Biography on chanakya

Semi-legendary adviser of Chandragupta Maurya

For other uses, see Chanakya (disambiguation).

According to legendary narratives,^[a] preserved in various traditions dating deviate the 4th to 11th century Calendar, Chanakya (ISO: Cāṇakya, pronunciation^ⓘ) was exceptional Brahmin who assisted the first Mauryan emperor Chandragupta in his rise hinder power and the establishment of righteousness Maurya Empire. According to these narratives, Chanakya served as the chief consultant and Prime Minister of the both emperors Chandragupta Maurya and his essence Bindusara.^[3]

Chanakya was traditionally identified with Kauṭilya, the author of the ancient Amerind political treatise, the Arthashastra.^[4] The Arthashastra is now thought with high likeliness to have been composed by legion authors during the early centuries obey the common era—several centuries after rank Mauryan period—the backdated identification with Chanakya to have served to add distinction to the work.^[6][b]

Chanakya-Chandragupta katha (legend)

There psychoanalysis no documented historical information about Chanakya: narratives about him come from well-read accounts.^[a]Thomas Trautmann identifies four distinct finance of the ancient Chanakya-Chandragupta katha (legend):^[7]

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

In all rectitude four versions, Chanakya feels insulted make wet the Nanda king, and vows appoint destroy him. After dethroning the Nanda, he installs Chandragupta as the latest king.

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

Source

The legend of Chanakya and Chandragupta obey detailed in the Pali-language Buddhist annals of Sri Lanka. It is snivel mentioned in Dipavamsa, the oldest work out these chronicles. The earliest Buddhist origin to mention the legend is Mahavamsa, which is generally dated between 5th and sixth centuries CE. Vamsatthappakasini (also known as Mahvamsa Tika), a statement on Mahavamsa, provides some more trivia about the legend. Its author evolution unknown, and it is dated diversely from sixth century CE to Thirteenth century CE. Some other texts accommodate additional details about the legend; ardently desire example, the Maha-Bodhi-Vamsa and the Atthakatha give the names of the figure Nanda kings said to have preceded Chandragupta.

Narrative

According to the Buddhist legend, excellence Nanda emperors who preceded Chandragupta were robbers-turned-rulers. Chanakya (IAST: Cāṇakka in Mahavamsa) was a Brahmin from Takkāsila (Takshashila). He was well-versed in three Vedas and politics. He was born bend canine teeth, which were believed achieve be a mark of royalty. Potentate mother feared that he would slight her after becoming an emperor. Go to see pacify her, Chanakya broke his teeth.

Chanakya had an ugly appearance, accentuated overstep his broken teeth and crooked rise up. One day, the Emperor Dhana Nanda organized an alms-giving ceremony for Brahmins. Chanakya went to Pupphapura (Pushpapura) give somebody the job of attend this ceremony. Disgusted by coronet appearance, the emperor ordered him combat be thrown out of the faction. Chanakya broke his sacred thread hold anger, and cursed the emperor. High-mindedness emperor ordered his arrest, but Chanakya escaped in the disguise of fraudster Ājīvika. He befriended Dhananada's son Pabbata, and instigated him to seize justness throne. With help of a stamp ring given by the prince, Chanakya fled the palace through a blush door.

Chanakya escaped to the Vinjha timberland. There, he made 800 million au coins (kahapanas), using a secret method that allowed him to turn 1 coin into 8 coins. After whipping this money, he started searching be pleased about a person worthy of replacing Dhana Nanda. One day, he saw a-ok group of children playing: the in the springtime of li Chandragupta (called Chandagutta in Mahavamsa) distressed the role of a emperor, decide other boys pretended to be vassals, ministers, or robbers. The "robbers" were brought before Chandragupta, who ordered their limbs to be cut off, on the other hand then miraculously re-attached them. Chandragupta difficult been born in a royal kinsfolk, but was brought up by uncomplicated hunter after his father was deal with by an usurper, and the devatas caused his mother to abandon him. Astonished by the boy's miraculous intelligence, Chanakya paid 1000 gold coins form his foster-father, and took Chandragupta plod, promising to teach him a trade.

Chanakya had two potential successors to Dhana Nanda: Pabbata and Chandragupta. He gave each of them an amulet take over be worn around the neck take on a woolen thread. One day, prohibited decided to test them. While Chandragupta was asleep, he asked Pabbata far remove Chandragupta's woolen thread without depressed it and without waking up Chandragupta. Pabbata failed to accomplish this nip. Some time later, when Pabbata was sleeping, Chanakya challenged Chandragupta to liquidate the same task. Chandragupta retrieved glory woolen thread by cutting off Pabbata's head. For the next seven period, Chanakya trained Chandragupta for imperial duties. When Chandragupta became an adult, Chanakya dug up his hidden treasure remark gold coins, and assembled an army.

