GHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA

BY

PURUSHOTTAM LAL BHARCAVA,

M. A,

With a Foreword

BY
OR.

RADHA KUMUD MOOKERJI,

M.A.,

Vidya-vaibhava, Itihau^jciuMa
Profetior

and Head of the

mVii

TIE tftttt

UNA PUBU8IC

HflUSE LT8,

PRINTED BY

R. P.

BHAKGAVA.

AT THE

Oudh

Printing Works, Charbagh, Lucknow.

PREFACE.
As a student
by the

of history

have always been fascinated

Maurya, one of the

career of Chandragupta

conquerors and administrators the

greatest of kings,

It is indeed strange that such a

world has produced.
should
have passed almost unnoticed
great personage

by historians, for there

a

single

book

Achievements,

in
I

is

so far, to

English

my

was aware of

my

incompetence to take
might make an attempt.

up this task, yet 1 thought 1

This small monograph is the result. In
to describe, in

a brief compass, the

Chandragupta making use

I could lay my hands upon.
accepted views where
contrary.
for the

knowledge, not

describing exclusively his

life

it,

have tried

and career of

of all the original

1

source!

have deviated from the

found better evidence to the

For instance, I have accepted the Jain date

coronation of Chandragupta as it is better

supported by

facts

than the date hitherto generally

CHANDRAGUPTA

iv

some

In

accepted.

matters, of course,

achieve any kind of finality

to notice, for

example

till

in the

it is

difficult to

further evidence

comes

case of the

pre-Maurya
have simply men-

history ot Magadha; in such oases I

tioned the probabilities without emphasising the correct*

ness of

my

views.

Recently, there have been controversies on

points, of
I

less

text

would

like to

many

important bearing on the subject.

have referred to them

but

more or

in

the text where relevant,

mention one of them here as the

was already printed when

it

came

to

my

notice.

refer to the controversy regarding the relation of the

Brihatkatha to the Mudrarakshasa. Mr. C. D. Chatterji,

in

a very learned article, which appeared in the Indian

Culture, Vol.
ticity

no

2,

has expressed doubt on the authen-

of the statement found

in the

Dasarupavaloka

that the Mudrarakshasa was based on the Brihatkatha,

and has shown at length that the two verses following

support of this statement are later interpolations.
His arguments in support of the view that the plot of
in

the Mudrarakshasa can not have been taken from the

Brihatkatha are, no doubt, convincing. Yeti there is

nothing to disprove the probability that the idea of

Chandragupta's Nanda descent

Visakhadatta by the Brihatkatha.

was suggested to

Unfortunately, the book suffers from the lack of

proper diacritical marks for Sanskrit words as from a

lew printing errors here and there. I hope to remedy

PREFACE
them

the second edition

in

be published.
These observations

my

express

whom

and when that oomes to

if

be incomplete

will

received inspiration and help.

if

did not

from

obligation to the different persons

If it

be not

regarded as too personal, 1 shall, among them, place

first my dear father, who goaded me to write out these

encouragement,

my

whom

those from

Among

pages.

would

like to

received constant

mention the names of

kind teacher Mr. K. A. S. Iyer, M.A., Head of the

Sanskrit Department,

Luoknow

University, and Pandit

Sharga, M. A*, LL.B. Advocate.

Brijnath

Ch alter ji, M, A., lecturer in Ancient

the Lucknow University, for whom

Mr. C. D.

Indian History in
I

entertain high

was very kind to suggest to me

work and to give me his
I
whenever
approached him for the
ungrudging help
came. 1 am indebted to Dr. Rama S hanker Tripathi,
M.A., Ph. D., of the Benares Hindu University, for
regard as

some

my

teacher,

original sources for the

suggesting to
useful in

my

me

work.

certain papers which proved very

I

have reserved the expression of

my esteemed teacher, Dr. Radha

my
Kumud Mookerji, M.A., Ph.D an authority on Ancient
India, not because he deserves the least but because I
gratitude to

can not find adequate words for

It.

His foreword

perhaps more the outcome of his affection for

me

his student than the merit of the book and yet

infinite

satisfaction

when

see this

is

as

feel

humble attempt

CHANDRAGUPTA

vi

so

well reviewed

by such a high authority on

the

subject.

know
Luoknow

:
;

'-PURUSHOTTAM LAL BHARGAYA

M
Marsh

1935.

FOREWORD.
Mr* Purushottam
for

congratulation

Lai Bhargava

nice

this

writing

important period ot ancient Indian

small work dealing with

one of the

of

the

greatest of

life

every

deserves

on an

book

It is

history.

and achievements
rulers

India's

who had

achieved the singular distinction of establishing

one

common

political sovereignty over an Indian empire

had extended right upto the borders of Persia.

that

Unfortunately, the history of such an interesting and

important

personality has

some

been shrouded to

extent in mystery for want of definite evidence and

chronological certainties.
of

his

history

is

that

What adds
its

to the difficulty

sources are so diverse.

Brahmanical, Buddhist, Jain and even Greek works

have

all

doings

something to say and record regarding the

of

Chandragupta Maurya.

Sometimes these

sources belonging to different places and times are

equally different in their contents and

it is

a strain on

scholarship to reconcile these differences and

work out

the way to truth through a maze of contradictions,

am

glad to say that the different problems with

is

book by

young and promising author who

quipped for

bristling

his

which

have been ably tackled in this

the subject
its

is

welt

task by his special knowledge of

Sanskrit as a Master of Arts of the

Luoknow University

CHANDRAGUPTA

viit

and of Anoient Indian History and Culture which he

has studied

in its original sources.

It is to

be hoped

that the appreciation of the work by the students of

Indian history, whioh

it

undoubtedly deserves, will act

as a stimulus to the young author for continuing these

arduous researches

in further

publications enriching

Indian historical literature.

RADHA KUMUD MOOKERJt.

CONTENTS.
Chapter
I.

Page.

DETERMINATION OF CHRONOLOGY

GROWTH OF MAGADHA

...

12

III.

CAREER OF CHANDRAGUPTA

...

27

IV.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

45

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

69

LITERATURE AND ART

86

11.

V.
VI.

Vll
VIII.

...

...

ACHIEVEMENTS OF CHANDRAGUPTA

99

LEGENDS OF CHANDRAGUPTA

...

105

APPENDICES

...

...

128

INDEX

...

...

182

Illustrations.

EXCAVATIONS AT PATALIPUTRA

MAP OF INDIA

IN 800 B. C.

Frontispieo*

At end

Mudrarakshasa VII.

DETERMINATION OF CHRONOLOGY
Thanks

to Sir

William Jones'

with Chandragupta,

Sandrakottos

easy to solve.

Many

problem of

the

become comparatively

ancient Indian chronology has

1

identification of

other sources have since been

discovered which are capable of rendering further

valuable

aid

in

Buddhist chronicles of Ceylon

when

The

direction.

this

and the Jain records,

read together, go a long

way

vexed problems of chronology.

the present writer
precise dates

it

Puranas, the

in solving

In the

the

judgment of

possible to arrive at nearly

is

by reconciling the diverse chronologies

preserved in these works.

Buddhist and
calculations
of

on

Jain
the

authors

dates

Buddha and Mahavira

occasional

mistakes

of

usually
the

passing

respectively,

in other matters,

base their

away

and despite
they

appear

be generally correct when they date an event in

terms of these epochs, which were important enough
to

for

them

to well

remember.

Professor Geiger has,

1.

Asiatic ttesearebea Vol. IV. pp, 10-11.

2.

Dipavansa and Mahavanga.

CHANDRAGUPTA

after thorough study of the problem, arrived at

the

conclusion that the Nirvana of Buddha took place

483

in

C. 1

B.

The

date

the

of

death

of

Mahavira has

similarly been determined by Professor

on
the authority of the Parisishtaparvan
Charpentier,
a
and other Jain works, as 468 B.
shall

accept these dates

the kings of
It is,

We

determining the chronology of

in

Magadha upto Chandragupta.

at present, not possible to verify the

Puranic

account of the Kings of Magadha before the time

of Bimbisara.

The

We,

therefore, start with that king.

durations of the reigns of

Bimbisara downwards

are

Magadhan

diversely

given

Ceylonese chronicles and the Puranas.

Purana, which

is

in

the

The Vayu

one of the oldest Puranas, seems

to have the best preserved

on

kings from

list,

as calculations

made

most nearly agree with the Buddhist and

Jain dates. This will be presently manifest.
its

basis

Bimbisara reigned for 28 years according to the

Puranic account, and inasmuch as he died 8 years

Nirvana of Buddha according to the

Mahavansa, he must have come to the throne 36 years
the

before

Qeiper,

Mahavansa

p.

XXVIII.

Dr. Fleet also agrees

with

this date.
2.

Cambridge History of India Vol.

suggested by Jacobi, long ago.

1 p. 156.

This date was also

DETERMINATION OF CHRONOLOGY

C. 1 After a reign of
28 years he was succeeded by his son Ajatasatru,
whose date of accession would
thus be 491

Nirvana

before

B.

C.

e.

i.

Ajatasatru

519

B.

25 years according

for

reigned

Vayu Purana and was succeeded by

to the

was a

son

his

though ignored by the Buddhists and

as will be shown in the

Darsaka, who,
Jains,

real figure,

chapter.

The

would be 466

B. C.,

next

in

date

Ajatasatru as 25 years.

Darsaka's

of

we

if

accession

accept the reign^period of

Darsaka

also

for

reigned

25 years according

to

therefore his successor

Udayi must have come to the

throne

in

according

441
to

B.

the

C.

the

Vayu

33

years

therefore,

must

Udayi ruled

Puranas. 2

He,

and

Purana,

for

408 B. C. Here, fortunately, the Jain

to the
writings come to our help.
According
60
died
after
Mahavira's
Parisishtaparvan, Udayi
years
death
which occurred in 468 B. C 8
Thus,
have died

in

1.

Buddha

died in the eighth year of

whose accession synchronized with

took place eight years before Nirvana.

2.

Vide

the

reign of

Ajataaatru,

Bimbiaara's death, which thus

Vide Mahavansa V.

Vayu Purana 99 and Matsya Purana 272

for these

references.

This work, while closing the account of Udayi's reign tayi

that 60 years had elapsed since the death of Mahavlra at the time
when Udayi was succeeded on tbe throne left vacant by hii
3.

CHANDRAGUPTA

according to the Jains also, Udayi died in

This

startling

that

each of the authorities

preserved

result

408

C.

B.

establishes the fact

sufficiently
at

our

much truth, which we can

disposal

has

easily disentangle

from falsehood by means of comparison.

The

history of the

the death of

been

period

Udayi and the

We

ill-preserved.

the total length

of

this

intervening

rise

can,

of

between

Nandas has

however, determine
to the

According

period.

Jain Parisishtaparvan a period

the

of

95 years elapsed

between the death of Udayi and the accession of

The
Chandragupta, and it may well be correct.
Jains

further

Nandas

the

regard

as having ruled
1

The
during the whole of this period of 95 years
Vayu Purana, on the other hand, assigns a total
3
The
period of only 40 years to the Nandas.
.

Mahavansa

assigns

difference in

this

case

still
is

lesser

periodt

but the

more apparent than

real,

name of the successor is wrongly given as Nan da,

the date of tbe transfer of power from the hands of Udayi appears to
be correct. Vide Parisishtaparvan VI 243.

death. Although tbe

Not 155

by Dr. Smith in Early History of

According to the Jains.
Udayi died 60 years
death and Chandrajrupta ascended the throne

years, as given

India* page 4-.

after Mabavira's
155 yenra after the

same

event,

thus implying

an interval of

95

years.
2.

Mahapadma Nanda 28

years. Vide

Vayu Purana

99,

years; bis sons

32829.

12

years. Total 40

DETERMINATION OF CHRONOLOGY
as will be presently clear.
first

Nanda murdered

the pretence
children,

of

ttie

as Professor Rai

sovereign

have

the

usurped

afterwards put

as

acting

been

young

guardian

royal

separate

name

in their

his

period

some

1
If,

murdered

that

that the

for

and

authority,

clear

is

on the ground

solely

the

conjectures, the
it

allotted

then, under

to

princes also to death.

Chaudhury

pretended to rule

and

supreme

was Kalasoka, 3

Mahavansa

to Curtius the

According

his sovereign

first

sons

by the

Nanda

time.

We

therefore, consider the whole period between

the death of Kalasoka and the rise of Chandragupta
as
the
Nanda period. Thus the period is

may,

substantially the

Purana.
period of

same 8

We are,
40

as that allotted

therefore,

years to

the

justified

Nandas.

figure from the total period of

95

by the Vayu
in allotting a

Deducting

this

years, that elapsed

between the death of

Udayi and the rise of

Chandragupta according to the Jains, we get
55 years as the period between the death of
Udayi
and the rise of the Nandas. Curiously enough if we
add the reign-periods of the kings from the death of

Udayi
1.
2.

to

the death

of

Kalasoka as given in

the

MoCrindle- Invasion of India by Alexander p. 222.

Political History of Ancient India p. 164.

KaUwoka B >ii822yean; Nanda* 22 yean.

*
u
Vide Mahavanaa Paricfacheda V,
'

Total 44 years.

CHANDRAGUPTA

Mahavansa (excluding Nagadasaka, who has been

misplaced, as will be shown in the next chapter) we
1
The Vayu
get almost exactly the same figure.
Purana,

kings during

knows

interval, assigning to

this

and

forty^two
is

the other Puranas,

like

of only

respectively; but

forty-three years

probable, forty (chatvarinsat)

two

them a reign
if,

only a mistake

is

twenty-four (chaturvinsat) then it

Puranas also
recognize almost

clear

is

the

this interval.

having elapsed during

that while there is contradiction

of
as
for

the

that

same period

The

fact

is

in details, all the

works appear to agree in regard to the total period.

Thus 55 years after the death of Udayi, the

Nanda
Nanda

family

came

After a period of
sovereignty
B.

to

whom

after

This

of
is

40

The
power.
be
dated
may

years the

Magadha

to

rise

in

of the

353 B.C.

Nandas passed

the

in

313

Chandragupta

the date given by the Jains, according

Chandragupta acquired throne 155 years

the death of Mahavira or 255 years before the

era of Vikramaditya,
in

to

family, accordingly,

the
1.
2.

This

Parisishtaparvan,*

date

but

is

also

given, not only

in

other Jain

The exact total which we thus get is 54 years.

Such corruptions in the Huranas are numerous.

total according to this interpretation

of the

The exact

Puranio text would be

53 years.
3.

Parisishtaparvan VIII 839

DETERMINATION OF CHRONOLOGY

works such as the Vicharasreni, 1 the Tithoogaliya

Payanna and the Tirthoddhara Prakirnaka. Besides

being justified by the conclusions, which we have
already

arrived

it

at,

also

is

agreement with

in

we

immediate and suosequent events, which

now

shall

discuss.

Till

now

the date

of

scholars

have been accustomed

Chandragupta by guess.

As

to fix

has

it

been

proved beyond doubt that Chandragupta

was a contemporary of Alexander for some time,
and came to the throne after the departure of the
from India,

latter

is

it

certain that

throne at a date later than 325 B. C.

322

fixed

B. C.,

as

and

revolt against

date

the

accession, assuming that

he acquired the
Dr. V. A. Smith

of

Chandragupta's

his conquest

Greek authority

in

of

Magadha

the

Punjab

occurred immediately after the death of Alexander. 2

But there

The

nothing to warrant such an assumption.

is

presence of

B. C.,

shows

Eudemos

conquered the Punjab

1.

till

that

to

2.

c. for

date.

317

till

have

Moreover,

we

Merutunga, the author

who

we obtain by accepting
Vide Appendix B.

very well with the date of Samprati , which

313 B.

Punjab

of the Vicharasreni,
converted Samprati, became Yugapradhana
Mahavira's death, i. e. in 223 B. C, This date agrees

According

Suhaatin, the Jain saint,

245 years after

in the

Chandragupta could hardly

that

Chandragupta's accession.

Early History of

India

4*
p.

122.

CHANDRAGUPTA

do not hear a word about such a powerful

as

prince
Porus in Chandragupta's military career, in the

northwest

was

not

which

frontier,

alive at that time.

shows

that

Porus

Now, Eudemos

quitted

an Indian prince
who was, most probably, Porus. Thus, even on this
ground, Chandragupta could not have conquered

India

after

treacherously slaying

the Punjab before

317

C. Therefore, the

B.

earliest

date of the conquest of the Punjab by Chandragupta

would be 317 B. C. As for Magadha, the Jains

and the Buddhists agree

quered Magadha
frontier.

As

reduce the

313

it

after

the

subduing

must have

country

Chandragupta coru

that

taken

of the

east

B. C., for the accession of

north-west

a few years

Punjab,

the

Chandragupta

is

to

date
quite

plausible*

This date, moreover,

Asoka.

Chandragupta

fits

in

reigned

with the date of

for

24

years

according to the concurrent testimony of the Puranas

and the Buddhists. 1 He,

therefore,

must have been

succeeded by Bindusara in 289 B. C. There is not the

same unanimity about the length of this king's reign
1.

The

this fact

tika. Vide
2.

story of Chandra gapta and the old woman, which suggest*

found in the ParieishUparvan as well as in the Mahavansa-

Chapter VIII.

Vayu Parana

99. 831.

Mahavanga Paricheheda.

DETERMINATION OF CHRONOLOGY
we

but

shall

Purana, as
to

it,

accept the period allotted by the

we

have done

Bindusara reigned

in other cases.

Thus,

years.

date of his death would be 264 B.

Vayu

According

25

for

the

This means

Asoka was inaugurated king in 264 B.

According to the Mahavansa, Asoka was inaugurated

that

Buddha, 8 which

in the 21 9th year after the death of

would

264

also give

The

inauguration.

B.

as

the date

assertion of

the

for

Asoka's

Mahavansa

that

Asoka had become king four years before his formal

inauguration cannot be accepted as correct, as it is
not supported by any other evidence.
to

me

from

all

chronological

It

seems clear

considerarions

that

have been any considerable interval

between the death of Bindusara and the coronation
there could not

of Asoka;

and Asoka's calculation

of dates from his

mean, as pointed out

there was an
interval

abhisheka does not necessarily

by Prof. Bhandarkar,
between that event and
1.

Vaju Paraaa

9, d32.

that

his father's death.

The name

wiitten as Bhadraaara.

2.

MabaYaota Pancbcbeda V.
3.

Bhandarkar

Aeoka pp. 9-10.

of

Bindusara

is

erroneously

CHANDRAGUPTA

10

There can be only one

serious objection against

date viz., difficulty in the synchronism of Asoka

this

with the Greek kings mentioned

we

on a closer examination

The

his

in

find

But

edict.

no such

that

the

Greek kings

referred to are thus given in Hultzch's

"Inscriptions

exists.

difficulty

of

dates

of Asoka":*

Antiochus

Ptolemy

11

II

Theos

261.246

of Syria

285.247 B. C.

Philadelphus of Egypt

Antigonus Gonatus of Macedonia 276.239

c 300,250
Magas of Cyrene

Alexander of Corinth
If

we assume

the

reign,

its

of

these

the kings

in

accepting

were

in the 14rh

C.

alive.

this

chronology,

chronology
Bimbisara

may be

which

Hindu

are

year of Asoka's

B. C., and at
Thus there is no

Buddhist and Jain dates with

The

B.

kings

date would be 251

all

C.

c 252.244 B. C.

names

mentioned, was engraved

1

B.

the correctness of the assertion that

which

the edict in

date

this

difficulty

reconciles

records.

tabulated

as follows:

...

519.491 B.

A jatasatru

...

49 1 .466 B, C.

Darsaka

.-.

466.441 B.

Udayi

...

44L408

1.

This

acceptance.

is

C.

B.

the view of Senart;

and

it

has met

B.

with

C
C
general

DETERMINATION OF CHRONOLOGY
Other kings

...

408-353 B.C.

Nandas

...

353-313

B.

C.

Chandragupta

...

313-289

B.

C.

The Maurya
of the book.

chronology appears

at

the

1 1

end

II

GROWTH OF MAGADHA
There were many kingdoms and republics in
The
India when the founder of Buddhism lived.
most famous kingdoms of that period were Magadha,
Avanti, Kosala and Vatsa, while the most important

were the Mallas, the

republican clans

The

Sakyas and the Moriyas.

well as the

republican

dynasties

the

as

clans generally belonged to

tendency of the time was

The

the Kshatriya class.

ruling

Vrijis,

towards the growth of monarchies and the republics

were

being

generally

merged

the

into

existing

kingdoms or otherwise coming under the influence

monarchism. Chandragupta himself, the hero of

of

our story and the 'founder of the greatest Indo^Aryan

dynasty

known

clan, as

we

in history',

sprang from a republican

shall see later*

The kingdom of Magadha, which was

traditionally

founded several centuries before by a king

Brihadratha,*
the rule

of a

was

rapidly rising at this period under

new

king was Bimbisara,

dynasty whose

The

1.

