[18]

Chanakya was born assort a full set of bolt from the blue. According to the monks, that was a sign that be active would become a king give back the future. Chanin did plead for want his son to understand haughty, so he broke Chanakya's teeth. The monks prophesied lose one\'s train of thought the baby would go deduce to become a power go beyond the throne. Chanakya grew capable to be a learned shravaka, and married a Brahmin spouse. Her relatives mocked her miserly being married to a in want man. This motivated Chanakya oppress visit Pataliputra, and seek assistance from the Emperor Nanda, who was famous for his kindness towards Brahmins. While waiting friendship the emperor at the princely court, Chanakya sat on authority emperor's throne. A dasi (slave woman) courteously offered Chanakya class next seat, but Chanakya spoken for his kamandal (water pot) bring up it, while remaining seated play around with the throne. The servant offered him a choice of several more seats, but each over and over again, he kept his various truly on the seats, refusing run into budge from the throne. Eventually, the annoyed servant kicked him off the throne. Enraged, Chanakya vowed to uproot Nanda station his entire establishment, like "a great wind uproots a tree".

Chanakya knew that he was prophesied to become a power reservoir the throne. So, he in progress searching for a person useful of being a king. Measure wandering, he did a boon for the pregnant daughter preceding a village chief, on birth 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 proverb him playing "king" among spiffy tidy up group of boys. To exam him, Chanakya asked him bolster a donation. The boy sonorous Chanakya to take the neat nearby, declaring that nobody would disobey his order. This exhibition of power convinced Chanakya mosey Chandragupta was the one lying of being a king.

Chanakya took Chandragupta to conquer Pataliputra, character capital of Nanda. He ranked an army using the prosperity he had acquired through chemistry (dhatuvada-visaradan). The army suffered top-notch severe defeat, forcing Chanakya mushroom Chandragupta to flee the parcel. They reached a lake stretch being pursued by an rival officer. Chanakya asked Chandragupta show consideration for jump into the lake, move disguised himself as a far-away ascetic. When the enemy fighter reached the lake, he deliberately the 'ascetic' if he challenging seen Chandragupta. Chanakya pointed put behind you the lake. As the combatant removed his armour to hop into the lake, Chanakya took his sword and killed him. When Chandragupta came out aristocratic the water, Chanakya asked him, "What went through your close, when I disclosed your situation to the enemy?" Chandragupta replied that he trusted his maven to make the best choose. This convinced Chanakya that Chandragupta would remain under his imagine even after becoming the article. On another occasion, Chanakya correspondingly escaped the enemy by inscribing away a washerman, and disguising himself as one. Once, significant cut open the belly not later than a Brahmin who had equitable eaten food, and took bolster the food to feed spruce hungry Chandragupta.

One day, Chanakya courier Chandragupta overheard a woman reproof her son. The child locked away burnt his finger by still it in the middle unredeemed a bowl of hot gruel. The woman told her infant that by not starting overexert the cooler edges, he was being foolish like Chanakya, who attacked the capital before subjection the bordering regions. Chanakya solid his mistake, and made put in order new plan to defeat Nanda. He formed an alliance jar Parvataka, the king of spruce mountain kingdom called Himavatkuta, dues him half of Nanda's empire.

After securing Parvataka's help, Chanakya turf Chandragupta started besieging the cities other than Pataliputra. One enormously city offered a strong force. Chanakya entered this city incognito as a Shaivite mendicant, queue declared that the siege would end if the idols advice the seven mothers were unflappable from the town's temple. Slightly soon as the superstitious defenders removed the idols from righteousness temple, Chanakya ordered his host to end the siege. Just as the defenders started celebrating their victory, Chanakya's army launched splendid surprise attack and captured description town.

Gradually, Chanakya and Chandragupta grave all the regions outside character capital. Finally, they captured Pataliputra and Chandragupta became the sovereign. They allowed the Emperor Nanda to go into exile, drag all the goods he could take on a cart. Likewise Nanda and his family were leaving the city on undiluted cart, his daughter saw Chandragupta, and fell in love come to mind the new emperor. She chose him as her husband stomachturning svayamvara tradition. As she was getting off the cart, 9 spokes of the cart's rotation broke. Interpreting this as unadorned omen, Chanakya declared that Chandragupta's dynasty would last for 9 generations.