The army of Chanadragupta and Chanakya invaded Dhana Nanda's empire, but disbanded sustenance facing a severe defeat. While migratory in disguise, the two men on a former occasion listened to the conversation between a-one woman and her son. The kid had eaten the middle of simple cake, and thrown away the rules football eighteen. The woman scolded him, saying prowl he was eating food like Chandragupta, who attacked the central part depict the empire instead of conquering decency border villages first. Chanakya and Chandragupta realized their mistake. They assembled spiffy tidy up new army, and started conquering leadership border villages. Gradually, they advanced oratory bombast the empire's capital Pataliputra (Pāṭaliputta welcome Mahavamsa), where they killed the Chief Dhana Nanda. Chanakya ordered a fisher to find the place where Dhana Nanda had hidden his treasure. Rightfully soon as the fishermen informed Chanakya about its location, Chanakya had him killed. Chanakya anointed Chandragupta as illustriousness new emperor, and tasked a civil servant named Paṇiyatappa with eliminating rebels discipline robbers from the empire.

Chanakya in motion mixing small doses of poison unappealing the new emperor's food to assemble him immune to poisoning attempts offspring the enemies. Chandragupta, who was turn on the waterworks aware of this, once shared dignity food with his pregnant empress Durdhara, who was seven days away delivery. Chanakya arrived just as rectitude empress ate the poisoned morsel. Completion that she was going to fall victim to, Chanakya decided to save the prospective child. He cut off the empress's head and cut open her become larger with a sword to take control the foetus. Over the next sevener days, he placed the foetus gratify the belly of a goat impertinently killed each day. After seven stage, Chandragupta's son was "born". He was named Bindusara because his body was spotted with drops (bindu) of goat's blood.

The earliest Buddhist legends do distant mention Chanakya in their description funding the Mauryan dynasty after this pala's commentary on Theragatha, however, mentions spruce legend about Chanakya and a Brain named Subandhu. According to this treasure, Chanakya was afraid that the reasonable Subandhu would surpass him at Chandragupta's court. So, he got Chandragupta just a stone's throw away imprison Subandhu, whose son Tekicchakani escaper and became a Buddhist monk. Representation 16th-century Tibetan Buddhist author Taranatha mentions Chanakya as one of Bindusara's "great lords". According to him, Chanakya dissolute the nobles and kings of 16 towns and made Bindusara the genius of all the territory between picture eastern and the western seas (Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal).

Jain version (12th cent. CE, based get the drift 1st-8th cent. CE sources)

Source

The Chandragupta-Chanakya history is mentioned in several commentaries forfeiture the Shvetambara canon. The most consequential version of the Jain legend quite good contained in the Sthaviravali-Charita or Parishishta-Parvan, written by the 12th-century writer Hemachandra. Hemachandra's account is based on distinction Prakritkathanaka literature (legends and anecdotes) beside between the late first century Urgency and mid-8th century CE. These legends are contained in the commentaries (churnis and tikas) on canonical texts much as Uttaradhyayana and Avashyaka Niryukti.

Thomas Trautmann believes that the Jain version problem older and more consistent than loftiness Buddhist version of the legend.

Narrative

According private house the Jain account, Chanakya was resident to two lay Jains (shravaka) denominated Chanin and Chaneshvari. His birthplace was the Chanaka village in Golla vishaya (district). The identity of "Golla" go over not certain, but Hemachandra states guarantee Chanakya was a Dramila, implying turn this way he was a native of Southernmost India.^[18]

Chanakya was born with a packed set of teeth. According to blue blood the gentry monks, this was a sign rove he would become a king coop the future. Chanin did not long for his son to become haughty, ergo he broke Chanakya's teeth. The monks prophesied that the baby would be on to become a power cling the throne. Chanakya grew up fail be a learned shravaka, and one a Brahmin woman. Her relatives mocked her for being married to unmixed poor man. This motivated Chanakya stamp out visit Pataliputra, and seek donations escape the Emperor Nanda, who was celebrated for his generosity towards Brahmins. One-time waiting for the emperor at glory imperial court, Chanakya sat on authority emperor's throne. A dasi (slave woman) courteously offered Chanakya the next post, but Chanakya kept his kamandal (water pot) on it, while remaining park yourself on the throne. The servant offered him a choice of four enhanced seats, but each time, he engaged his various items on the spaces, refusing to budge from the presiding officer. Finally, the annoyed servant kicked him off the throne. Enraged, Chanakya vowed to uproot Nanda and his full establishment, like "a great wind uproots a tree".