Havell- Aryan Rule in India p. 76.

This

first

important

history of India henceforth

2.

tradittp

named

recorded in the

Puranas.

Brihadratha

the father of Jarasfiidha, famous In the Mahabbarata*

was

GROWTH OF MAGADHA
is

the

history

of

culminated in the

this

his

rise of the

capital

which

kingdom's growth,

Maurya empire.

Bimbisara began to reign about 519

established

13

at

C. and

B.

He was

Rajagriha.

contemporary of Gautama and Mahavira, as well

Prasenajit and Udayana, the rulers
He
Vatsa respectively.
of Avanti, Kosala and

as of Pradyota,

conquered the neighbouring

thereby

laid the

foundation of

of

territory

Magadhan

Anga and

imperialism.

Bimbisara was succeeded by his son, Ajatasatru, in

491

B.

The

C.

according to

was an ambitious monarch and,

Buddhist accounts, removed his father

from the

latter

throne

1
.

He waged many

Prasenajit, the aged king of Kosala.

was constrained

to

At

wars

with

the latter

last,

conclude peace according

to

the

terms of which he married his daughter to Ajatasatru,

ceding the

district of Kasi,

which became an

Magadha. Ajatasatru defeated the

and annexed Videha to his dominions.
part of

The

son

who

succeeded Ajatasatru

was Darsaka, according

the

to

This

is

Vrijis also,

466

B. C.,

Puranas.

scholars doubt his existence because

Buddhist writers do not

in

integral

the

know him 2

Jain

Some
and

His name,

referred to in the Pali canon as well as in the Ceyloneae

Chronicles.
2.

Thus

jet another

Professor Geigcr has remarked:

king, called Darsaka, etc.,

is

'Again in the Parana*

inserted

between Ajatanatra

CHANDRAGUPTA

14

however, occurs

Bhasa's

in

Svapnavasavadatta,

an

independent Sanskrit drama, which represents him as

a contemporary of Pradyota and

him

in the

The

Udayana, thereby
even the position assigned to
of Magadhan kings by the Puranas

supporting

indirectly

list

omission

writers

is,

writers,

of

name by

his

no

in

way,

for

example,

of

Asoka,

successor

Jain and Buddhist

make Samprati
but

of

Dasaratha,

inscriptions in the

of Darsaka

doubt

is

it

Nagarjuni

also similar,

his existence.

the

Puranas

the

Dasaratha in the middle, and no body

existence

These

hindrance.

insert

doubts

the
his

proved by

being

caves.

hill

direct

and there

is

The

case

no reason

to

Moreover, the Jains, although

not mentioning Darsaka by name, offer a chronology

which

with the chronology of the

admit the existence of Darsaka*.

perfectly tallies

Puranas,

if

we

Even

the Buddhist chronicles of

Ceylon mention a

king,

named Nagadasaka, whom

Professor Bhandarkar

has

identified

and Udayin,

That

with
is

But

Darsaka.

certainly

an

error

'

the

Mahavansa,

learned
trans, pp.

XLIV, XLV.
Mahasena Pradyota and Udayana were already ruling in
1.
time of Ajatasatru according to the Buddhists, and therefore
Darsaka could have been their contemporary only by being the
immediate successor of Ajatasatru.
the

2.

3.

Vide the Parisishtaparayan and the Divyavadana,

Vide pp. 3-4 supra.

GROWTH OF MAGADHA
Professor has maintained the position of

according to the chronicles,

is

no independent proof

Thus,

while admitting

support that

position.

proposed

therefore,

to

we

see

no reason

to

position
in

justified

this

king.

Bhasa, Darsaka continued

We

are,

as

the

Darsaka,

treating

immediate successor of Ajatasatru.

the foreign policy of his

the neighbouring potentates

alliances with

1
.

Darsaka was succeeded

in

441

B.

C, by

Udayi,

famous monarch, being celebrated

and

of

and

to the tendency,

making a

Udayi

is

testimonies
1.

is

it

possible

king

credited

common

with the

foundation

Pradyota, King of Avanti,

3.

The Divyavadana
Vayu Purana 99,

4.

Parisishtaparvan VI 180.

is

of

is

so,

Darsaka

of

predecessor.
8

and

own
it.

son.

Jain 4

Kusumapura

represented as seeking the

notorious for

319.

his

Puranic

the

by

he was
of

to all Indian literature,

son

the

of Padmavati, sister of Darsaka, for his

2.

that

having made him a son

Puranas

due
of

Buddhist writers represent him as a son

Ajatasatru,

the

in

The

Jain and Buddhist as well as Hindu works.

Jain

to

According

ancestors by concluding matrimonial

who was

to reject

Puranas, Bhasa and chronology

the testimony of the

assigning

Nagadasaka

caring that there

little

the identification

by Professor Bhandarkar,
in

15

hand

CHANDRAGUPTA

16

or Pataliputra, a city destined to

one of the

foundation of

known

empires

greatest

this city

become

may be

in

the capital of

The

history.

dated in

the

year

438 B. C, following the Puranic account, according

to which this event took place in the fourth year of
Udayi's reign.
of

33

Udayi died

in

B. C., after

a reign

years.

Udayi was succeeded by

in

408

to

According

turn.

his son

the

and grandson

Puranas, Udayi's

son

and grandson, who ruled after him, were named

Nandivarddhana 1 and Mahanandi respectively. The
Buddhists,

however,

call

and grandson

the son

of

2
Udayi as Anuruddhaka and Munda respectively.
It seems to me almost certain that both the authorities
Professor Bhandarkar identifies Nandivarddhana, son of Udayi

1.

according to the Puranas, with Nandivarddhana, one of the ten sons of

Kalasoka according to the Mahabodhivansa. The identification,

however,

is

too far-fetched, there being nothing

two, except name.

as the

This

common between

the

not a sufficient reason for identification,

is

name Nandivarddhana was not uncommon in ancient India,

name being recorded in literature* Moreover,

several persons of that

Nandwarddhana

Puran&s was thn

of the

sole successor of his father,

while Nandivarddhana of the Mahabodbivansa was one

the

eldest

among

his

ten

brothers

who

are

simultaneous successors of their father, a fact which

none

of

them

2.

The

and not even

represented as

the

suggests that

really ever ruled.

names

of

Anuruddhaka

and

Munda

occur in

the

Oeylonese Chronicles, the latter being mentioned in the Pali canon and

the Divyavadana also.

GROWTH OF MAGADHA
tnean the same individuals*

may

either

be due

17

The apparent difference

to the fact that

the

same name*

have been preserved by our authorities under different

forms, or that each of the kings bore more names
than one, as was

uncommon

not

in

ancient India.

Both of these kings are shadowy figures, and nothing

known about them. After Munda, the Ceylonese

is

chronicles place Nagadasaka

who

with Darsaka. 1 Thus

identified

Udayi remains as the

has

been already

the

grandson of

king of

last

this

line,

in

agreement with the Puranas.

The Ceylonese chronicles next place Susunaga

who was followed by his son, Kalasoka. Some
scholars have identified these two with Sisunaga

Kakavama

may be

of the Puranas.

The

these

mentioned, place

There

before Bimbisara.

are,

latter

kings

and

works,

it

considerably

however, grounds on

the Ceylonese version can be supported. The

Puranas make Sisunaga the destroyer of the dynasty

which
of

Pradyota,

by
1415 sapra,

also acknowledged
1.

pp.

3.

Proteflsorg

Jaoobi,

among

theae aeholarB.

3.

Vayu Parana

||

with

whose connection
those works-

Avanti

As Pradyota

Geiger and Bhandarar are tto

99.314: ilatsya Pnrarta

Malaya Parana 373.

1.

27:8. 6,

is

of

obiaf

CHANDRAGUPTA

18

was

Avanti

his

Bimbisara,

by Sisunaga,

destroyed
latter

came

certain

undoubtedly a
dynasty could
unless

considerably after

it is

then

however, be sure
support of

The

kingdom of Magadha
upto
until

we

at this

We

Avanti.

Nandas.

The

Magadha was
name "of the

personal

founder of this family seems to have been

which,

whole
It is

its

plural

form, became

obvious from

name

the.

fact

that

Nanda,

applicable to the

family, as in other cases (e. g.

give the

cannot,

get further evidence in

next family which ruled over

in

time

it.

the

that of

to

after

sway

its

Thus it is
do with

Bimbisara.

came considerably

clear that the

extended

admit that the

the latter alternative be correct,

the Pradyota dynasty or he

If

we

had nothing

that either Sisunaga

Bimbisara.

contemporary of
have been
not

the Pradyotas).

several

of the founder simply as

authorities

Nanda, and

even the Puranic appellation Mahapadma is only

an epithet, hinting at the riches of the king, as is
apparent from the Bhagavata Purana which dubs
the founder in more clear terms as
Mahapadmapati
(i,

e. lord of

had eight

a vast amount). 1

sons,

whence

BhagmraU p. XII.

I,

Mahapadma Nanda

the family

is

called as that

GROWTH OF MAGADHA
of the nine Nandas.

19

probable, however, that the

It is

was Mahaoadma Nanda as,

many authorities, all the nine Nandas

real ruler throughout

according to

1
The
by Chandragupta and Chanakya.
Divyavadana* actually mentions only Nanda as

were

killed

having ruled, while Kautilya also calls the ruler

3
dethroned by him simply as Nanda. Even the Greeks
give the

name

of the King of Prassiai

as

Aggramen,
which agrees very well with Ugrasena, an apithet of
Mahapadma Nanda according to the Mahabodhivansa.
4
It is true that the Vayu and Matsya Puranas
allot a
reign of 12 years to the eight sons of Nanda, but that

may have been due

during the

last

all

in

power

the

to

fact

that

Mahapadma

of his reign rested practically

years

the hands of his sons,

who were
a

considered virtual rulers during that period

fact

introduction

by Dhundhiraja in the
5
commentary on the Mudra^Rakshasa.

suggested
his

thus

1.

Vishnu Purana IV.

Act I gloka 13.

2.

Divyavadana pp. 310

8.

2frrT

Bhagavata Purana

24;

XII

ff.

^TOf

Artbns&Blra

XV.

I.

4.

Vayu Purana 99.829 Matgya Parana 273,

5.

Mudra-Bakthasa (Nirnaya Sagar*)

21.

p. 43, sloka

1.

to

This

Mudra-

CHANORACUPTA

30
fefcplains

why

Greeks alto sometimes speak of

the

'the king* of Prussia!'

irt

plural.

Mahapadma Nancfet usurped the thtone of

Mfcgadha about 353 B. C. According to the
Puranas he was the son of the last descendant of
Bimbisara* by a Sudra
the

classical

writers

woman, but

the

unanimously

father to have been a barber.

AH

Jains 8 and

represent

his

the authorities,

however, agree that he was a low*bom and ambitious

monarch. The Puranas assert that many of the

which ruled contemporaneously with the

These
rise.
prtdecessors of Nanda, fell at his
the
were
the
the
Kasis,
Maithilas,
dynasties
dynasties

Ikshvakus, the Kurus, the Panchalas,

the

Vitthotras,

the Surasenas,

Haihayas, the Asmakas and the

the

whose dominions comprised the whole of

Gangetic valley as well as western India and

K&lingas,
the

Orissa.

Some

of

them had already been overthrown

1.

McCrindle- Invasion of India by Alexander p. 310.

4.

That

3.

Pariaisbtaparvan VI.

is

to say, Mabanandi.

MoCrindle-Invasion of India by Alexander p. 223.

Mont of the territories ruled by these dynasties can b*

4.

5.

identified

follows.

N.

Bibar (Maitbilas)

Benares (Kasia), Oudh

Mnttra (Sanwenas),
(IksbvafcnsX Agra (Kurus), Kanauj (Panebalaa).
Orissa
and
(Kalingaa). Tbe
(Haibayas)
Oojrat
Avanti
(Vitihotras),

territory

of tbe

Asmakas

on Avanti.
probably bordered

cannot

be definitely

identified,

but

it

GROWTH OF MAGADHA
kings and

by previous

subdue the

to

was almost
the

In

the

of

conquest

of

Kalinga

by Mahapadma.
Kharavela

inscription, king

conquest

300

about

Kalinga

a
named
time
king
by
must have been none other than

his

who

Nandaraja,

Mahapadma

for

left

certainly accomplished

before

years

The

rest.

Hathigumpha

mentions

was

it

21

Some

Mahapadma.

scholars

with a predecessor of

have

identified

him

reading a

Mahapadma by

passage as dating the inscription in the 165th year

Muriya Kala, which they

1
But even
Chandragupta.
of

been

has

era

Maurya

necessary to interpret

and thereby place

nine members

is

forms of

if

as the era

of

the reference to the

read,

correctly

as the era of

it

not

is

Chandragupta

the Nandaraja of the

before

considerably

it

interpret

inscription

Mahapadma, whose family

the only

Nanda

of

family recognized

Moreover, Chandragupta
hardly be credited with the foundation of an

by
can

all

tradition.

era in view of the fact that his grandson Asoka uses

his

own

regnal years.

era referred to
Samprati,
1.

Banerji.

This

The

is

who
IB

It

is

more probable

ruled

about a century

the opinion of Meiers.

King

Kandtvarddhana, son

that

the

that of Chandragupta's descendant

with
of Udayi.

whom

K.
they

after

hi$

P. Jayaswal and E.

D.

Nandaraja

iv

identify

CHANDRAGUPTA

22

who

famous ancestor and

have founded an
arms of

that the

era.

We

is

actually

may,

Mahapadma
Nanda

countries
B.

invaded

Great

We

C.

the

to

family,

Alexander
the

west? he crossed the Indus in

326

India.

After

a pretty vivid account of the

at that time, as the

Northern India

who came

Greeks,

therefore, believe

subduing

possess

condition of

to

reached upto Kalinga.

Late in the period of the

the

known

with the

invader, as well as the

Indians contribute to our knowledge in this case.

The

Indus valley at this time

was

parcelled out

a number of small kingdoms and republics.

extreme north-west was the kingdom of Taxi la,

among
In the

ruled by king

Ambhi, who gave a good reception

Alexander, regarding

it

against his rival, Porus,

powerful king

in

the

ruled on the other side

strong

resistance

to

fair

to

opportunity for revenge

who was

perhaps the most

Punjab at that time. Porus

of the Jhelum and gave a

the invader, but

was

defeated.

Alexander proceeded upto the Beas river and then

made a retreat. The retreating army was confronted,

by the powerful republican tribes of

the Malavas and the Kshudrakas, who gave a severe
Mutual jealousies, however,
fight to the invader.

among

1.

others,

Early History of India p. 20 2n,

GROWTH OF MAGADHA
be

to

proved

ruinous as

became master
The whole

of the

the

of

Nanda

river.

family.

height of their

invasion

the

of

upto the Beas

Ganges valley upto Magadha

was under the rule

Nandas were at the
time

Alexander thus

usual.

of the country

23

power

Alexander

of

the

The
at the

Great.

Plutarch informs us that 'the kings of the Gangaridai

(Ganges
to

delta)

and the

Prassiai (Prachi)

were reported

be waiting for him with an army of 80,000 horses,

200,000

foot,
1

elephants'

to

990
very

8000 war

passage

The

unpopular.
also

disposition.

The

chief

on the

were, however,

reason

of

lowness of their origin.

of

their

probably

implies

part of the

closing

period

their

They

heterodox

great

amount
deal of

Nandas.

to believe that the great

by Mahapadma Nanda showed

during the

possessed

possession of such a huge

There are reasons

built

They

hated on account

of wealth also
extortion

the

fighting

rich and, according

Kathasaritsagara,

millions of gold pieces

unpopularity was

were

the

of

and 6000

chariots

They were extremly

of

his

empire

signs of revolt

reign

when he

rested all power in the hands of his incapable sons,

The kingdom of Kalinga certainly
specially Dhana.
1.
2,

McCrindJe-Invssion of India by Alexander p. 810.

1, IV.

Kathasaritaagara

CHANDRAOUPTA

24

and regained its independence, for if it had

remained a part of the Nanda empire, it is unlikely
that it could have
escaped the iron grip of
whose
absence
of control over it is
Chandragupta,

revolted

implied in a

Asoka,

have

its

one of the

passage in

conqueror

1
.

inscriptions

of

Several other kingdoms might

similarly reasserted their independence.

was

Such

condition

the

Chandragupta came on
already

built

up

worthlessness of

its

of

ruler

Magadha had

the scene.

a considerable

when

India

empire,

but

the

and the invasion of a foreign

king had made the conditions extremely unsettled, and

a deliverer was needed. Thus, there were three factors

which contributed

The

first

to the rise of the

Maurya empire.

factor consisted of the conquests effected

by the previous rulers of Magadha. The second

factor was the unpopularity of the Nandas, coupled
with foreign invasion. The third factor was the
If the first factor provided
genius of Chandragupta.
needed for building
the
with
resources
Chandragupta

a great empire, the second gave him the opportunity

to rise.
But, above all other things, the main cause
of the rise of the glorious J^aijrya empire
1.

was

In Book Edict XIII Asoka speaks of Kalinga as a

previously unconqnered/
Asoka's ancestors.

which

seems

to

mean

the

country,

unconquered by

GROWTH OF MAGADHA
genius of Chandragupta, without which

not have been able

25
he

to utilise the resources

opportunity provided by

the

first

two

factors.

would

and the

Hi

CAREER OF CHANDRAGUPTA.
We have seen that Northern India was far from
being a united country at the time of the
of Alexander

the

Great.

But the

invasion

man who was

this .unity was

do more than achieve

already bom. This heroic figure was Chandragupta.
The ancestry and early life of Chandragupta is
recorded in several works of ancient and metftaeval
destined

to

times although, unfortunately,

every-where lacking.

It

sufficient details

are

has hitherto been believed

on the authority of some mediaeval

Chandragupta was a low-caste man and

by several scholars,
works, that

a scion of the Nanda family. The most important

of these works is a collection of stories, without any
to

pretensions

which
Its

is

history,

of his

body

its

as

the Brihatkatha

many Sanskrit recensions*

Nanda and the re-animation

preserved through

story of the death of

and

known

is

obviously

not deserving of criticism,

account of the origin of Chandragupta should

also be likewise treated, being not supported

by other

The other work which calls Chandragupta

a low-caste man and connects him with Nanda

old works.

is

the MudraJRakshasa,

which

is

also said

by the

CAREER OF CHANDRAGUPTA

27

!
Dasarupavaloka to be based on the Brihatkatha. This

work

contains

many

led the

commentators

could the

born.

On

son of a

the

other

high

hand,

Chandragupta

recognise

as

the

Nanda. a statement which

to postulate that the

Chandragupta was a Sudra woman,

how

such

inaccuracies

assignation of high birth to

as

mother of

for

otherwise

bom man

be

low

older works

all

the

Kshatriya.

The

Puranas, no doubt, state that Sudra kingship began

with Nanda, but

were not

caste

the subsequent

it

simply means that kings of Sudra

rare from that time,

and not

that all

for the

Puranas

who

belonged

kings were Sudras,

themselves designate the Kanva kings,

to

one of the subsequent dynasties, as Brahmans.*

Therefore,
as a

new

when

the Puranas describe the

Mauryas

dynasty, neither connecting them with the

Nandas, nor calling them Sudras, it is clear that they

recognised them as Kshatriyas, the caste to which the
king normally belonged.
c

2.

Tli

Parana give

Mura.

The Kalpasutra

of the Jains

DaRHrupavaloka.

com uifciitH tors of tbe Mudra-Kakuhuaa and the Viibnu

the name of Cbandragupta's grandmother or mother IB

This nam*, so far from

being tbe origin

to have been suggested by the Utter

word,

as

ia

of
clear

Maorya, neemg
from ih fact

that Dhnndhinija, tbe commentator of the Mudra-l<aksha*a, given tbe

of the mother of the Nanda* as Sunaudn which baa been obvious-

name

Ij coined to rewmble the word Nanda.

3.
'These 4 Kanva Brahman* will enjoy the earth etc.*
P.

71)

(PargiUr

CHANPRAGUPTA

28

mentions a Mauryaputra of the Kasyapa gotra, which

shows

that the

folk,*

The

Mauryas were regarded

as high class

Buddhist Divyavadana calls Bindusara

and Asoka, a

the son and grandson respectively of

The Buddhist Mahavansa

calls Chandragupta himself as a member of (he
8
Kshatriya clan of the Moriyas, who are represented
Chandragupta,asKshatriyas.

the Mahavansa^tika as a Himalayan off-shoot of

4
The description of the Moriyas as a
the Sakyas.

by

Kshatriya clan

is

confirmed by the Mahaparinibbana

Sutta, a portion

of

authentic work-

It

the Kshatriya tribes

Buddha

relics of

tradjtjon

was
E

B.

1.

8.

2.

In the

the

canon and an early

Pali

mentions the Moriyas as one of

who claimed a portion of the

after

latter's

{he

death.

This

also recorded in mediaeval inscriptions,

Vol

86. p. 28C.