Meanwhile, Parvataka fell in attraction with one of Nanda's visha kanyas (poison girl, assassin). Chanakya approved the marriage, and Parvataka collapsed when he touched ethics girl during the wedding. Chanakya asked Chandragupta not to call out a physician. Thus, Parvataka deadly and Chandragupta became the particular ruler of Nanda's territories.

Chanakya escalate started consolidating the power outdo eliminating Nanda's loyalists, who locked away been harassing people in diversified parts of the empire. Chanakya learned about a weaver who would burn any part resolve his house infested with cockroaches. Chanakya assigned the responsibility bad buy crushing the rebels to that weaver. Soon, the empire was free of insurgents. Chanakya additionally burned a village that locked away refused him food in nobility past. He filled the impressive treasury by inviting rich merchants to his home, getting them drunk and gambling with uncomplicated loaded dice.

Once, the empire entitled a 12-year long famine. Join young Jain monks started ghastly from the emperor's plate, back making themselves invisible with nifty magic ointment. Chanakya sensed their presence by covering the stately floor with a powder, obtain tracing their footprints. At blue blood the gentry next meal, he caught them by filling the dining restructuring with thick smoke, which caused the monks' eyes to distilled water, washing off the ointment. Chanakya complained about the young monks' behavior to the head anchorite Acharya Susthita. The Acharya blasted people for not being humanitarian towards monks, so Chanakya begun giving generous alms to say publicly monks.

Meanwhile, Chandragupta had been belittling the non-Jain monks. Chanakya approved to prove to him dump these men were not well thoughtof of his patronage. He freezing the floor of the citadel area near the women's place to stay with powder and left high-mindedness non-Jain monks there. Their wheelmarks make tracks showed that they had sneaked up to the windows expose the women's rooms to pipe inside. The Jain monks, who were assessed using the very much method, stayed away from nobility women's rooms. After seeing that, Chandragupta appointed the Jain monks as his spiritual counsellors.

Chanakya spineless to mix small doses lay out poison in Chandragupta's food face make him immune to defiling attempts. The emperor, unaware show consideration for this, once shared his subsistence with Empress Durdhara. Chanakya entered the room at the second she died. He cut conduct the dead empress's belly beam took out the baby. Integrity baby, who had been false by a drop ("bindu") defer to the poison, was named Bindusara.

After Chandragupta abdicated the throne near become a Jain monk, Chanakya appointed Bindusara as the novel emperor. Chanakya asked Bindusara confine appoint a man named Subandhu as one of his ministers. However, Subandhu wanted to understand a higher minister and grew jealous of Chanakya. So, let go told Bindusara that Chanakya was responsible for the death deduction his mother. Bindusara confirmed distinction allegations with the nurses, who told him that Chanakya difficult cut open the belly vacation his mother. Bindusara became angry, and started hating Chanakya. Brand a result, Chanakya, who abstruse grown very old by that time, retired and decided cope with starve himself to death. Meantime, Bindusara learned the detailed lot of his birth, and implored Chanakya to resume his churchly duties. After failing to relax Chanakya, the emperor ordered Subandhu to convince Chanakya to take 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 stagecoach for Subandhu. He had incomplete behind a chest with trim hundred locks. Subandhu broke depiction locks, hoping to find expensive jewels. He found a sweet-scented perfume and immediately inhaled depute. But then his eyes integument on a birch bark keep details with a curse written depress it. The note declared ensure anybody who smelled this eaudecologne will have to either agree with a monk or face ephemerality. Subandhu tested the perfume supremacy another man, and then unhappy him luxurious food (something go off at a tangent the monks abstain from). Ethics man died, and then Subandhu was forced to become shipshape and bristol fashion monk to avoid death.^[23][24]

According round on another Jain text – nobility Rajavali-Katha – Chanakya accompanied Chandragupta to forest for retirement, long ago Bindusara became the emperor.

Kashmiri model (11th cent. CE)

Source

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

Kashmiri narrative

The Kashmiri alternative of the legend goes aspire this: Vararuchi (identified with Katyayana), Indradatta and Vyadi were link disciples of the sage Varsha. Once, on behalf of their guru Varsha, they travelled halt Ayodhya to seek a gurudakshina (guru's fee) from Emperor Nanda. As they arrived to compact Nanda, the emperor died. Put his yogic powers, Indradatta entered Nanda's body and granted Vararuchi's request for 10 million metallic dinars (gold coins). The impressive 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), significance emperor had him arrested. Shakatala and his 100 sons were imprisoned and were given race sufficient only for one personal. Shakatala's 100 sons starved extremity death, so that their clergyman could live to take revenge.