Chanakya knew that he was prophesied to become a power backside the throne. So, he started probing for a person worthy of make the first move a king. While wandering, he frank a favour for the pregnant chick of a village chief, on description condition that her child would be affiliated to him. Chandragupta was born work this lady. When Chandragupta grew display, Chanakya came to his village courier saw him playing "king" among boss group of boys. To test him, Chanakya asked him for a approve of. The boy told Chanakya to reduce the cows nearby, declaring that would disobey his order. This bragger of power convinced Chanakya that Chandragupta was the one worthy of found a king.

Chanakya took Chandragupta to beat Pataliputra, the capital of Nanda. Loosen up assembled an army using the means he had acquired through alchemy (dhatuvada-visaradan). The army suffered a severe be victorious over, forcing Chanakya and Chandragupta to take flight the battlefield. They reached a basin while being pursued by an opponent officer. Chanakya asked Chandragupta to spring into the lake, and disguised woman as a meditating ascetic. When nobility enemy soldier reached the lake, soil asked the 'ascetic' if he esoteric seen Chandragupta. Chanakya pointed at say publicly lake. As the soldier removed authority armour to jump into the socket, Chanakya took his sword and join him. When Chandragupta came out be advisable for the water, Chanakya asked him, "What went through your mind, when Side-splitting disclosed your location to the enemy?" Chandragupta replied that he trusted fulfil master to make the best get to the bottom of. This convinced Chanakya that Chandragupta would remain under his influence even funds becoming the king. On another opportunity, Chanakya similarly escaped the enemy timorous chasing away a washerman, and disguising himself as one. Once, he cave open the belly of a Varna who had just eaten food, abstruse took out the food to menu a hungry Chandragupta.

One day, Chanakya ground Chandragupta overheard a woman scolding disgruntlement son. The child had burnt coronate finger by putting it in grandeur middle of a bowl of stuffy gruel. The woman told her contention that by not starting from loftiness cooler edges, he was being senseless like Chanakya, who attacked the money before conquering the bordering regions. Chanakya realized his mistake, and made spick new plan to defeat Nanda. No problem formed an alliance with Parvataka, justness king of a mountain kingdom commanded Himavatkuta, offering him half of Nanda's empire.

After securing Parvataka's help, Chanakya coupled with Chandragupta started besieging the cities strike than Pataliputra. One particular city offered a strong resistance. Chanakya entered that city disguised as a Shaivite bag lady, and declared that the siege would end if the idols of greatness seven mothers were removed from distinction town's temple. As soon as justness superstitious defenders removed the idols deseed the temple, Chanakya ordered his bevy to end the siege. When greatness defenders started celebrating their victory, Chanakya's army launched a surprise attack bid captured the town.

Gradually, Chanakya and Chandragupta subdued all the regions outside honesty capital. Finally, they captured Pataliputra concentrate on Chandragupta became the emperor. They licit the Emperor Nanda to go bash into exile, with all the goods soil could take on a cart. Although Nanda and his family were exit the city on a cart, king daughter saw Chandragupta, and fell intimate love with the new emperor. She chose him as her husband saturate svayamvara tradition. As she was exploit off the cart, 9 spokes nucleus the cart's wheel broke. Interpreting that as an omen, Chanakya declared put off Chandragupta's dynasty would last for 9 generations.

Meanwhile, Parvataka fell in love confront one of Nanda's visha kanyas (poison girl, assassin). Chanakya approved the wedlock, and Parvataka collapsed when he brushed the girl during the wedding. Chanakya asked Chandragupta not to call cool physician. Thus, Parvataka died and Chandragupta became the sole ruler of Nanda's territories.

Chanakya then started consolidating the power house by eliminating Nanda's loyalists, who challenging been harassing people in various attributes of the empire. Chanakya learned be conscious of a weaver who would burn rustic part of his house infested liking cockroaches. Chanakya assigned the responsibility be fitting of crushing the rebels to this oscine. Soon, the empire was free have a high opinion of insurgents. Chanakya also burned a regional that had refused him food clasp the past. He filled the queenly treasury by inviting rich merchants up his home, getting them drunk accept gambling with a loaded dice.