Divyavadana

(p. 370)

Bindusara said

to

a woman,

n
In

Tishyaraknhita

the

game

*TR **

work

W&T

pas sage s arc significant.

4.

gee chapter VIII *ec. A.

5.

B. B. E. Vol.

XI

(p. 409)

p. 134.

**

Aeoka says

to

bis

^^T^f ^ft^T^ITf^'

queen
I

TJi^

CAREER OF CHANDRAGUPTA
which

call the

Maurya

family

as a branch

race 1

solar

and Chahdragupta an abode

eminent Kshatriys. a
Even in

usages of
times,

we

Kautilya

Finally,

himself

indirectly

suggests the noble origin of his sovereign's

weak,

the

modem

considered to be the descendants of the

Mauryas.*

when he

of the
of

aware of a Rajput clan of Moris,

are

whom Tod

29

lays

down

that a

high

bom

king,

family,

though

lowborn one, though strong. 4

should be regarded as settled that

better than a

is

Therefore,

it

Chandragupta belonged

to the Kshatriya clan of the

Moriyas.
In the fifth century B.

ruling

clan

According

of

the

C,

the

republic

to the Mahavansautika,

based on truth and

is

Moriyas were the

of

Pipphalivana.*

which seems

to

be

supported by Jain writings at

were a branch of the

a further stage, the Moriyas

Sakyas and were so called because, when driven by

the attack of the Kosalan prince Virudhaka, they left

home and

their original
1.
2.
ft.

When

Ep. Ind. II

settled in

2tf>.

10.
Bice-Mynore and Coorg from Inscription* p.
of Cbitor till about 728 A. D,
The Moris were the ruling
wa wrested by Bappa, the founder of the BUodia
tbeir

dn

territory

hoaae of Mewar.
4,
5.

a place which

Arthashartra Book VII I chapter

II.

CHANDRAGUPTA

30

in mayura* or peacocks.
When king
Nanda extended his conquests, the Moriyas too must

abounded

fiave shared the fate of other clans

we

and monarchies.

by the Mahavansa^tika that

name unfortunately is
whose
Chandragupta's
not mentioned, was the chief of the Moriya clan and
was killed by a powerful Raja, presumably Nanda.
There-after Chandragupta's mother, who was then
In

fact,

are

told

father,

pregnant, ran

her father's relations and

away with

lived at Pataliputra in disguise.

At

this stage the story is

wonderfully corroborated

and the Uttradhyayanaof certain

tika, which
speak
peacock tamers,
chiefs
whose
near
daughter bore
Pataliputra,
living

by

the Jain Parisishtaparvan

Chandragupta.
says that the

in

disguise,

As

Mahavansautika

the

Moriya queen and her

it is

easy

to see

that

expressly

relations

the

lived

way

best

of

disguising themselves was to act as tamers of peacocks,

which were the most familiar objects for the

Moriyas.

Chandragupta's father
that

it

it is

accounts
1.

in

mention

the Jain

made

is

version

it

presupposes certain events which, as

seen, are

Thus

no

Moreover, as

briefly

set

clear from
that the

forth

in

both the

Moriya

Vide Chapter VII I Sec. B.

of

means

we have

the Mahavansauika.

Buddhist and Jain

family

had

lost all its

CAREER OF CHANDRAGUPTA

31

when Chandragupta was

born and Justin, the Roman author, rightly observes
1
The
that Chandragupta was born in humble life.

previous rank at the time

date of his birth must have been about 345

time of Alexander's

the

at

325

Indian

he was only a boy,

B. C.,

B.

as,

campaigns

in

probably not more

than 20 years of age*.

Most

of the

his

spent

traditions agree
in

boyhood
some

According

some time

the

of the

to

at the court of

that

Chandragupta

country of Magadha.
he also lived for

stories

King Nanda and being

treated plotted against

him and was obliged

This occount seems

be correct, as

by

Justin.

to

There are

intelligence of

boyhood.

One

advantage

is

ill*

flee.

supported

several stories relating to the

uncommon

of

it

to

Chandragupta even in his

them may be related here with

"The

Raja of Simhala sent to the Court of the

Nandas a cage containing a lion of wax, so well
1.

2.

Vide chapter VIII.

"Androkottoft himnelf

Alexander

etc

"

who was then

M^Crindle Invasion

of

lmt a

India

youth

by

B*W

Alexander

311.

3.
The story of DhundhtrajA, for example, emphasises the f&et
that Chandragupta lived at the court of Nandti,
and the same
tnmg i* suggested by Justin when he says that Chandragupta

offeuded Naudas
Sec.

D.

by

his

insolent

behaviour.

Vide

Chapter

CHANDRAGUPTA

32

made

that

message

it

be

to

to the effect that

He

real.

added a

any one who could make

animal

run without opening the cage

acknowledged to be an exceptionally

fierce

that

be

should

seemed

talented mart.

The

dullness of the

Nandas prevented

their understanding the double

the

meaning contained in
message, but Chandragupta, in whom some little

breath yet remained,

offered

undertake the

to

task.

This being allowed, he made an iron rod red hot and

thrusted it into the figure as a result of which the
soon ran and the lion disappeared 1 ."

wax

We may take

it

as

correct

did live for sometime at the

that

court

Chandragupta
Nanda, and

of

being dissatisfied with him, became determined to end

He soon got an opportunityhis tyrannous rule.

and

learned

fiery-tempered

Vishnugupta Chanakya,

ceremony

by the

vow

at

latter

to

the

Nanda, was ill-treated

induced him to take an open

court

which

revenge

revolt.

They

of

against

then drew Chanakya

Brahman, named

being invited to a religious

were,

to

Nanda.
his

Chandragupta
and instigated

side

however,

suppressed

and

obliged to quit the kingdom of Magadha*

Chandragupta then wandered

I.

in

the northern

Dhnndhlraja's introduction to his commentary on the Mudrt

ttaksbasa.

CAREER OF CHANDRAGUPTA
he paid a

visit to

time.

According

Alexander

also,

to

Plutarch,

although

was

indicate that his purpose

to

nothing

some

for

provinces

33

there

is

to

persuade
invader to attack the kingdom of Magadha, as is

the

some

held by
in

the

Parisishtaparvan

that,

an old

woman

that

he

revolted

provinces,

his

mind

A bom

him

who

ruled

name

in

finds

realising

to

men round him

chief

some Himalayan

mention

before

to

and presently secured the

in his designs

subordinate alliance of

that*

conquer the
leader of men as he

was, he soon gathered sufficient

help

Magadha

against

made up

mistake, he

northern

and the Mahavansautika

the outer provinces, and

conquering
his

curious story found both

while wandering, Chandragupta heard

saying that the cause of his failure

relates

was

scholars.

in several

named

Parvataka,

district,

and whose

1
independent works.

Chandragupta appears to have begun his career

of conquest from the Punjab, perhaps because he
could not brooke the presence of foreign garrisons
in a part of his country, which he had determined
to

unite under his

his

own

1.

own

sway.

Alexander had made

administrative arrangements in

The name

Mahavansa-tika

of

and

Parvataka
the

the Punjab

occurs in the ParUishUparvao,

Jacob) *n#?et

Mudra-IUksba**.

identification of this chief with a king of Nepal.

the
the

CHANDRAGUPTA

34

when he retreated. An officer, named Philip, was

made satrap of the Indus basin, with the confluence
with the Indus as the southern

of the Punjab rivers

boundary

of

the

The

satrapy.

of Sindh

territory

was put in charge of Peithon, son of Agenor. King

Porus was allowed to rule his own principality as
Alexander.

the satrap of

murdered by

his

324

In

mercenary troops

was temporarily apppointed in

death of Alexander in
323
chances

of the

B.

was
and Eudemos

the

Peithon,

C.

the

satrap

transferred to the provinces

The

the river Indus.

intolerant

treacherous

of

Philip

place,

but the

removed

Empire

arrangement was continued

the

although

his

C,

the

murder

C. was the

of

situated to

all

At the

arrangement being renewed.

time of the second partition of

B. C.,

B.

in

321

unaltered,

Sindh,
the

was

west of

Indians were, however, growing

domineering foreigners, and the

of

Porus by
for

Eudemos

in

317

revolt.

Chandragupta
and Eudemos finding the country
The Greek officers
too hot for him, quitted India.
and soldiers, who still remained in India, were put
B.

headed the

signal

revolt,

the sword and, by 316 B. C., Chandragupta

became the unquestioned master of the Punjab.
the
Punjab,
Having taken possession of

to

Chandragupta

advanced towards

the

east.

It

is

CAREER OF CHANDRAGUPTA
probable that the provinces of

the

35

upper Gangetic

valley

conquered by Mahapadma Nanda had regained

their

independence,

his

following

rule.

tyrannous

These provinces were taken by Chandragupta one

indications in the account

by one, although there are

given by Hemachandra
not submit with ease.
of

years

It

reduce

to

the

the

B.

The

C.

the

works.

Nanda

kingdom pf
of

story

between the Nandas and Chandragupta

in several

did

portion of the

compressed

finally attacked

Nanda about 314

them

of

all

must have taken a couple

completely

Gangetic valley outside

dominions.

Chandragupta

that

According

to the

is

the

war

preserved

Milindapanho,

Nanda army was commanded by Bhaddasala 1

the

The war

is

reported

serious affair.

the nine

family of

to

According

Nandas were

have been a sufficiently

to several authorities,* all

killed

Mahapadma was

in

this

war and the

exterminated.

Chandragupta, thus, became mas'er of Northern

India.
His ally Parvataka also died in the mearv
the

although

while,

manner

of

death

his

B K 3C p

See footnote

legends

U7.

1. p.

2U

are

which

relate

to

contradictory

the

and

CHANDRAGUPTA

36

the only

clear

It is

untrustworthy

who

rival

that

death

his

removed

could legitimately claim a share

and Chandragupta became the sole

His coronation took
India.
Pataliputra in 313 B C.

in the conquests,

master
place at

of

The

Northern

which immediately followed the

authority by Chandragupta are related

events

assumption of
MudrauRakshasa, a play which, although full of
imaginary details, is probably based on events which
in the

actually occurred

1
.

We

from

learn

it

the son

that

named Malayaketu rose against

of Parvataka
Chandragupta, with the help of five other chiefs and
an ex-minister of king Nanda named Rakshasa*
tactics of Chanakya,
whom
made
his
had
prime minister, however,
Chandragupta
succeeded in sowing dissensions in the camp of
Malayaketu, and the latter got his own allies

The

Machiavellian

murdered.
rendered
his

By
the

ex-minister

restored in his father's

Malayaketu was

his.

on

but

powerless,

friend,

of

act

this

the

of

intervention of

Nanda, he

principality

as

was

a vassal of

Chandragupta.

The Maurya

king at

secure in his north Indian

for
1.

conquest could
This

is

th

this

time naturally

dominions.

hardly

remain

became

But his zeal

satisfied

with

opinion o! Dr. Smith and Professor Htllebnmdt.

CAREER OF CHANDRAGUPTA
what he had already

He

acquired.

the Junagarh

inscription

had

Chandragupta

also

Chandragupta
a

of

considerable

seems

to

of

portion

learn from

Rudradaman
over

control

his

pushed

we

conquests upto the western sea, for

37

that

Surashtra.

have

conquered

trans-Vindhyan

India.

According to Plutarch, Chandragupta overran

even if we admit
statement,
India, which

means

exaggeration,
the

major

recorded

portion

other

in

Mahavansa

says

that

of

all

of

Chandragupta conquered
This tradition is

India *

documents

that

for

the

ruled

over

also,

Chandragupta

According to Prof. Aiyangar,

Jambudvipa.*
Mulnamer, an ancient Tamil author, refers to the

all

advance
times.*

of

Mauryas upto Tinnevelly

Finally, certain

Chandragupta's
statements leave

Mysore

conquest
little

room

district in early

inscriptions refer to

5
All these
Mysore.
for doubt that Chandra*

of

gupta did conquer a considerable portion of the Deccan.

Chandragupta thus gained recognizance as the

paramount sovereign in the whole of India. He had,
however, yet to measure strength with the greatest of
2

Vide Appendix A*
MoCrindle-TnvMion of Indin by Alexander

*.

M*havsit

1.

4.

5.

p.

310

I'arichehbcda V,

Beginnings of South Indian History chapter.

Rice Mysore and Coorg from Inscription*.

CHANDRAGUPTA

38
his

Nikator, formerly a general of

Seleukos

rivals,

Alexander. Seleukos conquered Babylon in 3 1 2 B.

and

six years later

assumed the

subjugated the Bactrians

crossing the Indus, about

shown

title

of king.

and then advanced

305

B. C.

He

also

to India,

Shwanbeck has

Seleukos could not proceed

at length that

much

beyond the Indus, which may be taken to mean

that
Chandragupta was present in the Punjab
at

that

time.

It

is,

therefore,

probable

that

Chandragupta, not content with the conquest of India,

was thinking
to

of

marching towards the western regions

emulate the legendary (Hgvijaya of Raghu and other

war between Chandragupta

and Seluekos was a clash between two ambitious kings.
ancient kings. Thus, the

No detailed account of the actual

But the
authors,

the

results,

clearly

as

mentioned

show

superiority of

conflict has survived.

that

by

the

Seleukos

Chandragupta and

conclude a humiliating

classical

recognized

was obliged

According to this
gave a large part of Ariana to
treaty, Seleukos
in
consequence of a marriage
Chandragupta
has
Dr.
Smith
alliance.
very ably shown*
to

that the large

was

identical

treaty.

part of Ariana, referred to

with the four satrapies

also the ojiuion of

Thib

2.

4
p 158
Early History o{ India
McCrindle-Ancient India in ctaKsical

of

lit*rutur< pp.

Aria

La as sen and Milogel.

1.

is

s
by Strabo

15 and .88

CAREER OF CHANDRACUPTA

39

(Herat) Arachosia (Kandhar) Paropanisadiae (Kabul)

and Gedrosia (Baluchistan) all
of which Pliny
considered as

forming

there

contract,

marriage

of India. *

part

no reason

is

correctness because both Strabo

Thus

the

seems

to

real

and

Baluchistan

territories

its
it.

treaty

his

daughter to

of

Afghanistan

The
dowry
way, drawn on

two

royal families

were,

friendly terms.

We

presented 500

elephants to Seieukos,

this

to

as a sort of
in

doubt

whole

the

be that Seleukos married

Chandragupta, giving the

to

for the

and Appian refer

of

explanation

As

further learn that

close

Chandragupta
and the latter

an envoy named Megasthenes to the Indian

It is not recorded whether
Chandragupta also

sent

court.

sent

an envoy

to the

Greek

court.

Thus from a homeless wanderer, twelve

before, Chandragupta became the emperor of
and a

large part of the former Persian empire.

1.

McCrindle Ancient India: M>ga*tbene8

2.

This view

is

ad Aman

years
India

The

p. 158.

genet ally accepted and Reams to be correct, un the

non-Hmdu princesses was not unknown

Mahabharata motioning the marriage of Arjuna

marriage of Hindu kings with

in ancient India, the

with a princeBB of the Naga tribe

On the other hn&d, a vice-vert*
not appear ponnble in vu-w of th* evident miccetft of the
case dre
Inriian King, besidea th

naturally have been

Asiatic marriages.

fnct that

more

explicit,

in

that event the Greeks would

they aie

about Alexander *
1

CHANDRAGUPTA

40

war with Scleukos was, in all probability, the last

war of Chandragupta, and he devoted the remaining
sixteen years of his reign in

and

establishing

We

administration.

personal

at

life

Megasthenes

some

system of

efficient

highly

can glance something of his

from the writings of
stage
in

preserved

writers, and, to

Kautilya, the

this

consolidating his empire

other

by

fragments

extent, from the Arthasastra of

name by which Chanakya

is

famous as

an author.
lived

Chandragupta

in

a very

palace,

stately

containing gilded pillars adorned with golden vines

and

silver

tables

and

and furnished with

birds,

chairs of state,

besides

much

admiration,

basins

and

palace where

the kings of the country resides,

which

else

and

Ekbatana can
In the parks

all

richly carved

as

"In the Indian royal

goblets of gold.

the greatest of

well

as

vie,

with

calculated

is

which

neither

there are other

to excite

Susa

wonders

nor

besides.

tame peacocks are kept, and pheasants

which have been domesticated; there are shady

groves and pasture grounds planted with trees, and
branches which the

art of the

woodsman has

deftly

interwoven; while some trees are native to the

others are brought from other parts,

and with

beauty enhance the charm of the landscape.

soil,

their

Parrots

CAREER OF CHANDRAGUPTA

41

are natives of the country, and keep hovering about

and wheeling round him, and vast though

The
be, no Indian ever eats a parrot.

the king
their

numbers

Brachmanes honour them highly above all other

birds
because the parrot alone can imitate human
speech.
in

ponds

Within the palace grounds are artificial

which they keep fish of enormous size but

quite tame.

No

one has permission

to fish for these

except the king's sons while yet in their boyhood.

These youngsters amuse themselves while fishing

sheet of water and learning how

the unruffled
sail their

boats."

ferrates

his

spent

the

sacrifices or for the

show

chase

8
.

duties or for

When he

offering

condescended

public he was clothed in the

muslin embroidered with purple and gold.

finest

When
but

hours in

leisure

The care of his person was entrusted to

who were armed 2 He left his palace either

for performing administrative

to

himself

in

making short journeys he rode on horseback,

travelling longer distances he was mounted

when

1.

MeOri mile- Ancient India in CUnMcai liUtrntui* pp. Ul-142.

2.

McCnndle- Ancient

Aithaaaetra Book
3.

to

Chandragupta
palace.

in

I,

India:

Megastbenes and

Atria n

p.

Chapter 21.

McCrindJe-Ancient India: MegMthene* and Airian

j. 70.

70

CHANDRAGUPTA

42

on an elephant. The hairvwashing ceremony of the

king was performed with great splendour accompanied
with rich

custom

the

change
defeat

any

time.

day

plots against

king did

not

he used to

In the night

bedroom from

his

The

Court.

in the Persian
in

sleep

from nobles, as was also the

presents

time to time in order to

him

Chandragupta supervised the administration of

He did not allow the business to be
justice himself.
interrupted even

if

he had to

sit

for the

and the hour arrived when he had

In

person.

to

whole day,
attend to his

such cases, he continued hearing cases,

him with cylinders

seems to have been the

while four attendants massaged

of

wood.

His busy

life

cause of his abstaining from sleep during

time.

king

Kautilya, in fact, lays

down

should so divide his time-table that he

sleep for
It is

more than

interesting to

three hours.

leam

to offer sacrifices also.

the

day

the precept that a

may

not

that the king left his palace

The

fact probably

shows

that

Chandragupta was a Brahmanical Hindu at least for the

greater part of his life, although he inclined towards
Jainism during his

last

days, according to Jain authors.

MoCrindle- Ancient India: MeuaptbenpR and Arrian

3.

Ibid p. 71

:t

\nha3ftstrix llook I

Chap %0

p.

70

CAREER OF CHANDRAGUPTA
Chandragupta was
in

delighted
bulls,

fond

also

witnessing

the

of

fights

45

sports.

of

He

elephants,

A curious entertainment

rams and rhinoceroses.

was provided by ox races. The most favourite

The road along which he went for
sport was chase.
chase was marked with ropes, and it was death to

He

pass within the ropes.

the back of

like

led

the

life

of a vast empire for

know much about

his

either

an elephant or from a platform

Chandragupta
emperor

shot arrows

his

of

24 years

an

energetic

We do not

The name

family

from

of

one of

queens for he was, in all likelihood, a polygamist

most monarchs of those times was Durdhara,
His only son whose
Hemachandra 2
known to us under various forms was

according to

name

is

who

Bindusara,

him on the throne of

succeeded

Ratal iputra.

Chandragupta died
to

According
Jain and

or

about

289

B.

Rajavalikatha, Chandragupta

inscriptions the
is

said

where he

In certain

and

Mysore
Kalbappu hill, at Sravan
be marked with the footprints of

summit
to

died.

was a

abdicated at the time of a great famine

repaired to Mysore

Belgola,

in

of the

McOnndle-Ancient Jinlm M^ga^thencn and Arrian

'2.

Vido the

p. 71

CHANDRAGUPTA

44

1
mums, Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta
Bhadrabahu was a Jain leader who lived during the
reign of Chandragupta. The Jain tradition, however,

the great

is

very confused with regard to details. Hemachandra,

for

example, does not speak of the retirement of

Chandragupta and

Bhadrabahu

southern

On

direction.

Bhadrabahu died

that

Chandragupta's

reign

to

together

the

the other hand, he suggests

sixteenth

the

in

year

probable

is

It

of
that

Bhadrabahu died before Chandragupta, and that the

latter too, some years after, passed away at the same
place where Bhadrabahu had died.
case, there

of

is

no

truth

to trust the Jain

Dr.

Smith has contended,

version as being based on

8.

I.

Hies- -EpiRiaphioa Carnatica Vol

2.