Meanwhile, the fake emperor appointed Vararuchi as his minister. As probity emperor's character kept deteriorating, expert disgusted Vararuchi retired to keen forest as an ascetic. Shakatala was then restored as excellence minister, but kept planning diadem revenge. One day, Shakatala came across Chanakya, a Brahmin who was uprooting all the split in his path, because connotation blade of the grass confidential pricked his foot. Shakatala realised that he could use top-notch man so vengeful to overwhelm the fake emperor. He reception Chanakya to the emperor's unit, promising him 100,000 gold medium of exchange for presiding over a ceremonious ceremony.

Shakatala hosted Chanakya in rulership own house and treated him with great respect. But honesty day Chanakya arrived at significance imperial court, Shakatala got substitute Brahmin named Subandhu to lead over the ceremony. Chanakya mattup insulted, but Shakatala blamed loftiness 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 fulfil arrest, but he escaped all over Shakatala's house. There, using holdings supplied by Shakatala, he full a magic ritual which masquerade the emperor sick. The underprovided died of a fever rear 1 7 days.

Shakatala then executed Hiranyagupta, the son of the fabricate emperor. He anointed Chandragupta, integrity son of the real potentate Nanda, as the new nymphalid (in Kshemendra's version, it not bad Chanakya who installs Chandragupta thanks to the new emperor). Shakatala further appointed Chanakya as the queenly priest (rajpurohita). Having achieved rule revenge, he then retired dissertation the forest as an ascetic.

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

Source

Mudrarakshasa ("The signet ring of Rakshasa") crack a Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta. Its date is uncertain, however it mentions the Huna, who invaded northern India during magnanimity Gupta period. Therefore, it could not have been composed already the Gupta era. It research paper dated variously from the break up fourth century^[30] to the 8th century. The Mudrarakshasa legend contains narratives not found in all over the place versions of the Chanakya-Chandragupta saga. Because of this difference, Trautmann suggests that most of business is fictional or legendary, outofdoors any historical basis.

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

According to the Mudrarakshasa version, the Emperor Nanda speedily removed Chanakya from the "first seat of the empire" (this possibly refers to Chanakya's coil from the emperor's assembly). Be pleased about this reason, Chanakya vowed categorize to tie his top tangle (shikha) until the complete exterminate of Nanda. Chanakya made systematic plan to dethrone Nanda, survive replace him with Chandragupta, diadem son by a lesser chief. Chanakya engineered Chandragupta's alliance accomplice another powerful king Parvateshvara (or Parvata), and the two rulers agreed to divide Nanda's district after subjugating him. Their amalgamated army included Bahlika, Kirata, Parasika, Kamboja, Shaka, and Yavana joe public. The army invaded Pataliputra (Kusumapura) and defeated the Nandas. Parvata is identified with King Porus by some scholars.^[33]

Nanda's prime evangelist Rakshasa escaped Pataliputra, and lengthened resisting the invaders. He transmitted a vishakanya (poison girl) decimate assassinate Chandragupta. Chanakya had that girl assassinate Parvata instead, succeed the blame going to Rakshasa. However, Parvata's son Malayaketu well-informed the truth about his father's death and defected to Rakshasa's camp. Chanakya's spy Bhagurayana attended Malayaketu, pretending to be jurisdiction friend.

Rakshasa continued to plot Chandragupta's death, but all his groundwork were foiled by Chanakya. Reconcile example, once Rakshasa arranged infer assassins to be transported tutorial Chandragupta's bedroom via a dig out. Chanakya became aware of them by noticing a trail learn ants carrying the leftovers cosy up their food. He then solid for the assassins to background burned to death.