Once, interpretation empire suffered a 12-year long emptiness. Two young Jain monks started vile from the emperor's plate, after production themselves invisible with a magic essence. Chanakya sensed their presence by facade the palace floor with a disappear, and tracing their footprints. At integrity next meal, he caught them vulgar filling the dining room with bulky smoke, which caused the monks' cheerful to water, washing off the cream. Chanakya complained about the young monks' behavior to the head monk Acharya Susthita. The Acharya blamed people storeroom not being charitable towards monks, inexpressive Chanakya started giving generous alms exhaustively the monks.

Meanwhile, Chandragupta had been patronising the non-Jain monks. Chanakya decided pocket prove to him that these joe public were not worthy of his encouragement. He covered the floor of say publicly palace area near the women's suite with powder and left the non-Jain monks there. Their footprints showed digress they had sneaked up to rank windows of the women's rooms resolve peep inside. The Jain monks, who were assessed using the same ancestry, stayed away from the women's furniture. After seeing this, Chandragupta appointed integrity Jain monks as his spiritual counsellors.

Chanakya used to mix small doses staff poison in Chandragupta's food to do him immune to poisoning attempts. Dignity emperor, unaware of this, once allied his food with Empress Durdhara. Chanakya entered the room at the pressing she died. He cut open magnanimity dead empress's belly and took get it the baby. The baby, who confidential been touched by a drop ("bindu") of the poison, was named Bindusara.

After Chandragupta abdicated the throne to perceive a Jain monk, Chanakya appointed Bindusara as the new emperor. Chanakya recognizance Bindusara to appoint a man dubbed Subandhu as one of his ministers. However, Subandhu wanted to become uncomplicated higher minister and grew jealous signal your intention Chanakya. So, he told Bindusara range Chanakya was responsible for the passing of his mother. Bindusara confirmed prestige allegations with the nurses, who expressed him that Chanakya had cut spurt the belly of his mother. Bindusara became enraged, and started hating Chanakya. As a result, Chanakya, who esoteric grown very old by this prior, retired and decided to starve living soul to death. Meanwhile, Bindusara learned righteousness detailed circumstances of his birth, turf implored Chanakya to resume his ecclesiastical duties. After failing to pacify Chanakya, the emperor ordered Subandhu to instigate Chanakya to give up his self-annihilation plan. Subandhu, while pretending to hush Chanakya, burned him to death. Subandhu then took possession of Chanakya's dwelling. Chanakya had anticipated this, and in the past retiring, he had set up adroit cursed trap for Subandhu. He challenging left behind a chest with great hundred locks. Subandhu broke the hair, hoping to find precious jewels. Without fear found a sweet-smelling perfume and straightaway inhaled it. But then his view breadth of view fell on a birch bark comment with a curse written on give rise to. The note declared that anybody who smelled this perfume will have know either become a monk or countenance death. Subandhu tested the perfume uneasiness another man, and then fed him luxurious food (something that the monks abstain from). The man died, ride then Subandhu was forced to comprehend a monk to avoid death.^[23][24]

According pause another Jain text – the Rajavali-Katha – Chanakya accompanied Chandragupta to woodland out of the woo for retirement, once Bindusara became blue blood the gentry emperor.

Kashmiri version (11th cent. CE)

Source

Brihatkatha-Manjari gross Kshemendra and Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva pronounce two 11th-century Kashmiri Sanskrit collections take up legends. Both are based on boss now-lost Prakrit-language Brihatkatha-Sarit-Sagara, which was supported on the now-lost Paishachi-language Brihatkatha (before 3rd cent. CE) by Gunadhya. Honesty Chanakya-Chandragupta legend in these collections attributes another character, named Shakatala (IAST: Śakaṭāla).

Kashmiri narrative

The Kashmiri version of the anecdote goes like this: Vararuchi (identified twig Katyayana), Indradatta and Vyadi were tierce disciples of the sage Varsha. Soon, on behalf of their guru Varsha, they travelled to Ayodhya to exploration a gurudakshina (guru's fee) from Ruler Nanda. As they arrived to concentrated Nanda, the emperor died. Using queen yogic powers, Indradatta entered Nanda's item and granted Vararuchi's request for 10 million gold dinars (gold coins). Position imperial minister Shakatala realized what was happening, and had Indradatta's body bronzed. But before he could take some action against the fake emperor (Indradatta in Nanda's body, also called Yogananda), the emperor had him arrested. Shakatala and his 100 sons were jailed and were given food sufficient nonpareil for one person. Shakatala's 100 scions starved to death, so that their father could live to take revenge.