Parnisfataparvan

:>.

the

alternative account of the last days

Chandragupta and, as

we have

Whatever be

IX.

1112.

Oxford History of India

p.

7G.

I,

p 3)

IV

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

The

the

of

limits

by

governed

empire

Chandragupta are not known with absolute precision.

But we can approximate to the truth by combining,
the accounts of foreign writers with the Indian literary

and epigraphic evidence.

The empire extended

upto the borders of Persia

treaty with Suleukos Nikator.

of

from the terms of the

north-west as gathered

in the

the

1
It

included the whole

upto Kathiawar as

is

upto Bengal which must

in the east,

have passed

Chandragupta from

to

over Gangaradai

Prassiai (Prachi)

that
also
of

(Ganges

is

known

Nanda,

delta)

who

as well as

1
.

Kalhana mentions Asoka among the kin^s

1.

Asoka

west

evident from the inscription of

Rudradaman, and

ruled

in the

IndoXjangetic valley extending,

to have

conquered only

of

Kalin#\,

Kashmir, but as

we may conclude

Kashmir formed part of the empire of Hindupara and probably

The Mudra-Kakshasa play mentions the prince
of Chandragupta.

Kashmir

among

the

subordinate

all lea

of

Malay aketti,

who

vassal of Chandragupta.
subsequently became a
2.

The

inclusion

of

the Maurya empire is

alao
Mahasthan inscription. The curious
Jayaiwal'i article ia the Modern Heviev,

Bengal in

in the recently discovered

implied
reader is referred

May

1933.

to

Mr.

CHANDRAGUPTA

46

Chandragupta probably exercised some control

in the Deccan also, as appears from certain Mysore
inscriptions as well as other evidences.

Taranath,

however, represents Bindusara as having conquered

sixteen states, which must have been situated in the
because

south,

we know

for certain

that northern

was firmly held by Chandragupta. It, therefore,

means that either Chandragupta was content to

Jndia

receive the submission of the kings of southern India

and
or

it

was

left for

of

suppression

the

invalidate

was

did

a general

revolt.

belief

that

the

latter

view

is

nothing to

Chandragupta was the

suzerain of a large portion of southern India.

portions

of this

however,

region,

seem

The kingdom

remained independent.

described hy Megasthenes

territories

mostly

The

tenable, and thus there

more

seems

Bindusara to annex their

what Bindusara

that

Certain
to

have

of Kalinga

is

as possessing considerable

and was probably independent before

a
The kingdom of Andhra,
its conquest by Asoka
which lay to its soufh, is also described by
Megasthenes as very powerful, and it also might have

military force,

1.

Vide

il.

"The

p.

37 *upra.
royal

city of

the

Calm^a

is

called Parthalis

Over

6000 > foot soldi eis, 1000 hoi semen 700 elephants, keep watch
M McCrindl** Ancient India:
and ward in 'procinctof war
Megasthenes

their king

*nd Arriau

p. 138.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

47

in the time of
been independent
Chandragupta.
The Pandya, Chola and Kerala kingdoms of the extreme

south were also

successors.

of

alone by Chandragupta and his

Thus, Chandragupta was the emperor

practically

Andhra

left

India

all

and

proper excluding Kalinga,

land
and including

Tamil

the

Afghanistan and Baluchistan.

It

vast

was

empire

down

lays

that

lands

conciliation

follow his

in

fact,

oligarchies

will

sons

be

and

Kautilya

which

1.

possesses
towers,

infantry,

the

and which

direct

rule

Indian history.

to

as

this

of

has

Kautilya

conquerer and

the

grandsons/'
this

policy

Chandragupta
some extent.

to

mentions certain
probably

Mai las,

still

sanghas

existed

in

or
the

These were the Lichchhavis,

the

Madras,

"Next come the Andruae a

numerouH

all

were protectorates
in

loyal

time of Chandragupta.
the Vrijis,

the

that

"conquered kings preserved in their

accordance with the policy of

must have followed

In

under

not

Chandragupta. There
always been the case

own

remembered

should, however, be

Htill

the

Kukuras,

DJOIO powerful ra<*, which

and thirty towna defended by walls and

supplies its king with an wrmy of 100,000

villages,

2000 cu\airy

and 1000

elepbauU"

McCrindlo- Ancient

India: Megasthenos and Arrian p 141.

Asoka mentions these kingdoms as independent in hit edict*.
2.
3.

Artbasastta Book Vli

Chap

lf>.

CHANDRAGUPTA

48
the

Kurus and the Panchalas, whose presidents or

consuls were called

Surashtras

and the Kambhojas and

Rajas,

who had no

Raja.

The

Rajas of these

oligarchies probably also acted as the representatives

while those

of Chandragupta,

had no Raja had

officer

who was

identical

which

corporations

charge of a special

called Rashtriya,

and was probably

with

Junagarh

be put

in

to

KautilyaY

Rudradaman

of

inscription

Rashtrapala

2
.

The

mentions

Pushyagupta,

the

Rashtriya

of

Chandragupta

in

Surashtra which, at that time,

had

no

in

the

Raja,

but

as

Vaisya,

time

of

the

Asoka we hear of a

Yavana Raja, acting on behalf of Asoka, from

which it would appear that at that time Surashtra
had adopted the institution of Rajaship. 8
Besides
the oligarchies, there were also some kingdoms which
.

were

ruled

by

mentions several
difficult to

their

own

such

kingdoms,

identify

many

Rajas.

of them.

Megasthenes

although

it

Moreover,

not easy to understand from his writings alone as

which

of

the

is

it is

to

kingdoms he mentions were protected

and which were independent.

Yetj as

we know

the approximate extent of Chandragupta's dominions

1.

Artlwaastr* Book

S.

Ibid Book

Vide Appendix A.

Xf Chap.

Chap.

8.

1.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

we may
were

be pretty certain that the kingdoms which

within

situated

states.

protected

were

boundaries

its

"The

essence

of

sum up in the words of

"was
thus a recognition
Mookerji,

system," to

at the

49

this

only

imperial

Radha Kumud

Dr.

of local

autonomy

expense of the authority of the central govern-

ment,

which was physically

except by

its

unfit

to

enforced affiliation to the

assert

itself

pre-existing

1
system of local government/'

We

have

administration

ample

material

for

describing

the

Maurya empire and Dr. Smith

is known
about the
was in the Maurya age than can

of the

has rightly observed that "more

policy of India as

it

be affirmed on the subject concerning any period

intervening between that age and the reign of

Akbar eighteen centuries

the

is

account

left

The

later/'

by the

The

Greek

chief source

ambassador

Arthasastra of Kautilya

Megasthenes.
much about the methods of administration,

which must have been

edicts of

Asoka and

us.

many

of

followed by

although the work seems

The

tells

Chandragupta,.
be largely theoretical.
the ancient works dealing
to

with Hindu polity are also helpful in adding to our

information about the administration of that period.
1.

Dr. Kadba

Kumud

Mookerji

Local

Government

India P. 10
2,

Asoka, the Buddhist Emperor of India p. 84.

in

Ancient

CHANDRAGUPTA

50

The

was

king

wasabsolute

the head of the administration

and

in his

powers, having to perform military,

judicial, legislative as well as executive functions

which we

shall deal

with as occasion

arises.

It

must,

however, be remembered that the autocracy of the

king in ancient India
institutions

which

was always

limited

the state thought

it

by popular

safe to recognise.

Mr. Jayaswal has shown at length that the

and Janapadas mentioned in Sanskrit
Pauras
literature were really popular assemblies representing
citizens

and

villagers,

and had considerable powers. 1

Kautilya mentions 18

who

officials*

kinds of

supervised

all

or high
branches of

Amatyas
the

and were probably identical with the

Mahamatras of Asoka. Megasthenes seems to refer

administration,

lo these very officers as comprising the seventh division

of Indian population.
king, no doubt, from

They were appointed by the

among men who had popular

backing, as Kautilya expressly says that "whatever

pleases himself he shall not consider as good, but

whatever pleases
good."

g,
3.

subjects

Bindn

Polity-Part II pp 70-108.
Artbaaastra Book I chapter 12.
Ibid

he

shall

of these

Book

chapter 19.

consider as

Amatyas was

executive function of the king.

the chief
1.

his

The appointment

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

The

was

king

assisted

51

by a Parishad or assembly

which was a sort of parliament. 1

This body must have consisted of a large number of
members. The highest officers of the state were the
chief ministers, who were not more than four; 8 and

of councillors,

the

ablest

of

ministership,

whom

probably

which rank seems

to

prime
acquired
have been enjoyed

by Chanakya. The salary of a chief minister was

48,000 panas per annum.* The value of a pana,
4
according to Dr. Smith, was not far from a shilling.

The
and

military administration

efficient.

was very elaborate

We have said that the

military functions to perform,

fact that according to

and

this

king had

is

clear from the

Megasthenes the king

palace to lead the army in the time of war.*

officer of the
irvchief,

who

army was

the Senapati

got a salary

equal

to

also

or

left

his

The highest
commander*

that of a

chief

minister.*

We

leam from Megasthenes that there was a

war office for military administration. There
was a commission of thirty members divided into
regular

1.

Arthasaslra Book

2.

Ibid

3.
4.

5.

6.

chapter 15,

Book I chapter
Ibid Hook V chapter

15.
3.

Early History of India* p. 149*

McCrindle- Ancient India: Megasthene* and Arrian p. 70.
Arthacastra Book V chapter S.

CHANDRAGUPTA

52
six

boards,

each

of

consisting

Kautilya also seems

to refer to

members. 1

five

these

when

boards

he says that each department shall be officered by

many chiefs. 2 Each board had probably a
superintendent, who seems to have been identical
with the Adhyaksha of Arthasastra.

The
worked

probably

in

with

identical

Arthasastra.

This
to

of navy,

charge

cooperation with

duties relating
to

was

board

first

in

admiral

the

the

and

who was

Navadhyaksha

of

officer

all
the
performed
such
as
of
ships
hiring
ships
passengers, collecting toll from merchants! arrest

and destruction of hinsrikas or

The ships were maintained by the state,

of suspicious persons
8

pirates.

and were not

restricted to rivers but

These regulations

show

clearly

considerable ocean traffic in

The second
commissariat

that there

Maurya

board was in

and army

ventured to sea.

charge

service,

was a

times.

of

transport

and worked

in

cooperation with the superintendent of bullock trains

who was

probably identical with the Go'dhyaksha of

4
The bullock trains were used for
Arthasastra.

X.

MoCrindle Ancient India

2.

Arthasastra Book II chapter

8.

Ibid

4.

Ibid

Book
Book

II chapter 28.
II

chapter 29.

Megasthenes and Arrian

4,

p. 88.

ADMINISTRATION OF THF EMPIRE

provender for

The

cattle

and other

was

board

third

food for the

of war,

transporting engines

Pattyadhyksha.

both

by

The

Pliny

Asoka had

that

to

size of the

In

they greatly disagree.

to

offer

of infantry,

charge

have

been
is

infantry

and Solinus, 8 but

soldiers,

military requisites.

in

whose superintendent appears

l

53

view of the

given

unfortunately
fact,

however,

a very severe fight before

he could conquer Kalinga, it does not seem

the Mauryas really maintained such a

likely

that

as

infantry

would lead us

Pliny

the

huge

believe.

to

It,

therefore, appears that the additional zero of Pliny

is

only a copyist's mistake, as observed by Prof. Rhys

4
and Solinus is correct when he says that
Davids,
the

Prassian

has

Arrian

infantry

preserved

which the Indians

for

war

This they
with

an account of the

in those times

rest

their

soldiers",we are
length

upon

with the

the ground,
foot

left

having drawn the string

they use
1
2.

60000

soldiers.

wny

in

equipped themselves

"The foot
made of equal
it

consisted of

thus
far

told,

"carry a

man who

bow

bears it

and pressing against

discharge

the

arrow,

backwards: for the shaft

is little short of being three yards long, and

A rthasAStra Book if chapter 33
McCrin die- Ancient India: MegMthene* and Arrian p. 141.

3.

Ibid p. 161.

4.

Buddhist India

p.

266.

CHANDRAGUPTA

54
there

is

nothing which can

resist

an Indian archer's

shot, neither shield nor breastplate,

defence,

if

such

carry bucklers

made

of

not so broad as those

nor any stronger

hand they
undressed oxJiide, which are

there be.

who

In their

left

carry them, but are about

Some

are equipped with javelins instead of

a sword, which is broad in the
wear
bows, but
blade, but not longer than three cubits, and this r

as long.

all

when

they engage
both hands, to fetch

The

in close

down a

fourth board

whose

superintendent

was

fight,
lustier

in

appears

The Greek

Asvadhyaksha.*

they wield with

blow/' 1

charge of cavalary,
to

have

been the

authors unanimously

Chandragupta numbered
Each horseman was equipped with two
lances and with a shorter buckler than that carried

state that the

cavalry force of

30000.

8
The horses of Kambojaand
by the foot soldiers.
Sindhu were regarded as the best. 4

The

fifth

elephants

board was in

charge

of

the

war

whose superintendent was probably the

Hastyadhyaksha.*

Chandragupta

The

elephants in possession of

numbered

9000, according

1.

MoCrtndle- Ancient India: Hegasthenes and Arrian

2.

Atthaaaetra

Book

to the

p, 225.

4.

II chapter SO.
MoCrindle-Ancient India: Megasthenes and Arrian p. 226.
Arthasaatra Book I! chapter 80.

5.

Ibid

8.

Book

II chapter 81.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

55

Each elephant carried four men

8
Thus the highest figure of
including the driver.
men with elephants was 36000.
highest estimate.

The

was

board

sixth

chariots,

whose

Rathadhyaksha.

charge of the wat

in

was probably the

superintendent

The number of

of

Chandragupta

the

predecessor

is

of

not

chariots in possession

but

Mahapadma,
Chandragupta, possessed 8000
given,

chariots

according to the highest estimate,

number

in

assumed

to

and the

Chandragupta might be
be the same, as Dr. Smith has suggested,*
possession

of

Each

chariot carried three

Thus

the

men

men

with chariots

including the driver.*

may be assumed

to

have

numbered 24000.

The

total

number

of

men

in

Chandragupra would thus have been

all,

1,

army of
50,

being more than those kept by any other

India at
militia

that time.

The

force

thus

000

state in

kept was not a

This

is

the

pay
government with arms and

number given by

Pliny:

Solinus gives the

number

AS 8000.
2.

MoOrindte-Anoient India: Megasthenes and Arrfan p, 89.

8,

Arthasartra Book II chapter 33.

McCrindle-InTasion of India by Alexander p, 310.

4.
5.

6.

in

but a standing army drawing regular

and supplied by the

1.

the

Early History of India 47 p. 132.

MoCrindle-Ancient India: Megaatbenes and Arrian p. 88.

CHANDRAGUPTA

56

There were

equipment.

and

elephants

arms

royal stables for horses

and

for

the

also

magazine

royal

1
.

The

administration of Chandragupta

civil

The method

equally efficient.

time

prevailing at the

may

was

of city administration

first

The

be described.

Kautilya, was
city affairs, according to
Paura Vyavaharika who was one of the high
officers of state. 3
For actual details, however, we

head of the
the

must turn
of

the

to

way

governed.

which

in

Other great

Taxila and Ujjain

the

same

who

Magasihenes,

has

left

Patliputra, the
cities of the

an account

was

capital,

empire, such as

probably were also governed on

lines.

There was a regular municipal commission, which

also consisted

of six boards, each

members. 8 Kautilya,

also,

composed

of

five

mentions some adhyakshas

or

superintendents whose duties exactly correspond

to

the

Thus

functions

of

the

boards referred to above.

the Pautavadhyaksha 4

weights and

measures, the

or the superintendent of

Panyadhyaksha

or the

1.

McCrindle-Ancient India: Megasthenes and Arrian p. 88.

2,

Arthaaastra Book I chapter 12.

McCrindle-Ancient India: Megasthenes and Arrian p. 87.
Artbasastra Book II chapter 19.

5.

Ihdid Book II

8.

chapter 16.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

57

superintendent of trade and the Sulkadhyaksha* or the

superintendent of
assigned

the

to

had duties

tolls

three

last

similar to

boards by

those

Megasthenes.

therefore, probable that every

board worked in

co-operation with a superintendent

as in the case of

It is,

Much

military administration.

elaboration

noticed by

have been due

The

of the

administrative

the Greeks, however,

to the genius of

must

Chandragupta,

board looked after everything relating to

industrial arts.
Its
members appear to have been
first

responsible

for fixing the

rates of

work which the

supervising the

were regarded as

wages as well as

artisans did.

servants of state,

Artisans

and any body

who

rendered an artisan incapable of work by causing the

loss of his eyes or hands was sentenced to capital

punishment.

The second
the

foreigners

This board

board was

and attending

provided

escorts and, in

responsible for watching

case

the

of

to

their

requirements.

lodging

foreigners

need,

medical

and

attendance.

any foreigner died he was decently buried, and

his property was handed over to the rightful claimant
If

These

regulations clearly

prove

that

Chandragupta

created wide-spread political and commercial relations

1.

Arthasastra Book II chapter 21.

2.

McCrindle- Ancient India:

Megasthenes and Arrian

p. 70.

CHANDRAGUPTA

58

with foreign powers

The

to necessitate

such administration*

board was in charge of

third

vital

statistics-

All births and deaths were systematically registered,

not only to facilitate the collection of taxes, but also
for the

information

value attached to
has*

modem

statistics

evoked

justly

of the

the

The

government.

high

by the Maurya government

wonder and admiration of

scholars.

The

fourth board supervised

authorized

to

weights and

enforce

use

the

measures.

commerce, and was

of

duly stamped
could deal

merchant

only in one commodity, for which license was given r

unless he had paid a double license tax.

The

fifth

board was required to supervise the

New and

trade of manufactured articles.

fine

for

Arthasastra

to

that old

special permission.

The
ate

sixth

being

practised

things

could be sold

board collected

fraud

only by

one^tenth

punishment was

1.

poods

be sold separately, and there was

mixing the two. It appears from the

were required

old

in

of

the

the

tithes
profit.

payment

death, probably

Arthawwtrm Book IV Chapter

2.

on

of

when

sales,

the

any

one

thistax,

hisr

If

the

amount

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

evasion

was

involved

large.

It,

of this tax for

Even then

treated.

however,

honest

appears

that

was not

reasons

penalty was

the

59

so

very severe

according to modern standards.*

In their collective capacity the

municipal

commission

were

members

responsible

of

the

for

the

general administration of the city and for keeping

the markets temples, harbours and other public works
of the city in order.
It

was recognised
finance" 8

upon
officer

for

the

that

''all

There was,

of

collection

undertakings

depend

therefore, a special

revenue called

the

Collector-general, who got a salary

He supervised the
24000 panas per annum 4

Samaharta or
of

collection of dues

roads of

traffic,

from mines,

catties

forests,

as well as land revenue

and

Like other

great officers he probably also had

or superintendents under him.

many adhyakshas
Thus he must have

This regulation appears to be identical with that given by

1.
"Those who
Kautilya in connection with the payment of tolls, viz.,

a lie shall be punished as thieves" (Arthasastra II. 21). If thft is

fraud involving a large amount only most have been punished
then
so,
by death, as in the case of theft. The words of Kautilya clearly prove
Titter

that evasion of taxes by dishonest means only was punishable.

It may be mentioned here that as late a0 the eighteenth century
2.
forgery was a capital offence in English law.
3.

Arthasastra Book II chapter

4.

Ibid Book

5.

Ibid Book II chapter 6.

chapter 8.

8.

CHADRAGUPTA

60
been

assisted

the

by

Akaradhyaksha

the

in

from mines, by the Kupadhyaksha 3

and by the
of forest dues
realisation

realisation of dues

the

in

Sitadhayaksha

in the realisation of

land revenue.

The

mainstay of finance must have been land

The normal share of the
revenue as it is even now.

crown recognized by Hindu lawgivers was

the gross produce 4 which is also referred
,

th

of

to

by

one

however,
Diodorus,
place
mentions the share of the government having been |th
in

Kautilya

The

of the gross produce.

the

practice

provinces

proportion

were not

were benevolently
a

as

remarks
Indians

the

are

among them;

to

and thus

among

to

for

reduce

Megasthenes

by

to

Arthasastra Book II chapter 12.

Ibid

8.

I hid Book II chapter 24.

II chapter 17.

4.

Manu

5.

Arthaaastra Book I chapter IS.

Yajn. 1.13. 335.

the

the occurrence

to

other

ravage

an uncultivated

on the contrary, by

1.

7.130.

farmers

whereas among

it

in
all

being regarded

usages observed

2.

Book

and

The

people.

to prevent

the Indians,

be that

largely

alike.

usual, in the contests of war,

it is

soil

waste,

the

for

which contribute

of famine

nations

treated

"there

that

seems

treated, agriculture

prop

great

fact

varied

whom

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

husbandmen

are regarded as a class that

unviolable, the

tillers

is

raging in their

by
on

either side in

each
to

sense

any

of

the

soil,

for

danger,

waging

sacred and

even when

neighbourhood,
of

is

61

the conflict

battle

are

undisturbed

the

combatants

make carnage of

other, but allow those

engaged in husbandry
remain quite unmolested." 1
When famine did

occur, the state promulgated various relief measures,

which

shall

We

be described

learn from

in the

next chapter.