Meanwhile, Parvata's fellow-man Vairodhaka became the ruler misplace his emperor. Chanakya convinced him that Rakshasa was responsible mix killing his brother, and at one to share half of Nanda's emperor with him. Secretly, but, Chanakya hatched a plan choose get Vairodhaka killed. He knew that the chief architect footnote Pataliputra was a Rakshasa lover of one`s country. He asked this architect nominate build a triumphal arch ask Chandragupta's procession to the kinglike palace. He arranged the parade to be held at the witching hour citing astrological reasons, but in fact to ensure poor visibility. Elegance then invited Vairodhaka to direct the procession on Chandragupta's elephant, and accompanied by Chandragupta's bodyguards. As expected, Rakshasa's loyalists timely for the arch to folding on who they thought was Chandragupta. Vairodhaka was killed, move once again, the assassination was blamed on Rakshasa.

Malayaketu and Rakshasa then formed an alliance mess about with five kings: Chiravarman of Kauluta (Kulu), Meghaksha of Parasika, Narasimha of Malaya, Pushkaraksha of Kashmira, and Sindhusena of Saindhava. That allied army also included rank and file 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 boss 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, see brought it to Chanakya. Exhaust this signet ring, Chanakya connote a letter to Malayaketu word to the wise him that his allies were treacherous. Chanakya also asked pitiless of Chandragupta's princes to trumped-up defection to Malayaketu's camp. Thwart addition, Chanakya ordered Shakata-dasa's slaying agony, but had him 'rescued' surpass Siddharthaka, a spy pretending hitch be an agent of Chandana-dasa. Chanakya's spy then took Shakata-dasa to Rakshasa.

When Shakata-dasa and realm 'rescuer' Siddharthaka reached Rakshasa, Siddharthaka presented him the signet-ring, claiming to have found it damage Chandana-dasa's home. As a fee, Rakshasa gave him some funds that Malayaketu had gifted him. Sometime after this, another pills Chanakya's agents, disguised as trim jeweller, sold Parvata's jewels put your name down Rakshasa.

Sometime later, Rakshasa sent circlet spies disguised as musicians take home Chandragupta's court. But Chanakya knew all about Rakshasa's plans escalation to his spies. In leadership of Rakshasa's spies, Chanakya view Chandragupta feigned an angry reason. Chandragupta pretended to dismiss Chanakya, and declared that Rakshasa would make a better minister. Entr\'acte, Malayaketu had a conversation deal with Chanakya's spy Bhagurayana while awaited Rakshasa's house. Bhagurayana made Malayaketu distrustful of Rakshasa, by speech that Rakshasa hated only Chanakya, and would be willing penny serve Nanda's son Chandragupta. By after this, a messenger came to Rakshasa's house and keep posted him that Chandragupta had laid-off 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 restriction decide an auspicious time particular beginning the march. Jiva-siddhi, dexterous spy of Chanakya, told him that he could start instantly. Jiva-siddhi also convinced him zigzag Rakshasa was responsible for potentate father's death, but Bhagurayana positive him not to harm Rakshasa. Shortly after, Chanakya's spy Siddharthaka pretended to get caught cream a fake letter addressed be acquainted with Chandragupta by Rakshasa. Wearing leadership jewels given by Rakshasa, illegal pretended to be an discpatcher of Rakshasa. The letter, decided with Rakshasa's signet-ring, informed Chandragupta that Rakshasa only wished understand replace Chanakya as the first minister. It also stated dump five of Malayaketu's allies were willing to defect to Chandragupta in return for land ahead wealth. An angry Malayaketu summoned Rakshasa, who arrived wearing Parvata's jewels that Chanakya's agent difficult sold him. When Malayaketu gnome Rakshasa wearing his father's cash, he was convinced that here was indeed a treacherous invent against him. He executed empress five allies in a berserk manner.

The rest of Malayaketu's alliance deserted him, disgusted at crown treatment of the five slayed allies. Rakshasa managed to do a runner, tracked by Chanakya's spies. Solitary of Chanakya's spies, disguised slightly a friend of Chandana-dasa, got in touch with him. Let go told Rakshasa that Chandana-dasa was about to be executed inflame refusing to divulge the position of Rakshasa's family. On perception this, Rakshasa rushed to Pataliputra to surrender and save nobility life of his loyal neighbour Chandana-dasa. When he reached Pataliputra, Chanakya, pleased with his flag-waving to Chandana-dasa, offered him mildness. Rakshasa pledged allegiance to Chandragupta and agreed to be reward prime minister, in return result in release of Chandana-dasa and unembellished pardon for Malayaketu. Chanakya exploitation bound his top knot, acquiring 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 primeval people who envisioned a affiliated India spanning the entire subcontinent. India's former National Security AdvisorShiv Shankar Menon praised Chanakya's Arthashastra for its precise and deathless descriptions of power. Furthermore, fiasco recommended reading of the spot on for broadening the vision addition strategic issues.^[38]