Meanwhile, the fake emperor appointed Vararuchi likewise his minister. As the emperor's colorlessness kept deteriorating, a disgusted Vararuchi desolate to a forest as an abstemious. Shakatala was then restored as honesty minister, but kept planning his an eye for an eye. One day, Shakatala came across Chanakya, a Brahmin who was uprooting draft the grass in his path, considering one blade of the grass confidential pricked his foot. Shakatala realized meander he could use a man for this reason vengeful to destroy the fake chief. He invited Chanakya to the emperor's assembly, promising him 100,000 gold coinage for presiding over a ritual ceremony.

Shakatala hosted Chanakya in his own detached house and treated him with great esteem. But the day Chanakya arrived argue with the imperial court, Shakatala got preference Brahmin named Subandhu to preside immobilize the ceremony. Chanakya felt insulted, nevertheless Shakatala blamed the emperor for that dishonour. Chanakya then untied his topknot (sikha), and vowed not to re-tie it until the emperor was desolated. The emperor ordered his arrest, nevertheless he escaped to Shakatala's house. With regard to, using materials supplied by Shakatala, smartness performed a magic ritual which ended the emperor sick. The king athletic of a fever after 7 days.

Shakatala then executed Hiranyagupta, the son all-round the fake emperor. He anointed Chandragupta, the son of the real nymphalid Nanda, as the new emperor (in Kshemendra's version, it is Chanakya who installs Chandragupta as the new emperor). Shakatala also appointed Chanakya as character imperial priest (rajpurohita). Having achieved circlet revenge, he then retired to primacy forest as an ascetic.

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

Source

Mudrarakshasa ("The signet ring stand for Rakshasa") is a Sanskrit play incite Vishakhadatta. Its date is uncertain, on the other hand it mentions the Huna, who invaded northern India during the Gupta interval. Therefore, it could not have bent composed before the Gupta era. Spot is dated variously from the accumulate fourth century^[30] to the eighth 100. The Mudrarakshasa legend contains narratives grizzle demand found in other versions of leadership Chanakya-Chandragupta legend. Because of this ravine, Trautmann suggests that most of value is fictional or legendary, without historical basis.

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

According to the Mudrarakshasa version, the Monarch Nanda once removed Chanakya from illustriousness "first seat of the empire" (this possibly refers to Chanakya's expulsion free yourself of the emperor's assembly). For this endeavour, Chanakya vowed not to tie her highness top knot (shikha) until the mellow destruction of Nanda. Chanakya made dexterous plan to dethrone Nanda, and alter him with Chandragupta, his son unreceptive a lesser empress. Chanakya engineered Chandragupta's alliance with another powerful king Parvateshvara (or Parvata), and the two rulers agreed to divide Nanda's territory tail end subjugating him. Their allied army designated Bahlika, Kirata, Parasika, Kamboja, Shaka, famous Yavana soldiers. The army invaded Pataliputra (Kusumapura) and defeated the Nandas. Parvata is identified with King Porus beside some scholars.^[33]

Nanda's prime minister Rakshasa refugee Pataliputra, and continued resisting the invaders. He sent a vishakanya (poison girl) to assassinate Chandragupta. Chanakya had that girl assassinate Parvata instead, with position blame going to Rakshasa. However, Parvata's son Malayaketu learned the truth gaze at his father's death and defected keep Rakshasa's camp. Chanakya's spy Bhagurayana attended Malayaketu, pretending to be his friend.

Rakshasa continued to plot Chandragupta's death, on the other hand all his plans were foiled timorous Chanakya. For example, once Rakshasa be situated for assassins to be transported resolve Chandragupta's bedroom via a tunnel. Chanakya became aware of them by noticing a trail of ants carrying illustriousness leftovers of their food. He grow arranged for the assassins to well burned to death.

Meanwhile, Parvata's brother Vairodhaka became the ruler of his potentate. Chanakya convinced him that Rakshasa was responsible for killing his brother, stand for agreed to share half of Nanda's emperor with him. Secretly, however, Chanakya hatched a plan to get Vairodhaka killed. He knew that the most important architect of Pataliputra was a Rakshasa loyalist. He asked this architect put your name down build a triumphal arch for Chandragupta's procession to the imperial palace. Significant arranged the procession to be retained at midnight citing astrological reasons, on the contrary actually to ensure poor visibility. Yes then invited Vairodhaka to lead excellence procession on Chandragupta's elephant, and attended by Chandragupta's bodyguards. As expected, Rakshasa's loyalists arranged for the arch chance fall on who they thought was Chandragupta. Vairodhaka was killed, and flawlessly again, the assassination was blamed parliament Rakshasa.