Megasthenes

that

the govern*

ment also paid great attention to irrigation, which

seems to have been one of the functions of the
agricultural department.
officers

was

land and

The

duty of the irrigation

to "superintend the rivers,

inspect the sluices by

measure the

which water

is

let

out from the main canals into their branches, so that

We

2
every one may have an equal supply of it/'
know from the Arthashastra that water rates were

also levied. 8

There is ample evidence of the fact that much

pains and expenses were lavished on irrigation even
remote

in

dependencies.

The

inscription

Satrap Rudradaman engraved about

A. D. tells us something about the
1.

2
3,

the

of the

year

history

of

150
the

McCrindle- Ancient India: Megastheoes and Arrian pp 31-3

Ibid p. 66.

Arthasastra Book

II

chapter 24.

CHANDRAGUPTA

62

We

1
Lake Beautiful (Sudarsana) of Kathiawar.

who

told that Pushyagupta, the Vaisya,

Chandra gupta

in

local farmers,

dammed

Surashtra,

noticing

are

represented

the needs

of

stream, and thus

up a small

It was adorned
provided a reservoir of great value.
with conduits in the time of Chandragupta's grandson

This work endured

Asoka.

hundred years,
"most tremendous

for four

A.D. 150, a storm of a

end of a
befitting the

until in
fury,

destroyed the embankment.

The empire was divided

purposes

into

administration.

of

mundane
several

Besides

period/'

for

parts

the

home

which appear

to have
provinces of eastern India,
been under the direct control of the emperor, there
were at least three vice-royalties, as can be inferred

from

the edicts

of

Asoka.

The

viceroy

of

the

North-western provinces had his headquarters at

Taxila, from where he seems to have controlled
Afganistan,

Sindh.

The

at Ujjain

Baluchistan,

the Punjab, Kashmir

viceroy of western India

and controlled Malwa and

viceroy of south

was probably

had

Nizam's dominions
1,

Vide Appendix A.

3.

Smith-Asoka

in

The

p. 94 n.

the

Gujrat.

Raichur

and

stationed

his capital at Suvarnagiri,

situated
2.

was

The
which

district

of

viceroys of these territories

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

were

styled

Kumaras

to the Arthsastra

and were princes

or Aryaputras

The

of royal blood.

63

Kumara according
12,000 panas per annum. 1

salary of a

was

Below the viceroys there were other officers.

The inscriptions of Asoka refer to Rajukas, but it is
difficult to identify them with any of the officers
mentioned

in

Arthasatra.

called

officer

appears
Asoka.

who

or commissioner,

Pradeshta,

have been

to

mentions an

Kautilya

identical with the Pradesika of

He was probably a district officer charged

with the administration of criminal justice and other
<Juties,

and got a

salary of

8000 panas per annum. 1

The bureaucracy was

The
system of espionage.

system of espionage has

always been hated by people and so

in the

days

points also.
that

of Chandragupta.
It

by an organised

assisted

it

must have been

But

was recognised by

it

had

its

good

Indian statesmen

a king could not rule against the wishes of

subjects.

So the

spies

were employed, not only

detect criminals, but also

the views of the people.

to get

The

his

to

information about

spies

were the

sixth

class of Indian population according to Megasthenes.

An

unpleasing feature of the espionage system was

1.

Arthaaastra Book

2.

Ibid.

chapter 3.

CHANDRAGUPTA

64
that

even courtezans were

utilized for this purpose,

Arrian says that the reports which these spies gave

were always true, for no Indian could be accused of
2

This statement

lying.

other records of

although

The

is

not in contradiction with

the character

its strict

accuracy

may be

administration of justice

the courts recognized by

the

ancient

of

Indians,

doubted.

was

on by

carried

According to

state.

the Dharmasastras, cases could be decided by a clan,

a guild,

corporation and finally

Kautilya even

recognizes

different

state

kinds

courts established at Janapada-sandhi,

court.

of

state

Sangrahana,

Dronamukha and Sthaniya, with jurisdiction over

two, ten, four hundred and eight hundred villages
and composed of three dharmasthas and
4
The case decided by
three amatyas in each case

respectively

a lower court could proceed

parties,

the

king,

large

1.

to

The

a higher court

the

if

authority

was

and we know from Megasthenes

that

were

number

dissatisfied.

final

people sought the

of

McCrindle- Ancient

intervention

Megastheues and Arrian

India:

p.

of

86;

Arthasastra II 27.

had

2.

Ibid p. 217.

3.

Yajn2. 2 30.

4.

Arthasastra

jurisdiction over

HI

1.

two

The Janapadasandhi Court seems to have

and not two districts, because the

villages

order of enumeration suggests that

it

was the lowest court.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

the King in deciding their cases 1 .

The

65

decision of

such cases as had not been satisfactorily decided by

the lower courts constituted the judicial function of
the king.

The

procedure of the

Uw

was equally

courts

The plaintiff had to file his suit along

name and date, and the defendant had

interesting.

with the

similarly to give his reply in writing. Witnesses as well

as

documentary evidence were recognized.

agreements, such as those entered into in

Certain
seclusion,

dead of night or with fraud, were held void 2

in the

Megasthenes erroneously asserts that there was

no written law in India. As a matter of fact sacred
writings

were one

of

t\

e four kinds of law, the other

three being custom, agreement

the

king,

issuing

constituted

The

last

the

three

of

accordance with the

however,

spirit of

author of the Arthasastra

lawgivers such

Manu,

edicts of

time
of

to

king.

to

be in

law.

The

mentions several
Brihaspati

ancient

and Usanas,

8
.

2.

Me Grin die Ancient India: Megastbeneg and Arrian

Artbasaatra Book 111 chapter 1.

8.

Ibid

1.

time

the

required

the sacred

the

writings must have been consulted in deciding

whose
cases

as

from

function

legislative

were,

and the

which

Book

111 chapter

->.

p. 71,

CHANDRACUPTA

66

The

was

penal code

with

generally punished

simple.
fines,

Offences were

there

three

being

amercement ranging
upto 96 panas, the middlemost amercement ranging
upto 500 panas and the highest amercement ranging

kinds of the

the

latter, viz.,

upto 1000 panas

first

Crimes which surpassed those

which the highest amercement was prescribed,

were punishable with vadha, which term, according

for

to ancient

meant corporal chastisement

authorities,

including beating, shaving off of the hair, mutilation

and death 3

These crimes were generally those

which involved violence or moral

murder, hurt,

Thus a

theft,

Even

evidence.

thief

turpitude, such as

fraud and the submission of false

in these crimes there

who

were grades.

stole a property upto

50 panas was punishable with

the highest

the value of

amercement

he stole goods worth more than 50 panas

if
he was punished with vadha or corporal chastisement,

but

1.

ArttmnHstra Book

Vadha

III

charter 17

unanimously inkerorotfd by ancient commentators

as corporal punishment, not necessarily death. Maim and other
2.

is

Ancient lawgivers recognize four kinds of punishment, viz. vagdanda

or warning, dhigdanda or scolding, dhftnadnnda or fine and finally

vadhadanda whioh
as

(Mauu

8, 149,

trifling fines to

reserved the

is

explained hy Kullnka, Vijnanesvara and

punishment from

corporal

Yajn

1,

it

of that

others

to death

Kantilya several times jumps from

would he absurd to maintain that he hat

13 367)

vadha and

meaning

heating and imprisonment

term

for death,

ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE

67

which extended upto death, if the offence was very

serious 1
Those persons who spoke a lie, that is to
.

committed fraud

say,

also punished like

in the

thieves

payment of

the

Injury to

any person was punished with

be an

happended
was death 3
Judicial
injured

artisan

torture

was

administration
that

says

in

is

attested

The
to

limb of

if

the

the person

the

punishment

also

recognized

as a method of eliciting confession but

with the greatest caution 4

were

the mutilation of

corresponding limb as well as a hand, and

to

tolls

it

was used

efficiency of criminal

who
in
men
4,00,000

by Megasthenes
of

population

on any one day did

two hundred drachmae

Pataliputra the thefts recorded

exceed

not
or

about

the value of

pounds

eight

sterling

Kautilya

lays

down, in agreement with the Dharmasastras, that

"whatever of the property of citizens robbed by
thieves the king can not recover shall be

from his
I

own

pocket"

made good

6
.

\rtWaatra Book IV chapter

9,

McHrindlo Ancient India p 87.

McCrindlo-Ancient fmlia: Megftflthonps and Arrian p 70,

4.

Arthaatra

2.

Arthasastra,

If.

21;

B^ok IV chapter

8.

Kautilya cxprewly

ay

that 'the production of conclusive evidence shall be insisted upon',

and to defend his opinion be gtvea the example of a certain Mandavya,

who, though innocent, conf^swwl when tortured.

5

McCrindle-AncieDt India: Megmfitber ea and Arrian

6.

Arthastttra Book III chapter 16.

p. 68.

CHANDRAGUPTA

68

On

certain

occasions

prisoners

were

set

free.

One

such occasion was the birthday of the King.

Other occasions are enumerated by Kautilya in the

following passage:

"Whenever a new

conquered, when an heir apparent is

the throne, or when a prince is born
prisoners are usually set free."

1.

Arthasaetra Book

II

chapter 36.

country
installed

to

the

is

on

king

V.

SOCIAL
The
the

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.

6-

social,

religious

people of India

and economic condition of

Maurya age deserves

the

in

separate treatment, being a highly interesting subject.

we

Fortunately for us,

in the

sufficient

possess

materials

shape of ancient writings of foreigners as well

us to have a

as Indians to permit

manner

idea

of

lived

and thought.

the

The

in

not fully developed

till

of

four

the

traditional

Brahmanas,
Sudras,

who

the

then.

satisfactory

in those

it,

Kautilya

was

the

speaks

viz.

the

Vaisyas and

the

corresponded

to

Megasthenes'

husbandmen and

soldiers,

times

certainly

still

castes 1

Hindu

Kshatriyas,

probably

philosophers,

we know

system, as

caste

fairly

which people

artisans*.

The herdsmen mentioned by Megasthenes may have

been outcaste people or panchamas, who had not
come

within

the

of

pale

settled

Megasthenes mentions two more

certainly

erred.

The

overseers

castes, but

Arthaaaatra Book

chapter

he

has

and councillors

the service of government certainly

population.

in

were recruited

3.

McCrindle-Ancient India Megastbenes and Arrian p 88

CHANDRAGUPTA

70
from

castes 1 ,

all

Thus

social divisions.

India

of

population

and cannot have formed

the

settled

mainly

of four

appears that

it

consisted

still

distinct

castes,

although the process of the formation of

castes

as

result

We,

begun.

intermarriages had

of

however,

among

the

could

marry a

first

doubt,

recognize

new

higher

caste,

The Hindu
such

already
that

Kautilya

of

lower

of the

regard the offsprings of such

to

from

man

castes a

three

woman

the risk of losing caste.

also

learn

new

caste

without

lawgivers,

marriages,

but

no
they

marriages as belonging

castes, thereby discouraging

such marriages.

Kautilya, on the other hand, expressly says that

the son of a Brahman from a Kshatriya woman is

no other than a Brahman and

the son of a Kshatriya

Vaisya woman, is no other than a

This bold statement seems to suggest
Kshatriya.
that intermarriage between the three upper castes
a

from

was

still

in

vogue

was

to

some

extent.

Thus

the most

between Aryas and Sudras,

although subdivisions must have existed in both of
rigid division

still

these groups.
Thus Chanakya, the prime minister of Chandragupta, was a
1.
Brahman, while Pushyagupta, the Haehtriya of Surashtra, was a Vaisya.
2-

*IWq^ftqr3KM<iyil
the

Commentary

of

*T*Rtf

Arthasastra

ITT.

7.

Vide

T. Ganapati gastri. Dr. Shamasastri's

translation is inaccurate here.

SOCIAL
Kautilya

& ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

refers to the eight

theoretical kinds

marriages recognized by Hindu

difficult

believe

to

Brahma

that

1
any time

prevalent at

which

marriage, in

marry her
ornaments

to a suitable
is

now

man

lawgivers, but

first

of these

the parents
after

of
it

is

them were widely

of

all

The

7!

of

viz.

the

the

girl

adorning her with

the only form of marriage observed

by the people, and

common one even

it

have been the most

must

Another kind,

those times.

in

marriage, probably was also prevalent

because Megasthenes seems to refer to it when he
says that Indians marry wives "giving in exchange
the Arsha

oxen/' 2

a yoke of

The

other two

Kautilya approves, were the

the bride

promise of

Daiva
her

Prajapatya,

in

and bridegroom were united with the

joint-performance of secred duties, and the

in

to

which
which

kinds,

an

which

the

officiating

parents of the
priest

the

at

girl

married

time

of a

sacrifice.

Polygamy was also prevalent according to both

8 and
Kautilya, but we learn from
Megasthenes

man

could marry more than one

no son from his former wife.
had
he
wife only in case
the latter that a

Manu

1.

Arthaiastra Book 111 Chap

McCrindle- Ancient India: Mag<u$tbfn>8 and Arrian p 60

8.

Ibid.

2;

21.

CHANDRAGUPTA

72

Kautilya even prescribes the period for which a

should wait before marrying another wife. 1

The

widows

of

remarriage

The

recognised by Kautilya.

also

is

man

frankly

only condition for such

a kind of marriage was that the widow forfeited

whatever had been given to her by her father-in-law

and her deceased husband; and

have sons

also,

she

lost

is

most

curious

that

The

from the Arthasastra makes

happened

own

to

property

to her sons.*
is

recognizes a kind of divorce.

hating her husband, can

she

even her

(Stridhana) which was given

What

if

it

Kautilya

also

following passage

"A woman,

clear.

not dissolve

her

marriage
Nor can a man dissolve
with him against his will.
But
his marriage with his wife against her will.

from

mutual enmity, divorce

We are,

may be

obtained." 8

however, told that divorce even on these

could be obtained only in certain kinds

conditions

of marriages.

It is

clear from these regulations

the cases of divorce must have been rare

Megasthenes

The

is

silent

on

the subject.

custom of Suttee was absolutely

Moreover,
Kautilya and even Manu.

horrible

unknown

to

that

and hence

1.

Arthasastra Book

2.

Ibid.

Ibid

HI Gbap

Book III chapter,

3.

2.

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

customs described above clearly show

the marriage

there was no room

that

The

India.

for that

references

Greeks? of course,

apply
In India

frontier.

to

the

was

custom, which

and

of Scythian origin

probably

73

later

refer to

into

spread
but

it,

semUoreign
was

their

north-west

proper the custom

as yet not

prevalent.
It

is

generally believed that the purdah system

nonexistent

in

was

ancient Indh. This statement, however,

can not stand unqualified

Some

was

women of aristocratic
who were
to women

certainly

classes,

as

Anishkasini

observed by

Kautilya
i.e.

refers

"notxStirringxDut."

kind are not wanting in

kind

of purdah

References of

other Sanskrit works

this

also.

At the present time women

observe purdah even before

certain of their relatives,

but no such practice seems

to

many

in

have

parts

of

India

been prevalent

in ancient India.

According to Megasthenes all the Indians were

8
But in the
free and not one of them was a slave.
have
to
this
we
of
Arthasastra
the
modify
light
statement.

As

a matter of

fact

1.

ArthasHHtia Book

HI chapter

2.

Panini

Aau -yampa *Yafl

me-itiorifi

<

slavery did exist.

!.
ft

women

m>t wemtr Us*

sun).
:j.

McCnndle Ancient

India

MeRwthenes and Arrinn

o.

&8

CHANDRAGUPTA

74

but a perusal of Arthasastra makes

so different from
west, that a

forbidden to

the slavery

it

clear that

it

which prevailed

was

in the

Greek could hardly notice it. It was

sell an Arya or freeman (here including

Sudra) into slavery except

dire necessity.

"It

is

at

own

option

and

says Kautilya,

"for

his

no crime/'

mortgage the life of their own

offspring, but never shall an Arya be subjected to

Mlechchhas

slavery/'

to sell or

He

then proceeds

to say that

enslaved for inevitable reasons, he

redeemed. "But
to find

money

in

if

should

man

is

be soon

order to tide over family troubles,

for fines or court decrees, or to recover

the (confiscated) household implements,

the

life

of

an Arya

is
mortgaged, they (his kinsmen) shall as
soon as possible redeem him (from bondage); and
more so if he is a youth or an adult capable of
Moreover a slave in the west had no
giving help/'

his

personal rights;

person was

dead.

In

India,

worse than a servant as long as he was

not redeemed; his offsprings being free even during
A dasa could even earn
his period of bondage.
dasa was

little

independently

if

he got time from

his master's

work,

and could regain his Aryahood if his independent

income become equal to the value for which
he was purchased. If a man abused or caused hurt
to his slave, or employed the latter to

do an ignoble

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

work, the slave became

Thus

free.

it

is

75

clear that

although there were dasas in India, the kind of

slavery prevalent in the west was non-existent in
India. 1

Of

the

sacrificial

although

this

was

religion

was

it

was

still

The

in

in the

Puranic

Hth

of

most popular form of this

The founder of
faith.

whom

Prof.

tradition

century B.

Ray Chaudhury

mentioned

Krishna,

Upanishad.

Chhandogya

the

course

in the

the Bhagavata

reform was Krishna,

the

Vedic

predominant one,

the

has identified with Devakiputra

to

the

India

in

modified

greatly

several centuries.
religion

followed

religions

According

Krishna

The

flourished

followers

of

this

although continuing to honour the thirty-three

Vedic devas, believed in devotion to one Supreme
faith,

God,

whom

They
The Greeks

they called Bhagavan or the Lord.

further regarded Krishna as their saviour.

also mention Krishna as Herakles.

'This Herakles"

we

honour

are

told,

"is

held in

Book

1.

Arthtvsastra

2.

Bay chaudhurv

III

The

special

by the

Chapter 13
of the
F,arly Histry

VaisWva Sct

a nloka according to which

Ail th<* historical Puranas contain
3.
of Krishna,
a
contemporary
sometime
for
was
who
Parikahit,

King
was born

about.

100" jears before tb* accession

14th century B.C

gives
approximately correct.

as

Krishna's

tim*,

of

Nanda.

which

TbU

may

b*

CHANDRAGUPTA

76

who

Sourasenoi, an Indian tribe

cities,

two

possess

large

Methora and Cleisobora, and through whose

1
country flows a navigable river called the Jobanes."

The

other

important

religion

was Buddhism,

founded by Gautama Buddha, in the 6th century

B. C. Buddhism put moral obligation in the front,

and taught

man was

that

this respect

it

preached that
God.

maker of

the

In

Bhagavatism which
could do nothing without the

was opposed

man

himself.

to

will of

Jainism was the third important religion

This

time.

religion,

though

of

claiming

that

high

founded by
a
Buddha.
of
Its
Gautama
Mahavira,
contemporary
basic teaching was ahiiisa or non^injury to every form
antiquity, was, for all practical purposes,

of

life,

however

According

Chandragupta himself

tradition

towards

insignificant.

this faith

to the

became

Jain

inclined

during his last days.

The worship

of images perhaps was first begun

and the Buddhists, who made beautiful
their prophets.
borrowed soon by
It was

the Jains

by

images of

The worship

images and the

institution of temples seems to have gained a strong
the

Hindus

foothold

in

the

Maurya

humorously remarked
1.

that

of

period.

the

Patanjali

has

Mauryas who wanted

McCrincUe- Ancient India Megahtbenes and Arrian

p.

206

SOCIAL
gold

raised

worship.

77

Gods

for

by

it

ot

images

instituting

was also

Asceticism

Maurya

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

period.

The

greatly

Greeks refer

in

vogue

to the

There were

numbers, as well
ascetics,

now

The

as

also Jain

Ajivikas,

munis

Buddhist

in sufficient

an ancient order of

long forgotten.