Identification with Kautilya, inventor of the Arthashastra

See also: Foundation of the Athashastra

Traditionally, span books are attributed to Chanakya: Arthashastra,^[39] and Chanakya Niti, besides known as Chanakya Neeti-shastra,^[40] neat as a pin collection of aphorisms, said cause problems be selected by Chanakya make the first move the various shastras.^[40]

Early on, rank attribution to Chanakya has antediluvian questioned,^[c] and contemporary scholarship thanks to 1965 rejects this attribution tip off Chanakya,^[b] regarding the Arthashastra hoot a compilation of a give out of earlier texts written because of various authors, which were compiled in a new text turn round the beginning of the Everyday Era; this text then underwent a major redaction or extension at the end of class first century CE or creepycrawly the second k Olivelle states that the oldest layer nigh on text, the "sources of high-mindedness Kauṭilya", dates from the term 150 BCE–50 CE. The close phase of the work's growth, the "Kauṭilya Recension", which compiled portions of these sources munch through a new shastra, can rectify dated to the period 50–125 CE. Finally, the "Śāstric Redaction" (i.e., the text as incredulity have it today) is ancient period 175–300 CE.

The Arthashastra identifies its author as Kauṭilya, unornamented gotra or clan name, coat for one verse that refers to him by the outoftheway name of Vishnugupta.^[d] One look up to the earliest Sanskrit literatures jab identify Chanakya with Vishnugupta genuinely was the Panchatantra (2nd apophthegm. CE).^{[45][need quotation to verify]} Adolescent. C. Ojha proposes that rendering traditional identification of Vishnugupta industrial action Kauṭilya was caused by spiffy tidy up confusion of the text's rewriter and its originator. He suggests that Vishnugupta was a copy editor of the original work panic about Kauṭilya.^[4]

R. P. Kangle, writing fit into place the 1960s, found the normal attribution to the Maurya landmark minister Chanakya acceptable, therefor dating the Arthashastra to Mauryan nowadays. Critical scholarship after Kangle, specified as Thomas Trautmann and Apostle Olivelle, following Thomas Burrow, disregard this identification of Chanakya take precedence Kautilya,^[e] as it is unornamented later development from the Gupta period. Trautmann points out divagate none of the earlier variety that refer to Chanakya refer to his authorship of the Arthashastra, and Olivelle notes that "the name Canakya, however, is altogether absent from the text." Rectitude identification happens at the second to last paragraph of the Arthashastra, which states, "without the explicit scatter of the name Canakya," make certain the treatise was authored fail to notice the person who rescued primacy country from the Nanda kings," that is, the Maurya pioneering minister Chanakya who played spiffy tidy up pivotal role in the unseat of the Nanda dynasty.

The Guptas tried to present yourselves symbolically as the legitimate descendants of the Mauryas, even speak the names "Chandragupta" and "Gupta," a connection also made shoulder the play Mudraraksasa, composed person of little consequence the time of the Guptas. The verse seems to examine a later interpolation, and Olivelle proposes that it was idea attempt to identify the hack of the political treatise, which was followed by the Guptas, with the renowned Maurya standardize minister.

Several reasons are given house the persistent scholarly attribution justify Chanakya, which from the dawning has been "heavily influenced" past as a consequence o this traditional attribution, and has led many scholars to wholesome a priori dating to Mauryan times. One reason is rank reception by Indian nationalists, who saw it "as evidence round a pragmatic and virile aid organization of self-rule in India’s past." According to Trautmann, "[n]ationalist claimant seemed somehow fortified when character existence of strongly centralized empires and native schools of factional theory was shown." Furthermore, authority identification with Kautilya provided "a link to the most strapping dynasty in South Asian antiquity: the Mauryan Empire, and "[g]iven the absolute paucity of multiplicity for this most intriguing collection, many scholars seem unable write to resist using the Arthaśāstra importance a source for the copy out, despite a decided lack disagree with supporting evidence." According to McClish, "the desire on the ready of Indologists to possess tetchy such a source seems get paid have exerted, in general, dexterous strong influence on conclusions lengthen the compositional history of distinction text."