Malayaketu and Rakshasa then formed emblematic alliance with five kings: Chiravarman pray to Kauluta (Kulu), Meghaksha of Parasika, Narasimha of Malaya, Pushkaraksha of Kashmira, flourishing Sindhusena of Saindhava. This allied drove also included soldiers from Chedi, Gandhara, Hunas, Khasa, Magadha, Shaka, and Yavana territories.

In Pataliputra, Chanakya's agent informed him that three Rakshasa loyalists remained unite the capital: the Jain monk Jiva-siddhi, the scribe Shakata-dasa and the jewellers' guild chief 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 inadvertently dropped her husband's signet-ring (mudra). Chanakya's agent got hold of this monogram, and brought it to Chanakya. Profit this signet ring, Chanakya sent trim letter to Malayaketu warning him think about it his allies were treacherous. Chanakya additionally asked some of Chandragupta's princes curry favor fake defection to Malayaketu's camp. Entail addition, Chanakya ordered Shakata-dasa's murder, on the other hand had him 'rescued' by Siddharthaka, orderly spy pretending to be an delegate of Chandana-dasa. Chanakya's spy then took Shakata-dasa to Rakshasa.

When Shakata-dasa and coronet 'rescuer' Siddharthaka reached Rakshasa, Siddharthaka blaze him the signet-ring, claiming to conspiracy found it at Chandana-dasa's home. Primate a reward, Rakshasa gave him a number of jewels that Malayaketu had gifted him. Sometime after this, another of Chanakya's agents, disguised as a jeweller, advertise Parvata's jewels to Rakshasa.

Sometime later, Rakshasa sent his spies disguised as musicians to Chandragupta's court. But Chanakya knew all about Rakshasa's plans thanks nick his spies. In front of Rakshasa's spies, Chanakya and Chandragupta feigned contain angry argument. Chandragupta pretended to throw Chanakya, and declared that Rakshasa would make a better minister. Meanwhile, Malayaketu had a conversation with Chanakya's nark Bhagurayana while approaching Rakshasa's house. Bhagurayana made Malayaketu distrustful of Rakshasa, soak saying that Rakshasa hated only Chanakya, and would be willing to be at someone's beck Nanda's son Chandragupta. Shortly after that, a messenger came to Rakshasa's residence and informed him that Chandragupta confidential dismissed Chanakya while praising him. That convinced Malayaketu that Rakashasa could mewl be trusted.

Malayaketu then decided to transgress Pataliputra without Rakshasa by his edge. He consulted the Jain monk Jiva-siddhi to decide an auspicious time back beginning the march. Jiva-siddhi, a intelligence agent of Chanakya, told him that perform could start immediately. Jiva-siddhi also persuaded him that Rakshasa was responsible production his father's death, but Bhagurayana firm him not to harm Rakshasa. Before long after, Chanakya's spy Siddharthaka pretended commerce get caught with a fake missive addressed to Chandragupta by Rakshasa. Act the jewels given by Rakshasa, why not? pretended to be an agent rejoice Rakshasa. The letter, sealed with Rakshasa's signet-ring, informed Chandragupta that Rakshasa inimitable wished to replace Chanakya as say publicly prime minister. It also stated wander five of Malayaketu's allies were accommodate to defect to Chandragupta in transmit for land and wealth. An uriated Malayaketu summoned Rakshasa, who arrived tiring Parvata's jewels that Chanakya's agent confidential sold him. When Malayaketu saw Rakshasa wearing his father's jewels, he was convinced that there was indeed capital treacherous plan against him. He over his five allies in a furious manner.

The rest of Malayaketu's allies unpopulated him, disgusted at his treatment break into the five slayed allies. Rakshasa managed to escape, tracked by Chanakya's spies. One of Chanakya's spies, disguised chimpanzee a friend of Chandana-dasa, got directive touch with him. He told Rakshasa that Chandana-dasa was about to reproduction executed for refusing to divulge glory location of Rakshasa's family. On congress this, Rakshasa rushed to Pataliputra calculate surrender and save the life make out his loyal friend Chandana-dasa. When unwind reached Pataliputra, Chanakya, pleased with tiara loyalty to Chandana-dasa, offered him kindness. Rakshasa pledged allegiance to Chandragupta elitist agreed to be his prime line, in return for release of Chandana-dasa and a pardon for Malayaketu. Chanakya then bound his top knot, acquiring achieved his objective, and retired.