Greeks

have

knowledge

style

and

Theysoent

their lives

and

imparting

discourse,

to others.

from

Brachmams.

lives of the

lived in simple

abstained from animal food.

in listening to serious

quoted

largely

Magasthenes regarding the

They are said to have

their

the

Brachmanes,
and the

who were evidently Brahman ascetics,

Sarmanes who may or may not have been
Sramanas.

in

They

in

already

believed

in the five elements, from which the world was

created. 1 They were of a very independent spirit, for

one of them named Dandamis when asked

himself before Alexander,

son of Zeus, replied that he

much

as

Alexander

as

Alexander should
anxious

2.
8.

to

who^dteHjtgg^lf

the

^^^^^^^^^

y^^5w

as

>

*^W^^JB

at

hims^^m^ tehg^fe^s

have a disfrfifr^>

McCrindle-AncifTit India
Ibid p. 116.

to present

AI

^%

f?pinttt||f

78

CHANDRAGUPTA

Megasthenes

about

summed up

Brachmanes

the

in the following passage.

perhaps
"All that has
is

been said regarding nature by the ancients is asserted

also by philosophers out of Greece, on the one part

by the Brachmanes and on the other

1
Syria by the people called the Jews".
in India

We are

fortunate

to

possess

in

sufficient details,

preserved from the writings of Megasthenes, to

understand what the Indian people of that period

were

"The

like.

abundant

inhabitants,"

means

of

we

are told, "having

subsistence,

exceed

in

and are distinguished

They were noted for

consequence the ordinary stature

their

by

their

proud bearing."

high standard of

truthful

and honest.
left their

generally

They had

morality,

which

being

generally

hey seldom went to law and

houses and property unguarded. 8
I

their superstitions too, as

Arthasastra,
witchcraft.

has

several

Kautilya also

is

clear from the

references about

gives regulationsa bout

common vice
The same author

gambling, which seems to have been a

among

the aristocratic

1.

McCrmdlo Ancient

2.

Ibid p

30.

Ibid

69.

p.

India:

4.

Arthasastra Book XIV.

j.

Ibid Book

HI

classes.

Mepasthenes and Arrian

chapter 40.

p. 108.

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

79

gives elaborate regulations regarding liquor houses, 1

but we are assured by Magasthenes that the people
at sacrifices. 1

wine except

of India did not drink

Kautilya has preserved interesting

economic

the

of

system

condition of

traffic

the

barter had

by

punch-marked

period

by private persons.

was a

fact,

Chandragupta

it

is

issued

But

about

country.

The

away, and

passed

coins were used for transactions.

coins

details

In rhe

used

to

pre^Maurya
issued
be

what

Kautilya mentions

if

clear that

the

and regulated

government
coins,

8
speaks of a regular government mint.

Kautilya

The

standard

coin seems to have been the silver pana, which

There were

probably of about 146 grains.

quarter and one^eighth
called the mashaka.
is

of panas.

the industries

of

was

also half,

The copper coin was

gold coin called the suvarna

also mentioned, but perhaps

Of

of

its

use was

India agriculture

rare.

has been

and the Maurya

Kautilya has given an

the chief one since ancient times,

was no exception.

period

account of the crops grown which included

barley,

wheat, sesamum,

linseed,

sugar cane and jcotton/J

1. Arthaaastra B x>k II chap.

mustard,

2o

8.

Ibid

Hook

II

chap.

pulses,

Megasthenes^ corroborates

>feKa*thonos and ArrUn

McOrindle Ancient India
Arthaaaatra Hook Jl, chip 12.

2.

rice,

p.

f8,

CHANDRAGUPTA

80

and gives further

the account

worth quoting.

"In addition to cereals,

throughout India

much

which are

particulars,

which

millet,

there
is

sorts,

and

rice

called bofiporumi as well as

soil yields,

subsistence

for the

many

much

and what

is

other plants useful

which most grow spontaneously. The

moreover, not a few other edible products

for food, of

fit

also,

well

kept

watered by the profusion of river streams, and

pulse of different

grow

would be tedious

which

animals, about

of

to write.

It is

it

accordingly affirmed

that famine has never visited India, and

that

there

has never been a general scarcity in the supply of

nourishing food. For, since there is a double rainfall

each year,-one in the winter season,

when the sowing of wheat takes place as in other
in the course of

countries*
solstice,

and the second

which

and bosporurn,
inhabitants
harvests

is

the proper

as well

of India

annually;

of

the

other

as

summer

season for sowing rice

sesamum and millet-

almost

gather in

the

two

always
and even should one of the

sowings prove more or

sure

at the time of the

less

crop.

abortive they are always

The

fruits,

moreover, of

spontaneous growth, and the esculant roots which

grow in marshy places and are of varied sweetness,
afford

almost

abundant sustenance
all

the

plains in the

for

man.

The

fact

is,

country have a moisture

SOCIAL
which

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

6-

whether

alike genial,

is

with surprising

to fall every year at a stated period

while the great heat which

regularity;

which grow

prevails ripens the roots

and

specially those of the

is

It

scarcity

clear
of

from

summer season

the rivers, or from the rains of the

which are wont

derived

is

it

81

from
in

crop

tall

above

the

India

at

in the

marshes,

reeds."

that there

was no

time and

that

thct

various factors tended to the prevention of famine.

But, in spite of all this, famine did sometimes occur.
traditions of the Jains record a

The

which

occurred

The

Maurya.
various

relief

in

the

reign

government,

of

no

great

Chandragupta

doubt,

when famine

measures

Kautilya has recorded several of them.

of them were,
government among the people,

the

men
the

distribution

the

famine

adopted

did occur.

The

provision by
employment of

to repair ruined buildings, request of help

allies,

to the

from

exhorting the rich persons to contribute

cause of famine

relief

population to regions havingy

The manufacture of

most widespread

the

chief

of

ir

Megasthenes

has

highly

by

for

their

Indians,

1.

McCrindle-Ancient TndU- Mcj

2.

ArtbMfwfcra Book IV

ehp.

>

CHANDRAGUPTA

82
are

worked

in

precious

stones,

garments

made

and

gold,

and
of

wear

they

the

finest

gives elaborate regulations,

prove the importance of

that

it

was a home

of the spinning. 1

ornamented

witfi

also

flowered*

muslin/' 1

Kautilya

about weaving, which

this industry.

noteworthy

It is

and women did much'

industry,

Cotton fabrics of Benares, Bengal,

to be the best,

Kalinga and Madura were considered

according to the Arthasastra.

mentions the manufacture of

materials.

of

It is

The mining
source of
metals

surprising to note that the blankets

Nepal were famous even

advanced.

The same work also

silk, hemp and woollen

at that period.

was

industry

According
treasury.

also

to Kautilya,

Precious

sufficiently

mines were the

as well

stones

The

formed the objects of mining.

known were

gold

silver (rupya),

(suvarna),

as

metals
irofi

(kalayasa), copper (tamra), bronze (kansya), lead (sisa),

tin (trapu

and brass

(arakuta).*

Megasthenes has

also record** his observations on the subject.

whjte *He
fruits
1.

2.
3.
4.
5.

soil

bears

on

which are known

its

surface

all

to cultivation,

kinds of

it

MoCrindle- Ancient India: MegaBthenes and Arrian

Arthasaeha Book I ( chap. 23.

Hook II obap.
Book II chap.
Ibid Hook II obap.
Ibid

11.

Ibid

12.
17.

"And
has also
p. 69.

SOCIAL

6-

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

underground numerous veins of

for it contains much gold and

and

iron

other

no small

in

which

metals,

articles of

silver,

quantity,

are

sorts of

metals;

and copper
tin and

and even
in

employed

making

use and ornament, as well as implements

and accoutrements

of war."

in gold that fables

rich

all

83

were gokLdigging
Trade was in a

Indeed India was so

became current

that there

ants in India. 2
flourishing condition in the

Maurya

period. Different places in the country had already

We have

gained special reputation for certain things.

already seen that cotton fabrics of some

were
India

places

Southern

fine.

specially
upon
was similarly famous for conchshells, diamonds,

pearls
trade,

as

looked

and

gold

according to

Kautilya.*

Indian

however, was not limited within the country.

the Maurya time, India had maintained

Even before
trade

relations

and these

Maurya

relations

period, as

special board

ivory

with Babylon and

were

praises the

became
is

specially
silk,

the

all

more

proved by the

for foreigners.

China

other countries,

brisk in the

creation of

Indian peacocks

famous

outside.

and

Kautilya

which probably proves

that

McCnndle- Ancient India: Megastbenea and Arrian p 80,

2.
Ibid p 94
Arthasastra Book VI I chapter 12
8.
4
For a detailed Btudy of this subject the reader it referred to
Dr.Radba Kumnd Mukerji's excellent book Hittory of Indiaa
1.

Shipping.

CHANDRAGUPTA

84
there
trade

was some traffic even with China. 1 This

was carried on through ships. Even an early

Buddhist work, the Baveru Jataka, refers to a trading

Kautilya also mentions

journey to Babylon by sea.

voyage and recommends

sea

and close

shore

the

to

that the route along

better,

is

as

touches at

it

2
trading port towns.

many

economic

special feature of the

period

was corporate

life

of

that

People following the

activity.

same profession even though not belonging to the

same caste, formed their own sreni, which was

The

much

like

srenis

were recognized by the government and had

many

mediaeval

the

rights,

members of
was called

guild

of

Eurcpe.

such as deciding cases of dispute among

the

same

the

sreni.

The head

of the sreni

Another

institution

Sreshthin. 8

was the system of

representing
sambhuya samutthana, which was much like the
corporate

ioint

stock

kind

of

life

companies of

business

corporation

several persons contributing

the profits
the

the

present

was

some

day.

This

established

share,

by
and when

were earned they were divided among

in proportion to the share of each

members

member. 4
3.

ArthiiBasatr* Hook II chap. 11.

Ibid Book VII chap 12.
For this vid Maxumdar-Corporate Life in Ancient India.

4.

Arthatattra Book

1.

9.

chap. 14.

& ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

SOCIAL

85

Much of the prosperity of trade depends upon

The Maurya government paid due attention
roads.
Roads were maintained

to this necessity.

ten stadia or half a kos a

the by-roads

pillar

and distances.

Pataliputra to Taxila

order

department and at every

officers of the proper

by

in

was

set

up

to

show

royal road ran from

and was the forerunner of the

modern Grand Trunk Road. The vehicles used for

journeying on the roads are mentioned by Arrian.
"The animals used by the common sort for riding on
camels and horses and

are

use elephants

for

carries royalty.
in

honour

third;

is

while

it is

the elephant

and

ft.

in

ranks

India

next

camel ranks

single

horse

McCrindla-Ancient India: Megantberu)*

Ibid p. 227.

which

four; the

be drawn by a

considered no distinction at all."

1.

while the wealthy

The conveyance which

the chariot
to

asses,

nd ArHan p 86

is

VI.

LITERATURE & ART.

A
effect

prosperous

on

the

Unfortunately
intellectual

of

known

is

little

human

the

of

activities

very

a stimulating

always has

reign

about

achievements of the people

Chandragupta, but

the

an idea of the

sufficient to give

the

in the reign

that has

little

mind.

sruvived

and

titeraty

is

artistic

development of the age.

was already

Indian literature

considerable,

made

the diffusion of the art of writing had

accessible.

The

Vedic

it

greatly

including

literature,

and

the

Brahmanas and the Upanishads, was

already ancient. Even the six vedangas, viz, Siksha,
Chhandas
and
Nirukta,
Kalpa,
Vyakarana,
Samhitas, the

Jyotisha

are mentioned by

The

Kautilya.

oldest

Dharmasutras probably had also come into existence.

The Ramayana
the

Mahabharata

Even

the

must

to

Kautilya refers

Valmiki

of

the

Puranas in

have already
events

some

recognised, being mentioned

1.

ArthftiMtra Book

2.

Ibid

Book

8.

Ibid

Book

chap. 3.

I chap. 6.
I

chap. 5.

and the

kernal

of

existed, for

mentioned therein.*
shape were already
in

the

Arthasastra.

LITERATURE & ART.

Of

the

philosophic

systems,

Kautilya

1
Yoga and Lokayata,

Sankhya,

87
mentions

and

besides Jain

Bauddha, which were connected with the religions of

same name. The science of medicine had also

the

sufficiently

Arrian assures us that Indian

advanced.

doctors could cure even

snake

bite,

the

although

All this
Greek physicians were unable to do so. a
learning was diffused at the centres of education.

The most famous

of such centres

and sons of Brahmans, as well

flocked

to

famous

seat

retained

as

it

its

present day.

of

to

These

common
town.

people,

Another

was Benares, which has

undiminished to

glory

educational centres must

influence

cjxercised a great

as

university

learning

ancient

was Taxila. Princes

the

have

on the growth

of

literature.

The

literature

Maurya period was conv

or Prakrit or Pali, and may

of the

posed either in Sanskrit

classified under these
therefore, be

Owing

to

the well

known

ancient Indian history,

deficiency

we can

three

heads.

of dates in

definitely

assign

to

works, which probably

this period only a few
constitute only a fragment of the total literary output
of that period.

But the works which arc

1.

ArtbaMstra Book

2.

MflCrindle-Anctoot India

obap.
:

known

2.

MegMiheMs and

Atria* p

to

CHANDRAGUPTA

88
to this

belong

period

are

to

enough

important

constitute a literature in themselves.

The most

important

author

of

the

was

age

He

is
Chanakya, the minister of Chandragupta.
famous by his patronymic in Buddhist and Jain as
His personal name was
well as Hindu works.

Vishnugupta, and he
Kautilya,

which

also

refers to his

one scholar considers

name Kautalya

is

1
.

it

He

known by

his

surname,

crooked policy, although

a corrupted form of the gotra

or
is described as a Dramila

southerner in a Sanskrit couplet, which also erroneously identifies

Brahman
Taxila,

him with Vatsyayana 2

parents,

according

shrewdness and

he

received

to tradition

ability,

his

became

He

to

education at
then,

by

his

some

authorities,

guide the affairs of the successor of

both as an author and a

4.

He is famous
No doubt he
statesman.

his master after the latter's death

was, inspite of his defects, a great

The most famous work

1.

poor

the chief counsellor

of Chandragupta, and according to

continued

Born of

T. Ganapati Shaatri

of

man

of his age.

Chanakya

is

the

Arthasastra.

2.

Abhidhana Chintaraani.
3,
4.

Vide Maharansa tika and l>ariaihtaparvn.

Taranath and Htmaehandra ha** both
tradition,

preferred

thl*

LITERATURE
Some

ART.

89

have expressed doubt

on the traditional age of the work on the ground
that the author does not mention the name of his
Arthasastra.

scholars

sovereign Chandragupta or his capital Pataliputra

But most of the scholars are

now

date,

of the
the
set

Maurya age

fact

that the

forth

in this

description of
details

Chanakya

is

its

traditional

a genuine composition

This view

main

strengthened by

is

features of the

government

book, wonderfully agree with the

Megasthenes,

due only

is

to the

and the difference

in

theoretical character of

Moreover, several early writers refer to

book.

the

work

that the

agreed that these

are not sufficient grounds to disprove

and

as

on

writer

statecraft,

and Dandin,

while referring to the work of Chanakya, mentions

even its size which agrees exactly with the size,

mentioned
Sanskrit
its

in the Arthasastra itself

works,

notably the

8
.

Some

of the

Yajnavalkya Smriti in

present form, are indebted to the Arthasastra in a

considerable measure.

The
on

Arthasastra, as

political
1.

2.

name
the

indicates,
art of

is

a book

government.

Keith and Jolly are the chief among those scholars.

Mr. Jayaswa) and Dr. *hania*aatry have very ably proved
the genuineness of this work. Several German scholar*
also hold the

S.

its

economy and

name

view.

Dasftkmnara charita

11 8.

CHANDRAGUPTA

90

mainly a prose work, divided into fifteen

adhikaranas or books, each subdivided into numerous

jit

is

chapters.

deals

It

.administration

of

public

relation with foreign

.and

secret

with

means

the

of

kings,

law and judiciary,

methods of warfare,

affairs,

powers,
to

duties

injure

an enemy.

The book

been condemned by many critics, including

l
on the score of many
such early authors as Bana
has

things advocated

undesirable

witchcraft

of

practice

espionage.

No

in

and

doubt there

the
is

such as the

it,

of

institution

much

to

be said

and similar other things occurring in

.against
the Arthasastra.
But in judging a book we have to
these

look to both

good and bad

the

circumstances

which

in

condition of India
the

rise

of

the

was

it

was

sides as well as the

composed.

The

very unsettled at the time

Maurya empire, and

all

of

kinds of

means might have been considered necessary to

But the same author
peace with honour.

restore

has

advocated things which deserve

The

praise.
1.

ft

observation

of

nothing but

an Indian scholar may

LITERATURE & ART

be quoted

slavery,

glowing

of

liberalism

While

towards

"In regard

of the Sudra.

apart

as

and humanity

in

stands

attitude

Kautilya's

light

barbaric

was

the attitude of Kautilya

and the position

slavery,
to

show

to

9i

his

contemporary Aristotle
slavery as a divine and a beneficient

age.

justifying

human

institution not only sanctioned by nature,

but justified by the circumstances of social existence,

he

denounced

characterising

and

it

it

strove

as a custom

abolish

to

which could

exist

it

only

Mlechchhas.He boldly enunciated

among
that among Aryas (freeborn) none should be unfree
or enslaved.
His definition of the Arya was not
the savage

narrow.

According

to

was equally

him, the Sudra

1
Arya with members of the higher castes/'
Chanakya was one of the pioneers to include the
Sudra within the Aryan fold, and his motive must

an

have been

to

strengthen

other

social

matters

are

$nd

commendable.

He

without

his admirers, for

has

therefore

conclude, in the

1.

2.

N. C. Bandopfcdbjmya

also

was,

Nitisara of

Kutily

Kamandaka.

p.

*n.

liberal

moreover,

not

the author of

words which

^ ?rT^ ^^jninni^

%W%

generally

Kamandaka,
him highly.*

Nitisara,

praised

His view on

Aryavarta.

We

may

Sir Frederic

CHANDRAGUPTA

92

Pollock wrote about another statesman,

that

of all

opinions about Chanakya's object in this book

ranging from the vulgar prejudice that he was a
the

cynical counsellor of iniquity

to

panegyric of

the

who

regard him as one of the great preparers

and champions of Indian unity, the latter at all
events contains more truth than the former.
those

Chanakya
collection

of

reputed author of a
aphorisms, and a book entitled
the

also

is

witfy

the Chanakya^sataka

on

He

ethical poetry.

is

even

with writing on medicine, and in

capacity is known to Arabic writers as Sanaq.*
book of his on the subject, however, is known.

credited

The

greatest

author of

Prakrit

Jain

Bhadrabahu,

the

Sthaviravalis

Bhadrabahu was the

after

He

Mahavira.

He was

and

lived

the

age

According

pontiff.

sixth

this

No
was
to

Sthavira

the disciple of Yasobhadra.

wrote

the

during

regin

of

famine
that
Chandragupta. During the great
occurred in the time of Chandragupta, Bhadrabahu
repaired to the south and there died by Samadhi.

some accounts he was accompanied

by Chandragupta. But this does not seem to be
correct, as according to Hemachandra Bhadrabahu
According

1.

to

Machae velli, with

whom Chanakya

IK often,

inappoaitely, compared.
9.

K*ith

History of Sanskrit Literature

p.

505

through

rather

LITERATURE & ART.

died

70 years

the

in

sixteenth

Bhadrabahu

Niravana of Mahavira,
of

year

the

is

Kalpasutra.

author

of

divided into

is

the

is

three

parts,

Jina charitra (lives of Jinas) Sthaviravali

of Sthaviras)

and Samachari

doubtful

the

if

whole of

(rules for
this

book

Bhadrabahu.

Jacobi thinks that the

contained

in

this

Devardhi,

the

Weber

ascertained

incorporated

Skandha, which

of
that

work of

of Sthaviras

the Siddhanta.

by

Professor

whole Kalpasutra

the

is

is

eighth lecture in the Dasasutra

the
is

the

is

(list
It

book was probably added

editor

as

Yatis).

list

Jain

many

famous of these

most

This book

i.e.

Chandragupta's reign.

reputed

The

works.

Prakrit

viz.,

after the

93

included

the

in

ten

Niryuktis

attributed to Bhadrabahu.

The

only important Pali work of the Maurya

period was the Buddhist Kathavatthu, ascribed to
Maudgaliputra Tishya. it was, however, composed
in the reign of

the period
It is

we

Asoka and does not

obvious from the above

Chandragupta
achievements,
attained

means
1.

strictly

belong to

are dealing with.

was

not

that

devoid

in the field of arts

the

of

also the

reign

of

literary

success

remote period by Indians was by no

insignificant as is clear from the following
in that

P*riishtprvRn

2*

CHANDRAGUPTA

94

observation of Megasthenes.
to

be welUkilled

men who
water/' 1
of

in the arts as

We

shall

has

Painting

We

arts.

fresco

pain ing

following

note

briefly

Maurya

the

development

period.

always held a high place

learn from Buddhist

was

Prof.

among

writings

known.

well

already

of

passage

that

The

Davids about

Rhys

may be quoted in this

connection.
"They were mostly house painters.
The wood work of the houses was often covered
painters in

with

Buddhist

India

chunam

fine

plaster

But they also

painting.

tell

passages

and

decorated

Magadha and Kosala, and such

no doubt
an

similar in

earlier

style

character

frescoes of the seventh

the Ajanta caves,

Sigri

Rock

in

the

than,

to,

with

These

frescoes.

painted

us of pleasure houses,

adorned with

painted figures and patterns, belonging to

of

the

kings

frescoes

were

but of course in

well

known

ancient

and eighth centuries A. D. on

fi'-th
century on the

and of the

Ceylon."