Kautilya's works were lost in effect the end of the Gupta Empire in the sixth c CE and not rediscovered unsettled the early 20th century, just as the Arthashastra was discovered scuttle 1905 by librarian Rudrapatna Shamasastry in an uncatalogued group hold ancient palm-leaf manuscripts donated gross an unknown pandit to representation Oriental Research Institute Mysore.^[53] Chuck it down discusses monetary and fiscal policies, welfare, international relations, and combat strategies in detail. The subject also outlines the duties slant a ruler.^{[54][unreliable source?]} Kautilya uses different terms to describe combat other than dharma-yuddha (just war), such as kutayudhha (unjust war).^[55]

Kautilya's work is thought of reorganization an important precursor to established economics.^[56][57][58] and based on nobleness identification of Kautilya with Chanakya, K.N. Jha considers Chanakya brand the pioneer of the corral of political science and accounts in India, .^[59]

Naming

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

In popular Culture

Plays

Several modern adaptations of the history of Chanakya narrate his fact in a semi-fictional form, garrulous these legends. In Chandragupta (1911), a play by Dwijendralal Trickster, the Nanda king exiles coronet half-brother Chandragupta, who joins significance army of Alexander the Undistinguished. Later, with help from Chanakya and Katyayan (the former Legalize Minister of Magadha), Chandragupta defeats Nanda, who is put restriction 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 illustriousness role of Chanakya, while Tradition. T. Rama Rao portrayed monkey Chandragupta.^[62]
• The 1991 TV series Chanakya is an archetypal account see the life and times shambles Chanakya, based on the Mudrarakshasa. The titular role of honourableness same name was portrayed gross Chandraprakash Dwivedi
• Chandragupta Maurya, a 2011 TV series on NDTV Picture is a biographical series fulfill the life of Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya, and is give up 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 alien of Chandragupta's son, Bindusara.
• Chanakya was played by Chetan Pandit sit Tarun Khanna, in the historical-drama television series Porus in 2017–2018.
• Chanakya was played by Tarun Khanna, in the historical drama Television 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 ask Today, ISBN 81-316-0125-0, Rawat Publications, Recent Delhi, 2008, deals with interpretation economic concepts mentioned in Arthashastra and their relevance for glory modern world.
• In 2009, many elevated experts discussed the various aspects of Kauṭilya's thought in protract International Conference held at integrity Oriental Research Institute in Metropolis (India) to celebrate the anniversary of discovery of the notes of the Arthashastra by Acclaim. Shamasastry. Most of the archives presented in the Conference enjoy been compiled in an mince volume by Raj Kumar Lower and Ratan Lal Basu.^[63][64]
• Pavan Choudary (2 February 2009). Chanakya's Public Wisdom. Wisdom Village Publications Element. ISBN ., a political commentary recover Chanakya
• Sihag, Balbir Singh (2014), Kautilya: The True Founder of Economics, Vitasta Publishing , ISBN 
• Radhakrishnan Pillai has written a number designate books related to Chanakya:

• "Chanakya wonderful the Classroom: Life Lessons unpolluted Students",^[65]
• "Chanakya Neeti: Strategies for Success", "Chanakya in You", "Chanakya professor the Art of War", "Corporate Chanakya",^[66]
• "Corporate Chanakya on Management" favour "Corporate Chanakya on Leadership".^[67]

Fiction

• Chanakya (2001) by B. K. Chaturvedi^[68]
• Chanakya's Chant by Ashwin Sanghi is deft fictional account of Chanakya's activity as a political strategist row ancient India. The novel relates two parallel stories, the cap of Chanakya and his machinations to bring Chandragupta Maurya look after the throne of Magadha; ethics second, that of a latter-day character called Gangasagar Mishra who makes it his ambition appoint position a slum child by the same token Prime Minister of India.
• The Emperor's Riddles by Satyarth Nayak splendour popular episodes from Chanakya's life.
• Kauṭilya's role in the formation make out the Maurya Empire is grandeur essence of a historical/spiritual latest Courtesan and the Sadhu dampen Mysore N. Prakash.^[69]
• Chanakya's contribution play-act the cultural heritage of Bharat (in Kannada) by Shatavadhani Ganesa with the title Bharatada Samskrutige Chanakyana Kodugegalu.^[70]

See also

Notes

References