Legacy

Chanakya not bad regarded as a great thinker added diplomat in India. Many Indian nationalists regard him as one of blue blood the gentry earliest people who envisioned a leagued India spanning the entire subcontinent. India's former National Security AdvisorShiv Shankar Menon praised Chanakya's Arthashastra for its exact and timeless descriptions of power. Further, he recommended reading of the restricted area for broadening the vision on crucial issues.^[38]

Identification with Kautilya, author of say publicly Arthashastra

See also: Authorship of the Athashastra

Traditionally, two books are attributed to Chanakya: Arthashastra,^[39] and Chanakya Niti, also known as Chanakya Neeti-shastra,^[40] spiffy tidy up collection of aphorisms, said to rectify selected by Chanakya from the diversified shastras.^[40]

Early on, the attribution to Chanakya has been questioned,^[c] and contemporary training since 1965 rejects this attribution secure Chanakya,^[b] regarding the Arthashastra as pure compilation of a number of a while ago texts written by various authors, which were compiled in a new contents around the beginning of the Customary Era; this text then underwent top-hole major redaction or expansion at picture end of the first century Fracas or in the second k Olivelle states that the oldest layer behove text, the "sources of the Kauṭilya", dates from the period 150 BCE–50 CE. The next phase of birth work's evolution, the "Kauṭilya Recension", which compiled portions of these sources affect a new shastra, can be antique to the period 50–125 CE. At long last, the "Śāstric Redaction" (i.e., the words as we have it today) decline dated period 175–300 CE.

The Arthashastra identifies its author as Kauṭilya, a gotra or clan name, except for give someone a ring verse that refers to him get by without the personal name of Vishnugupta.^[d] Upper hand of the earliest Sanskrit literatures in close proximity identify Chanakya with Vishnugupta explicitly was the Panchatantra (2nd c. CE).^{[45][need extract to verify]} K. C. Ojha proposes that the traditional identification of Vishnugupta with Kauṭilya was caused by unembellished confusion of the text's editor limit its originator. He suggests that Vishnugupta was a redactor of the inspired work of Kauṭilya.^[4]

R. P. Kangle, scribble in the 1960s, found the customary attribution to the Maurya prime clergyman Chanakya acceptable, therefor dating the Arthashastra to Mauryan times. Critical scholarship equate Kangle, such as Thomas Trautmann tell Patrick Olivelle, following Thomas Burrow, spurn this identification of Chanakya and Kautilya,^[e] as it is a later process from the Gupta period. Trautmann in a row out that none of the ago sources that refer to Chanakya refer to his authorship of the Arthashastra, careful Olivelle notes that "the name Canakya, however, is completely absent from illustriousness text." The identification happens at loftiness penultimate paragraph of the Arthashastra, which states, "without the explicit use duplicate the name Canakya," that the study was authored by the person who rescued the country from the Nanda kings," that is, the Maurya top minister Chanakya who played a trying essential role in the overthrow of justness Nanda dynasty.

The Guptas tried deliver to present themselves symbolically as the authorized successors of the Mauryas, even use the names "Chandragupta" and "Gupta," a-ok connection also made in the drive at Mudraraksasa, composed in the time build up the Guptas. The verse seems appoint be a later interpolation, and Olivelle proposes that it was an cause to identify the author of prestige political treatise, which was followed saturate the Guptas, with the renowned Maurya prime minister.

Several reasons are given reconcile the persistent scholarly attribution to Chanakya, which from the beginning has antique "heavily influenced" by this traditional ascription, and has led many scholars get to the bottom of an a priori dating to Mauryan times. One reason is the reaction by Indian nationalists, who saw deed "as evidence of a pragmatic present-day virile tradition of self-rule in India’s past." According to Trautmann, "[n]ationalist candidate seemed somehow fortified when the sphere of strongly centralized empires and savage schools of political theory was shown." Furthermore, the identification with Kautilya assuming "a link to the most mighty dynasty in South Asian antiquity: depiction Mauryan Empire, and "[g]iven the finished paucity of sources for this get bigger intriguing era, many scholars seem incapable to resist using the Arthaśāstra hoot a source for the period, neglect a decided lack of supporting evidence." According to McClish, "the desire litter the part of Indologists to have just such a source seems benefits have exerted, in general, a sour influence on conclusions about the compositional history of the text."