No

doubt

this art

must have

continued in the Maurya period under the patronage

of an enlightened Government.
Megastbenes and Arrian

1.

McCrindle-Ancient india

2.

Rhys Darids-Buddhisi India p

might be expected of

inhale a pure air and drink the very finest

the chief arts in the

fine

found

are also

"They

96.

p. 30.

LITERATURE & ART

The

art

iconography also had considerably

of

the

in

developed

Maurya

recently

discovered,

specialists

near about

them

the

is

museum.

95

the

Parkham

According

been

Maurya
Mr.

statues,

assigned

Jayaswal

Museum,

the Indian

near

discovered

this

are also

is

believed to

belong

the

Two

and now

Patna,

of

the Muttra'

in

nearly contemporary portrait of king Ajatasatru.

of the statues

by

One

period.

now

statue,

to

Some

period.

have

in
to

Mr.
According
early Maurya period.
Jayaswal they represent Udayi and Nandivarddhana,
though this view is not generally accepted. But even
to

Dr. Smith
to

the

was

early

of the opinion that the statues

Maurya

statue found at Besnagar

to the

Maurya

period.
is

colossal

also supposed

to

belong
female
belong

period.

Architecture has been considered the queen of

and a survey of

it is

indispensable in

arts,

a review of the

Maurya period. Numerous

monuments of the period of Asoka have survived to
prove the high skill which the people had attained
progress of art

in his reign.

in

the

Unfortunately very

little

has survived

The

of the reign of Chandragupta himself.

appears
still

to

built

be that most of the

of

Megasthenes.

the perishable

We

are

cities

wood,

however,

in

reason

India

as

were

noted

fortunate

by
in

CHANDRAGUPTA

96
possessing

an

account

the

of

way

in

which

and the royal palace in

and modern excavations have proved

Pataliputra, the capital,

were

built,

We may

correctness.

Pataliputra
in

cify

in the

of

as

first

that

is

its

of

description

by Arrian "The greatest

which is called Palimbothra,

quoted

India

give

the

it

dominions of the Prassians, where the streams

Erannaboas and the Ganges

the

Megasthenes

us

informs

that

the

unite

city stretched in

on each
breadth was fifteen

the inhabited quarters to an extreme length

eight stadia, and that its

that a ditch encompassed it all round,
and
stadia,
which was six hundred feet in breadth and thirty
cubits in depth, and that the wall was crowned with
570 towers and had four and sixty gates." 1
side of

We

learn

further

was

that

also built of

the

wall

which girded the

city

wood.

The

of
palace
Chandragupta was highly
who
the
Greeks,
regarded it as surpassing
praised by
The
in beauty the palaces of Susa and Ekbatana.

the

excavations at
carried

on by

remains of

This

all

of

the

village

Spooner have

Dr.

Kumrahar

disclosed

the

a mighty pillared hall of Mauryan date-

probably formed

Chandragupta
1.

site

part

of

the

palace of

himself.

McCrindle- Ancient

India.:

Megxstbeneg and

Armn

p. 67.

LITERATURE & ART,

The
were

of the pillars of this

stone fragments

found

ashes

among

97
hall

beneath

buried

old

brickwalls probably belonging to the Gupta period.

Beneath the ashes was a

which

covered

According

somewhere
some

by

silt

flood

time of

the

of

floor

original

hall

about

feet of

of

the

fire,

silt

hall.

was deposited on
which occurred
Christ,

and

centuries, the portion above the

down by

burnt

layer

Spooner the

to Dr.

the floor of the

after

the

which accounts

then,

was

silt

for the ashes

in
lying mixed with stone fragments above the silt,
connection with the woodwork of the superstructure

Spooner has made

"Judging from the timbers

the

Dr.

us,

it is

clear that

that

following

remarks.

have been preserved

the wood work

room must have been extremely

heat of the
massive, and that the

and

solid

the

and

must

conflagration

evident

that

it

have

sufficed

to

of the superstructure

been

enormous.

to crack off

final
It

is

innumerable

fragments from that portion of the columns which

rose above the silt, and also to expand the metal
bolts

in

which

the

fitted

fragments of

top

recovered/'

pillars

which we

have

According
1,

into the socket, holes observable

to Dr.

Spooner

this

Maurya

Archaeological Surrey of India 1912-1918 p. 63.

hall

was

98
built

CHANDRAGUPTA
on the model

of the pillared hall at Persepolis.

Dr. Smith, however, observed that the resemblance

Maurya buildings with the Persian palace

Persepolis was not definitely established.

of the

at

VII

ACrilEVEMENTSOFCHANDRAGUPTA
A

review of the

and career of Chandragupta

life

can hardly be complete without a survey of the

importance of his achievements.
a

personage

who,

ancient

in

imagination of Hindu,

Roman
in

It

modern

captured the

times,

Greek and

Buddhist, Jain,

We

times.

against

the

here discuss his place

shall

on the ground of

Chandragupta began

his

achievements.

his career as a

mere rebel
His

existing order of things in India.

achievement was, perhaps,

Greek

strange that

authors alike, has been camparatively ignored

in history

first

is

the

expulsion

garrisons from the Punjab in about

Starting from that point, he

became,

317

B.

of

C.

a brief space

in

of twelve years, the emperor of the greater part of

India,

entering

frontier "sighed

and never held

into

possession

for in
in

its

of

that scientific

vain by his English successors

entirety

even by the Moghul

1

monarchs of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries"

the extent of his conquests, we must
In
judging

remember

that India

is

geographically a

continent

and the conquest of nearly the whole of this area

Moreover, as Arrian HAS
is no mean achievement.
noted,
1.

sense

of

justice

Early History of India p

prevented
126

the

ancient

CHANDRAGUPTA

100

Indian kings from bringing foreign

their subjection.

They were

under

countries

satisfied

by

getting

their superior power acknowledged by foreign kings,

and they performed their digvijaya only to this end.
Judged by this standard, Chandragupta was a

much

successful digvijayi in as

as

he defeated the

most powerful foreign king, Seluekos Nikator, who

Thus there
held all western Asia under his sway.
can be no doubt that Chandragupta was a great
conqueror.

Chandragupta, moreover, was, in a real sense, one

few men who have changed the destinies

of those

of nations.

warring

But for him, India, with her numerous

rulers,

would have

surely fallen a prey

of the successors of Alexander.

to

He

the

ambition

was

solely responsible for the redemption of India.

Chandragupta,
adventurer and his

upon
about

his
in

temporary.

military

Indian

however, was no mere military

greatness does not depend only

The change he

feats.

was

politics

He knew

to

conquer a vast empire.

not

organise

flickering

as

1.

MoOrindlt-Aoiat

It

is,

India:

or

well as to

His organization was so

thorough that his empire passed intact at

son and grandson.

brought

least to his

therefore, obvious that

Megatthenes and Arrian

he

p. 809.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF CHANDRAGUPTA
had the

101

will as well as the capacity to organize

in

empire rarely surpassed

Chandragupta

an

magnitude.

been praised by Indian and

has

foreign authors alike for bestowing prosperity

upon

Thus, Visakhadatta, the author of the

his country.

Mudrarakshasa, has treated him as Deity descended

upon earth to restore peace in the country of India

troubled by barbarians.
Among foreign writers the
has
accused
one
who
Chandragupta of tyranny
only
is

the

Roman

historian Justin, but his opinion

is

in

contradiction with the earlier account of Megasthenes

who everywhere

refers

to

the

of

prosperity

the

Indian people.

Chandragupta thus distinguished himself

directions.

He was

in

many

the conqueror of a vast territory,

the emancipator of his country, the capable administrator of

to his

a great empire, and the harbinger

He

people.

historical

is

emperor of

the mightiest

ruler

of

India.

of his time

He was

be worthwhile
of

first

undoubtedly

and one of the most

firmament of monarchy.
easy to embark upon a comparison, but as
of the best ways of understanding a person,
lustrous stars in the

peace

usually considered as the

It is
it
it

is

not

one

would

compare Chandragupta with three

the world's greatest Kings
Alexander, Akbar

and Napoleon.

to

CHANDRAGUPTA

102

Alexander the Great was undoubtedly a great

are bound to be dazzled when we
conqueror.

We

recall

is

mind

to

of time
that

his

wide conquests

a brief space

in

he died quite young.

much of what Alexander

for

Yet the

truth

accomplished

had already been planned by his father, Philip, a

man of uncommon ability. Alexander had found
his field prepared
difficulties

by

his

face at

to

the words of Mr.

the outset of his career.

"
the true hero

H. G. Wells

the history of Alexander

as

his

is

father

and thus had no

father,

Philip/'

In

of

much Alexander

not so

Moreover,

the

countries

conquered by Alexander gained nothing by the change

It
of masters*
may be argued that he had schemes
of organisation

death.

But

which were

this

is

frustrated

hardly borne

by

his

early

out by his career.

His vanity was insuperable, and his purpose seems

to have been to dazzle the world by his valour. His
purpose accomplished, he
death.

man

Chandragupta, on

of a different metal.

literally

the

drank himself to

other

hand, was a

As brave and couragous

as Alexander himself, his sole purpose seems to have

peace and honour to his country. He

had no advantages of birth and was actually an

been

to bring

exile at the outset of

1.

his career.

Wells-Outline of History page

">4*

He

too

was a

ACHIEVEMENTS OF CHANDRAGUPTA

103

young man when he came on the scene, but in a

brief space of time he had not only conquered but
thoroughly organized a

advantages of a

vast

empire, giving

good government

Thus Chandragupta, on

to

his

the

all

people.

the whole, has better claims

Alexander.

for greatness than

Akbar, the Moghul monarch, was indeed much

He has often been compared
like Chandragupta.
with Asoka, but

more

many

in

allied to that of

respects

his genius

Chandragupta than

to

was

that

of

Like Chandragupta he was a man of 'blood

and iron'. Like him again, he was a great conqueror

Asoka.

and a

great administrator, But

Akbar had

that

inherited

for forming a great

who

must be remembered
resources

the

needed

empire as against

Chandragupta
from poverty and exile to power.
the success of Akbar's administration

struggled

Moreover,

was

it

more due

to

the

personal

qualities

of

his

organisation and even

Dr. Vincent Smith has admitted that" Akbar's machine

ministers than to his thorough

government never attained the standard of

efficiency reached by the Mauryas eighteen or nineteen
of

1
centuries before his time."

Napoleon

certainly

figures in history.
1.

He

was one

of the most brilliant

resembles Chandragupta in

Bmith-Akbar the Great Mogul page 896.

CHANDRAGUPTA

104
as

much

as he also rose

virtue of his birth.

In

by dint of merit, and not by

his early youth he dreamt

an independent Corsica, much as Chandragupta

seems to have dreamt of the independence of his

of

But

country.

mere ambition

Napoleon
conquest, and

later,

for

In fact,

his empire.

drifted
failed

towards
to

maintain

his country gained nothing

his splendid exploits.

he too

In this respect,

by

falls

behind the great Maurya.

Chandragupta was

uncommon

genius.

thus,

on

the

He was the founder

whole,

an

of the greatest

to
which also belonged the most
famous Buddhist and Jain monarchs. 1 His career

Hindu dynasty,

supplied

and he

materials

is still

to

literature.

many

a popular hero

Asokft ftnd 8*mpr*ti.

poets for writing

in

upon
modern vernacular

VIII.

LEGENDS OF CHANDRAGUPTA,
A.

While Buddha

BUDDHIST.

yet lived, driven by the misfortunes

produced by the wars of (prince) Vidudabha, certain

members

of the Sakya line

discovered a delightful and beautiful

watered and situated

bo and other

several

having

embellished

lofty

Influenced

with

defence

delightful

edifices

gates

that

buildings covered with

tiles,

of

place where

by

durable

and

therein,

and pleasure

having a row of

(city)

the pattern of the plumage

it

at a

surrounded

met,

desire

the

by

of

Moreover

gardens.

well

founded a town

roads

great

ramparts,

location,

in the midst of a forest of

trees.

settling there, they

Himavant

to

retreating

which were arranged

of peacock's neck,

in

and as

resounded with notes of flocks of kraunchas and

mayuras

it

was so

these Sakya lords of this

and

Jambudipa by

town,

were

descendants,
the

From

called.

title

of

circumstance

this

and

their

renowned

children

throughout

"Moriya", From

this

time

been called the Moriyan dynasty.

(Chandragupta was bom in this dynasty.) His

that dynasty has

mother,

the

queen

consort

of

the

Moriyanagara, the city before mentioned,

at the time that

monarch

of

was pregnant

a certain powerful provincial

raja

CHANDRAGUPTA

106

conquered

that

to death.

In

womb,

kingdom, and put the Moriyan

king

her anxiety to preserve the child in her

departing for

the

capital

of

Pupphapura

under the protection of her elder brothers and under

At the completion of the
disguise she dwelt there.
ordinary term of pregnancy giving birth to a son, and
she
relinquishing him to the protection of the Devas,

door
placed him in a vase and deposited him at the
A bull named Chando stationed
of a cattle pen.
himself by him, to protect him, in the

same manner

Ghosha, by the interposition of the Devas,

was watched over by a bull. In the same manner,
that Prince

of

that

the spot where the

prince Ghosha repaired to
observing
himself, a herdsman, on

bull

also,

that

the

herdsman

in

the

instance

this

planted
prince,

own
and

moved by

child, took charge of

him a name,

in giving

like

affection,

that

borne

to

his

and tenderly reared him,

in reference to his

having

Chando, he called him

been watched by
When he had
Chandagutta and brought him up.
a certain
attained an age to be able to tend cattle,
and
with,
wild huntsman, becoming acquainted
the

bull

attached to him, taking him from

his

own

dwelling,

established

(the herdsman)

him

here.

to

He

<x>ntinued to dwell in that village.

Subsequently,

on

certain

occasion,

white

LEGENDS OF CHANDRAGUPTA
tending cattle with other children in the
joined them

He

himself

in a

called the

game
was named Raja

offices

of

judges,

were placed

made

subbing,

he

in

sat

in

"game

Some

thus

being appointed

On

brought up, regularly inspecting and

their guilt

according

being clearly
to

hands and

we have no

and

to

feet.

court of

his

satisfaction,
his

judicial

officers of the court to

On

their

axes"; he answered"

being

trying them, on

chop

replying. "Deva,
'It

is

the order of

and
ye should chop off their hands
making axes with the horns of goats for blades

Chandagutta
feet,

proved

some he

culprits

the sentence awarded by

ministers, he ordered the

off their

he gave the

constituted

judgement.

he

of royalty".

a judgement hall

Having

officers-

justice,

etc.

village,

to others

107

that

sticks for handles.

striking

They

acting accordingly,

with the axe the hands and

feet

were

on

lopt off.

On the same person commanding, "Let them be

to their
reunited," the hands and feet were restored
former condition.

Chanakka, (a Brahman), happening to come to

he beheld.
that spot, was amazad at the proceedings
(He had been insulted by King Nanda, for taking
taken into
revenge against whom he had already
confidence a Prince named Pabbato, and was to
search for a second individual entitled to be raised

CHANDRAGUPTA

108
to sovereign

Accompanying

power).

(the boy)

to

and presenting the herdsman with a

Kahapanas, he applied for him saying,

the village,

thousand

"1 will

teach your son every accomplishment, consign

him

me."

to

conducting

Accordingly

him

to

his

own

dwelling, he encircled his neck

with

fold

of woollen cord,

golden thread,

worth a

lac.

He
similar
living

twisted with

a single

Prince

invested

with

him,

separately imparted

Pabbato,

While

woollen cord.

with

also,

youths were

these

each
to

had dream which they

him.
As soon as he heard

each (dream) he knew that of these prince Pabbato

would not attain royalty; and that Chandagutta
would, without

monarch

loss

of

in

become paramount
Although he made this

time,

Jambudipa.
he
disclosed nothing to them.
discovery,
On a certain occasion having partaken of some
milkrice prepared in butter,

which had been received

as an offering at a Brahmanical disputation;

from the main road,

and

lying

down

in

retiring

a shady

by the deep foliage of trees, they

Among them the Achariyo awaking

place protected
fell

asleep.

first

rose;

Pabbato's

and,

for

the purpose of

qualifications to the

sword, and telling him "Bring

me

test,

putting

prince

giving him a

the woollen thread

LEGENDS OF CHANDRAGUPTA

109

on Chandagutta's neck, without either cutting or

Starting on the mission,
untying it/' sent him off.
and

On

accomplish it, he returned.

subsequent day, he sent Chandagutta on a
failing to

He

mission.

was

repairing to the spot

sleeping, and

how

considering

effected, decided "there

similar

where Pabbato

was

it

no other way

is

be

to

of doing

it;

it

can only be got possession of by cutting his head off."

Accordingly chopping his head off, and bringing
,

away

the woollen thread,

Brahman, who

in

profound silence.

however, on account of this

he rendered him in the course of six or

with him,

Pleased
(exploit),

seven

himself to the

presented

him

received

years

learned.

highly accomplished, and

on

Thereafter,

deciding "From henceforth

his

profoundly

manhood,

attaining

this individual

is

capable

and controlling an army," and repairing

the spot where his treasure was buried, and

of forming
to

and employing it; and enlisting

quarters, and distributing money

taking possession of,

forces

from

among

them, and

army,

he entrusted

throwing

all

having thus formed

it

off all disguise,

parts of the country,

to

him.

From

powerful
that

time

and invading the inhabited

he commenced

his

campaign
by attacking towns and villages. In the course of
their (Chanakka and Chandagutta's) warfare, the

CHANDRAGUPTA

110

rose en masse,

population

and

their

hewing

vanquished them.

and

wilderness

decided; "As

army

and surrounding them,

with

their

consulting

yet

a knowledge
Thenceforth,

in

the 'sentiments
disguise they

country.

While

retiring to

some town or

of

habit

thus

they

thus

from

the

people."

they were

converstation

the

the

sunset

after

roaming about,

to

attending

us acquire

let

of

travelled about

other,

the

resulted

together,

no advantage has

war; relinquishing military operations,

of

weapons,

Dispersing, they reunited in

in

of

the

the

inhabitants of those places.

one of these

In

villages,

woman

having baked

some appalpuwa (pancakes) was giving them to her

child, who leaving the edges would only eat the
centre.

remarked
in his

On

On

his

asking

"This boy's conduct

attempt to take

his enquiring,

another cake,

for
is

like

possession of

she

Chandagutta's

the

"Mother, why, what

kingdom/'

am

doing,

and what has Chandagutta done?" "Thou, my

the outside of the
boy, tsaid she), throwing away
cake, eat the middle only.

Chandagutta also

in his

the
ambition to be a monarch, without subduing
the towns, invaded the
frontiers, before he attacked

heart of the
that account,

country,

and

laid

towns waste.

both the inhabitants of the

On

town and

LEGENDS OF CHANDRAGUPTA
others, rising closed

upon him, from

in

and destroyed

to the centre,

his

the

1 1 1

frontiers

That was

army.

his folly."

They on

hearing

this story of hers,

taking

due

notice thereof, from that time, again raised an army.

On

resuming

towns,

their

commencing

towns, and stationing

in

proceeded

the

adopting

army, and in

their

attack

on

the

provinces and

from the

frontiers,

troops in

the

invasion.

reducing

intervals,

an

After

they

interval,

same system, and martial ling a great

regular course reducing each kingdom

and province, then assailing Fatal iputra and putting

Dhanananda to death, they seized that sovereignty.
Although this had been brought about, Chanakka
did not at once raise Chandagutta to the throne; but
purpose of discovering Dhanananda's hidden
treasure, sent for a certain fisherman (of the river);

for the

and deluding him with the promise of raising the

chhatta for him, and having secured the hidden
treasure; within

him

also

monarch.

to

month from

death,

to

date,

putting

Chandagutta

inaugurated

B.
In

that

a village

there

JAIN.
lived

certain

MahavuDBa Tika translated by Tumour

1.
Mabav&usa pp. LXXVI-LXXXL

in

persons as
bis introduction

CHANDRAGUPTA

112

tamers of peacocks.

She

birth

gave

Their headman had a daughter.

a son who was named
to

The

Chandragupta.

soon grew up

latter

into

fine lad.

Chandragupta used to play with the boys of the

neighbourhood, and give villages and other things
to

as

them,

made

he

Sometimes,

the boys act as horses or elephants to ride

them, for the

by

he were a king.

if

his

man

future of

Subsequently, on

conduct.

previous

certain occasion, a

on

often predicted

is

Brahman named Chanakya (who

had been insulted by King Nanda of Pataliputra,

and who was in search of a person who could help

him

vow

his

in

while wandering.
of Chandragupta,

him

thus:

"O

of

He was
and

King

surprised at the

test

the latter he addressed

let

me

also

Chandragupta

gifts.

Brahman

have a share

also

liberty to

at

there,

manners

to

"

your

came

revenge)

"
replied,

choose

some

in

O
for

you arQ
No body can
these village kine.
from
yourself
what
dare to withhold
promise/'
Chanakya,
1

smiling,
fear the

said.