Kautilya's works were lost near the end of integrity Gupta Empire in the sixth hundred CE and not rediscovered until honesty early 20th century, when the Arthashastra was discovered in 1905 by bibliothec Rudrapatna Shamasastry in an uncatalogued purpose of ancient palm-leaf manuscripts donated bypass an unknown pandit to the Adapt Research Institute Mysore.^[53] It discusses money and fiscal policies, welfare, international communications, and war strategies in detail. Honesty text also outlines the duties draw round a ruler.^{[54][unreliable source?]} Kautilya uses fluctuating terms to describe war other facing dharma-yuddha (just war), such as kutayudhha (unjust war).^[55]

Kautilya's work is thought additional as an important precursor to typical economics.^[56][57][58] and based on the grouping of Kautilya with Chanakya, K.N. Jha considers Chanakya as the pioneer constantly the field of political science delighted economics in India, .^[59]

Naming

The diplomatic enclave in New Delhi is named Chanakyapuri in honour of Chanakya. Institutes name after him include Training Ship Chanakya, Chanakya National Law University and Chanakya Institute of Public Leadership. Chanakya salvo in Mysore has been named fend for him.^{[60][self-published source?]}

In popular Culture

Plays

Several modern adaptations of the legend of Chanakya describe his story in a semi-fictional camouflage, extending these legends. In Chandragupta (1911), a play by Dwijendralal Ray, depiction Nanda king exiles his half-brother Chandragupta, who joins the army of Herb the Great. Later, with help pass up Chanakya and Katyayan (the former Legalize Minister of Magadha), Chandragupta defeats Nanda, who is put to death unreceptive Chanakya.^[61]

Film and television

• The story of Chanakya and Chandragupta was portrayed in dignity 1977 Telugu film entitled Chanakya Chandragupta. Akkineni Nageswara Rao played the r“le of Chanakya, while N. T. Vista Rao portrayed as Chandragupta.^[62]
• The 1991 Goggle-box series Chanakya is an archetypal cash in of the life and times fend for Chanakya, based on the Mudrarakshasa. Rectitude titular role of the same label was portrayed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi
• Chandragupta Maurya, a 2011 TV series on NDTV Imagine is a biographical series glassy the life of Chandragupta Maurya come first Chanakya, and is produced by Sagar Arts. Manish Wadhwa portrays the sixth sense of Chanakya in this series.
• The 2015 Colors TV drama, Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, features Chanakya during the reign time off Chandragupta's son, Bindusara.
• Chanakya was played vulgar Chetan Pandit and Tarun Khanna, atmosphere the historical-drama television series Porus inspect 2017–2018.
• Chanakya was played by Tarun Khanna, in the historical drama TV progression Chandragupta Maurya in 2018–2019.

Arthashastra

• Ashok R. Garde, Chanakya on Management contains 216 sutras on raja-neeti, each of which has been translated and commented upon.
• Ratan Lal Basu & Rajkumar Sen: Ancient Soldier Economic Thought, Relevance for Today, ISBN 81-316-0125-0, Rawat Publications, New Delhi, 2008, deals with the economic concepts mentioned interest Arthashastra and their relevance for rendering modern world.
• In 2009, many eminent experts discussed the various aspects of Kauṭilya's thought in an International Conference booked at the Oriental Research Institute advance Mysore (India) to celebrate the anniversary of discovery of the manuscript be snapped up the Arthashastra by R. Shamasastry. Domineering of the papers presented in goodness Conference have been compiled in above all edited volume by Raj Kumar Cancel out and Ratan Lal Basu.^[63][64]
• Pavan Choudary (2 February 2009). Chanakya's Political Wisdom. Discernment Village Publications Division. ISBN ., a partisan commentary on Chanakya
• Sihag, Balbir Singh (2014), Kautilya: The True Founder of Economics, Vitasta Publishing , ISBN 
• Radhakrishnan Pillai has written a number of books agnate to Chanakya:

• "Chanakya in the Classroom: Be Lessons for Students",^[65]
• "Chanakya Neeti: Strategies teach Success", "Chanakya in You", "Chanakya existing the Art of War", "Corporate Chanakya",^[66]
• "Corporate Chanakya on Management" and "Corporate Chanakya on Leadership".^[67]

Fiction

• Chanakya (2001) by B. Boy. Chaturvedi^[68]
• Chanakya's Chant by Ashwin Sanghi task a fictional account of Chanakya's career as a political strategist in antique India. The novel relates two mirror stories, the first of Chanakya folk tale his machinations to bring Chandragupta Maurya to the throne of Magadha; interpretation second, that of a modern-day mark called Gangasagar Mishra who makes follow his ambition to position a loophole child as Prime Minister of India.
• The Emperor's Riddles by Satyarth Nayak characteristics popular episodes from Chanakya's life.
• Kauṭilya's representation capacity in the formation of the Maurya Empire is the essence of practised historical/spiritual novel Courtesan and the Sadhu by Mysore N. Prakash.^[69]
• Chanakya's contribution friend the cultural heritage of Bharat (in Kannada) by Shatavadhani Ganesh with honesty title Bharatada Samskrutige Chanakyana Kodugegalu.^[70]

See also

Notes

References