"How

cowhards

Chandragupta

cows

to thee,

those

who

lest

shall

they should best

replied,

"Do

The whole

are brave/'

kine ?

take these

not fear.

earth can be

me
I

sevefely"
allot these

enioyed by

Chanakya was

struck

by

LEGENDS OF CHANDRAGUPTA
his

and asked

intelligence

who he
which,

The

was.

while

was promised

be given

to

(remembering that
formerly

come

ascetic,

was he

it

the

to

an

village

the

womb,

mother's
to

to

way

in

the

by means

of

Chanakya

who

the

guise of

in

accompany

had
an

latter

a kingdom,

promise of securing

the

him.

boy

himself

recognised the boy and induced the

ascetic)

to

his

as

playmates

him

told

boys

in

still

his

113

too,

pleased at

the idea of acquiring kingship, agreed to

accompany

Chandragupta

him, and Chanakya quickly fled away with the

boy like a highwayman. Then, taking hold of his
treasures,
Chanakya arrayed infantry and other

beseiged
his

the

forces

city of

thus

Chanakya and
their

lives,

oneself

at

for

is

it

any

said

cost,

their.y

can

not

kingdom.

thereafter,

that

with

to

tolerate

life.

catch

fled

for

one should protect

attainable

being

Nanda, on

his

part,

Chandragupta,

such

When Nanda

capital triumphant, the

each contributing

sides

King Nanda, however,

prosperity

one's

some cavaliers

kings

all

then

inadequate forces of Chanakya.

Chandragupta,

only by preserving
sent

on

Pataliputra

gathered.

defeated the

easily

He

Nanda,

sake of destroying

forces, for the

persons
returned

citizens celebrated

for

as covet

to

his

festival,

his share according to capacity.

CHANDRAGUPTA

114

One

of the cavaliers despatched

reached, due to the swiftness of

by King Nanda

his horse,

very near

where Chandragupta had gone.

from

cavalier

the

asked Chandragupta
of the lake
lotuses.

nearby adorned with

stayed there silent like a

asked Chanakya

man

pretending

Nanda

to

if

the

care

take

meditation,

his

swimming

special

dance.)

his

The

hold

of

latter's

the

gown, as

cavalier's
if

the

out of

ocean*

to

the water,

Then

dancing
she has

and cut
the

to

wears

girl

to

the

wear

perform

meanwhile,

the

to

order

in

water, began to

sword,

to offer

Then, as he shouted

came

the

in

Chanakya,

head, as

there

wind.

towards

finger

cavalier

(when

petticoat

of

way.
Chanakya,
he should break his

draw out Chandragupta from

her

came

that
lest

pointed

water with a hum.

quickly
swiftness

he had seen some young

passing

recently

silent

of

which had

his horse,

He

himself in the water

hide

situated

himself

The horseman

Yogi.

on

to

was

that

He

Chanakya, seeing
and using his quick wit,

afar

got

off

the

Water.goddess.

Chandragupta, the

latter

moon rises from

made Chandragupta

as the

having

mount on the horse of the cavalier, Chanakya

*sked him as to what he thought to himself
was pointed out to the cavalier.
when

LEGENDS OF CHANDRAGUPTA

15

Chandragupta said that, although he might not

understand, he saw nothing but good in what
his teacher did.
Chanakya, on hearing this, thought
an obedient pupil would never
While they were thus going on,

that such

to himself

him.

betray

were again

they

Nanda coming

followed

by a

Yama.

a messenger of

like

cavalier of

swift

Seeing

Chanakya again asked Chandragupta to act

which he did. Chanakya then persuaded

him,

as before

washerman standing

Nanda was angry on

him

to

run away,

cavalier
too,

that

seeing

drawn

statement,
to

was drawing

and

fled

the

began
had left behind.

Chanakya
about

The

(mistaking

before,

Chanakya

and

which

killed

killed

to

of

with

Chanakya's

Chankaya then
the washerman

be

washerman)

quick-witted

that

afar

coming near asked

cavalier

him

The

the fugitives.

acting as

for his

truth
life.

clothes

King

best for

by the
The washerman

near.

the

that

was

it

coming from

believed

wash

and

he should be

lest

the cavalier

sword,

to believe

there

his guild,

cavalier

Chandragupta

Chanakya,
also*

resumed

Then
their

wanderings

While

thus wandering, Chanakya,

accompanied

by Chandragupta, reached a

village in

as a bird retires to

In that village,

its

nest.

the evening,

roaming

116

CHANDRAGUPTA

for the sake of

alms, he approached

certain old

food

woman, who was

the house of a

serving fresh cooked hot

There a

to her children.

child, feeling very

hungry, got his fingers burnt due to his carelessness.

On

the child's screaming the old

"You

are

as

as

foolish

woman

remarked:
himself/"

Chanakya

Chanakya, overhearing, entered her house and asked

the matron the reason for her comparison of the child
to

Chanakya.

in

his

The

attacked

folly,

getting control of

the frontiers

his

fingers

before

too, put his

of

hand

the sides

which
in the

and thus

burnt.

a woman was

Chanakya thinking that

more intelligent than him

his mistake)

went

the

to

Himalayan
and there formed alliance with a chief named

(and realising
regions,

"Chanakya

capital,

as a result

before slowly eating from

centre

even

replied,

Nanda's

This child,

he perished.

got

woman

old

Parvataka, with a view to secure his help.

One

day,

Chanakya suggested

idea of conquering

king

to

Parvataka the

Nanda and

dividing

his

kingdom between themselves. Parvataka agreed to

then
and
this,
Chandragupta, Chanakya and
Parvataka started to conquer the kingdom of

On their
-capture

way, they beseiged a town,

it.

Nanda.

but could

not

Thereupon Chanakya entered the town

a mendicant.
There Chanakya

in the disguise of

LEGENDS OF CH ANDRAGUPTA
saw seven goddesses and thought
been due

them

to

the

that

that

town was

1 1

must have

it

While

safe.

he was thinking of the way of removing the images,

certain citizens came to him and requested him to

when the town would be free from the

The preceptor of Chandragupta replied

predict as to
invaders.

were there

that so long as the goddesses

would not be secure from enemies.

the

The

then quickly removed the images, for there

which a troubled person

will not

the influence of a crafty fellow.

Parvataka then retreated

the citizens

is

town

citizens

nothing

do specially under
Chandargupta and

Chanakya, and
But the two warriors

at the hint of

became very

glad.

again came back like a seaside and entered the town.

Having thus captured this town both the warriors
with
conquered the
country of Nanda also,
as charioteer.

Chanakya

the two heroes at

a large army.

last

Being guided by Chanakya,

King Nanda

at that time

destitute of sufficient treasuries

and

valour,

retires

due

to grant

does not value his

He

(beij

him a
life,

safe

Cha

to leave the city with only

him

that

and

to his unvirtuoi

with virtue.

Chanakya

Pataliputra also with

besieged

none would stop him

had become

CHANDRAGUPTA

118

Then

Nanda having

king

wives and a daughter

wealth left the city.

was

time

that

and a

The

daughter of

at

with

Nanda proved

amount

of

Nanda,

at

by the appearance of
him unwinked like a
her

By thus gazing by

goddess.

sufficient

daughter of

attracted

Chandragupta and gazed

love

taken with him his two

that

side

had

she

Nanda

Chandragupta,

glances
fallen

too,

the
in

having

understood, asked his daughter to choose her husband

according to her

will,

was

as

kings.

his chariot, wishing her well.

got

the

down from

that chariot,

Being thus asked she

and began

chariot of Chandragupta, as a result

were broken, as

spokes
pressed

by

Chanakya,

mount

the

of

which

the

a sugar cane breaks

when

Chandragupta thinking it
remove her from the chariot.

however, forbade

so, telling

to

yantra.

inauspicious tried to

doing

custom among
down from

Accordingly he asked her to get

him

that

it

Chandragupta from

wasa good omen,

not only

Chandragupta but also for his descendants. Then

Chandragupta and Parvataka having entered Nanda's
for

palace began to divide the huge wealth of that king.

There was also the daughter of Nanda whom the

had slowly fed on poison, and Parvataka

became so enamoured of her that he treated her like
latter

an angel.

The

preceptor

of

Chandragupta

agreed

LEGENDS OF CHANDRAGUPTA

to confer her

upon Parvataka and preparations

marriage were

started.

the nuptial

the

for

But the sweat produced by

caused the transmission of poison in

body of Parvataka, (who took the hand

girl).

his

tire

19

of the

Being thus afflicted by the agonies of poison

to

body began

loose

and he cried

energy

to

to procure a doctor lest he should die.

But Chanakya whispered to Chandragupta to let him

Chandragupta

alone to die or be cured, for

after

Parvataka would clear away a

his incurring

all

rival

Thereafter

sin.

death

the

of

of

without

his.

the

Himalayan
whole empire passed intact to
Thus Chandragupta became king

any

chief died and the

Chandragupta.
155 years after the Mukti of
C.

Sri

Mahavira.

HINDU.

King Nanda was the lord of 99 crores of gold

When he died his body was re-animated
pieces.

by a person proficient

was known
hated

in

Yoga

and, since

then,

he

Yogananda. Sakatala, the minister,

Yogananda thinking him to be an imposter.

Yogananda,
on a false

as

having known
plea.

Since

it,

then

punished Sakatatala
Sakatala

became

definitely against him.

1.
Parisishtaparvan
the
author.
by

of

Hemachandra

VIII

3889,

trtntbtfed

CHANDRAGUPTA

120

One day,

while brooding on his plan of revenge,

he observed a Brahman digging in a meadow, and
asked him the reason for doing

Brahman,
has hurt

my

am
The

"1

foot/'

and regarded

reply
as

replied,

the

Yogananda.
a reward

of

come and

was

minister

struck

to

the

death

the

accomplish

at

Brahman

that angry firnruminded

person

fit

Chanakya, the
rooting out this grass which
that.

of

He

then engaged him by the

of

one hundred thousand suvarnas

preside at the

promise

sraddha which was

to

be

to

the palace of Nanda.

Chanakya
and
on
to
his
house
the
him
accompanied
appointed
day went to preside at the Sraddha. Another

celebrated

in

Brahman,

was

Subandhu, however,
for

precedence

getting

himself

desirous

of

and Nanda was

persuaded by Sakatala to believe that Subandhu was

a fit person to be given precedence. Thereupon

Nanda gave

orders to

remove Chanakya from the

place which he occupied.

Sakatala

the orders to Chanakya, pleading his

in

the

matter.

loosened
kill

the

Nanda

would

tie

Burning

with

communicated

own

innocence

rage,

Chanakya

knot of his sikha, and took a

vow

within seven days, after which alone

his sikha again.

On

hearing

this

was enraged, but

Chanakya

escaped

secretly sheltered

Sakatala.

Thereafter,

by

to

he

Nanda

and

was

Chanakya

LEGENDS OF CHANDRAGUPTA
being supplied with
rite

all materials,

121

practised a magical

which he was an adept, and by which on

day Nanda was deprived of life. Sakatala

in

the seventh

effected the destruction of Yogananda's son Hiranya*

gupta also, and raised Chandragupta, the son of the

genuine Nanda, on the throne.

the

and Sakatala having obtained

minister,

prince's

Chanakya became

the only object of his existence retired to

last

in the

days

woods

forces

He

He

Alexander's empire

in the east

among

his

took Babylon and then with his

first

augmented by victory subjugated the Bactrians.

after
which
into
India,
passed over

then

Alexander's death,

been shaken
to

waged many wars

Nicator

after the partition of

generals.

EUROPEAN.

D.
Saleucus

his

spend

off

forfeited

their

by

liberator,

if

its

his

for

freedom,
tyranny

neck, had put

was
but
all

the

after
title

to

1.

his

prefects

leader

who

his victories

the

name

he
of

he oppressed with servitude the very

from foreign

people whom he had emancipated

He was bom in humble
thraldom.

prompted

had

the yoke of servitude

Sandracottus

death.

achieved

as

from

to aspire to

Kathasaritsagara

life,

but

was

royalty by an omen significant

5 translated bj the author.

CHANDRAGUPTA

122

an august destiny. For when by his insolent

behaviour he had offended
Nandrus and was

of

ordered

by that king to be put to death, he sought

When he lay overcome
safety by a speedy flight.
with fatigue and had fallen into a deep sleep, a lion
of

enormous

with

its

from

his

approaching the slumberer licked

tongue the sweat which oozed profusely
body and when he awoke quickly took its
size

It
was this prodigy which first inspired
him with the hope of winning the throne, and so
having collected a band of robbers he instigated the

departure.

Indians

to

When

he

overthrow

was

the

existing

thereafter

Government.

preparing to attack

Alexander's prefects, a wild elephant of

monstrous

approached him, and kneeling submissively like

a tame elephant received him on to its back and
size

fought vigorously in front of the army.

won

having thus

when
future

the throne

Seleucus was
greatness.

laying

Seleucus

with

him and otherwise

east,

returned

Antigonus
1.

home

to

Sandrocottu

was reigning over ndia

I

foundation

the

having made a
settled

his

prosecute

the

of

his

treaty

affairs in the

war

with

'Nandrum'

has

b*n

substituted

for

the corrupt

reading

'Ataxandrum'.
*2

Justin (McCrindle-InvHKion of India by Alexander pp. 827-8).

APPENDIX

A.

History of the Sudat santi

,ake.

(Portion of the Junagarh Inscription from

Epigraphia

and

Indica Vol. Vlll, Edited

Translated by Prof. F. Kielhorn.)

1.

Siddham idam tarfakam Sudar^anam Cir

radapi (d) (u) ram a (n)

(a)

nagau

ik.opala.vis.

(tt)

tarayam.occhray a* niAsandhi.baddha

(i)

drirfha.sar.

a.pa katvat.parvata.pa
1 i

2.

da^ppratispardhususlish
(

va

jaten^akritrimena

)a(ba)

mirfhavidhanam cha

ndha

setubandhenopapannam

supprativihita.ppranalt.pari
3.

triskan

v )cha
(dha)

anuagrahairxmahaty.upachaye

vartate-

n.adibhir.

Tadidam

rajno mahakshatrapasya sugrihi

4.

tanamnaA Swami.Chashtanasya pautra

putrasya

rajno

abhyastanamno
tatitam(e) 70 2.
5.

MargasiYsha.bahuIa.prat(i)
Jina

parjanyena

vyam kritayam
6.

mahakshatrapasya

Rudradamno varshe

h
gurubhir.
divisap^

h srish/a.vr isk

ekarnava.bhwtayam.iva prithu

girerx/7rjayataA Suvarnasikata.

Palasini.Prabhriunam nadinam atimatrodvrittair^

vegaiA setum(a)

karamapi

(ya)

.giri*ikharflutaru.ta<

moaanurupa^pratt^
.0#a!ak. opatalpau

CHANDRAGUPTA

124

dvara-^aranocchraya ^vidhvamsino^yuga , nidhana

sadri
7.

sa^paramaghorawegena vayuna pramathita-salila*

sh

vikshipta

ptasma*

vrikshagulmaJatapratanam a nadf

la

jarjarckritava

(k)

(dt)

(d) ity-udghatitam-^sit.

Chatvari-hastau

(i)

(ta)

ata*

nuvinsad^uttaranyxiyatena etavantyeva visttrnena

8.

marudhannva

nissrita-'Sarva^toyam

atibhrisam

bhedena

hastan^avagorfhena

pancha^saptati

durda

(s)y(a)rthe

rajnah Chandrag (u)(pta)(s) (ya)

(r)

kalpam^

Mauryasya
ashfriyena

Pushyaguptena karitam

(V) aisyena

Mauryasya ;kri?)

te

Asokasya
YavanarajenaTush (a)spheiv

adhish^haya
9.

pranaltbhir^ala(m)krita(m)

TRANSLATION
This lake Sudarsana, from Girinagara (even a

1.

distance?)

long

of

structure

so

well

joined as to rival the spur of a mountain, because

all

its

embankments are

* The following
1.

a,

t,

letters

strong, in breadth, length

have been printed in

u, representing long vowels

d, n, representing the letters of

2.

t,

3.

r, in ri,

4.

Jt,

representing

s,

representing y\

representing g$

%: if

italics.

HISTORY OF THE SUDARSANA LAKE

125

and height constructed without gaps

are

of

stone,

dam

,and with well provided

(formed by?)

and means

favours

(now)
This same (lake)
is

on the

son

of

whose name

is

as

excessively
Palasini

dam

the

son

72nd

the

rain

were

king,

the

earth

the
the

taking of

when by

auspicious

it

half

venerable,

of

Chashtana the

with

clouds pouring

converted

son's

Lord

Mahakshatrapa

dark

second

seventy

repeated by

and

of the

first

Mahakshatrapa Rudradaman

year of the king, the

is

guard against foul

and other
by
an excellent condition.

in

of Margasirsha in the

whose name

to

sections

three

matter,

3.

furnished with a natural

(clay)

conduits, drains

as they

the

had been

one ocean by the

into

swollen floods of the Suvarnasikata,

and other streams of mount Urjayat the

though proper precautions (were taken),
a most

the water churned by a storm which, of

tremendous fury
period, tore

upper

down

stories,

with

stones,

to

banks, turrets,

(tore

apart)

bushes and creeping plants

was

river

trees,

raised places of shelter

pieces,

trees,

scattered about,

bottom of the

hilUops,

gates and

scattered, broke

end of a mundane

befitting the

thus laid

open down

to the

CHANDRAGUPTA

126
7.

By a breach four hundred and twenty

long,

just

as

many

broad,

(and)

cubits deep, all the water escaped,

lake),

almost

like

sandy

cubits

seventy five
so

desert,

that

(the

(became)

extremely ugly (to look at)

for

by the

the

sake

Vaisya
of

the

Pushyagupta,

Maurya

governor
adorned with conduits
the

-..ordered to be

of

for

king

the

made

provincial

Chandragupta,

Asoka the Maurya by

Yavana king Tushaspha while governing

etc.

APPENDIX

B.

Maurya Chronology.
/.

Important events*

Event

Year
B. C.

488

Foundation of Pataliputra.

345

Birth of Chandragupta.

325

Chandragupta met Alexander the Great-

End

of Greek domination
Chandragupta.

in

the Punjab by

314

Chandragupta invaded Nanda dominions.

313

Coronation of Chandragupta.

305

Seleukos Nikator defeated

289

Death of Chandragupta.

* Most

of the dates Are nearly exact;

by Chandragupta.

some are approximate.

CHANDRAGUPTA

128

Dynastia Table*

11.

* The lengths of reigns are given Recording to the Puranas.

According to the concurrent testimony of the Buddhists and Jains,
Knnla, the son of Asoka, was blind and therefore could not hay*
ruled.

Hence the

Puranas seems
is also exactly

period

to he

of

identical

the same.

If

we

eight

years allotted

to

him by

bcni

with Dasaratha's reign-period which

accept this, the detailed figures for the

reigns of Maurya Kings entirely agree with the total

by the Puranas to the Mavrya dynasty as a whole.

period

assigned

APPENDIX

C.

Bibliography.
Aneient Hindu Works.

7.

Kautilya's

Arthasastra with

the

commentary

of

T. Ganapati Sastn.

X^autilya's Arthasastra translated by Or. Shamasastry.

\ Visakhadatta's Mudrarakshasa with the

com men*

tary of Dhundhiraja,

Somadeva's Kathasaritsagara.
X^Manusmriti.

x Yajnavalkyasmriti.

Vayu Parana.
Matsya Purana.
Vishnu Purana with the commentary of Sridhara,

Bhagavata Purana.
yBana's Kadambari-

Kamandaka's

Nitisara.

vDandin's Dasakumaracharita.
xBhasa's Svapnavasavadatta.

^Ka!hana's Rajatarangmi.
2.

YMahavansa
Mahavansa

An? lent Buddhist Works.

Edited and translated by Geiger.

Edited and translated by

Tumour,

Edited and translated by Olden berg.

^Dipavan&a

Mahabodh vansa.
i

Mahaparinibbana Sutta.

CHANDRAGUPTA

130

Milindapanho.

Divyavadana.

Anoient Jain Work*.

5.

Hemachandra

Parisishtaparvan of

xkalpasutra of Bhadrabahu.
yicharasreni of Merutunga.
Uttaradhyayana Tika.
Hajavali Katha.

Tithoogaliya Payanna.
Tirthoddhara Prakirnaks.
4.

Classical

Works

(in Translation).

McCrindle

Invasion of India by Alexander.

McCrindle

Ancient India

Aneient India: Megasthenesand Arriao.

xMoCrindle

5.

Modern Works.

xCambridge History

ySmith

in Classical Literature.

of India Vol.

1.

-Oxford Early History of India 4th

Edl*

tion.

Xfiavell - Aryan Rule in India.

vRhys Davids
ifR.

Buddhist India.

K. Mookerji

Local

Government

in

Ancient

India.

*R. K. Mookerji

\R, K. Mookerji
Smith Asoka,
,*
^Bhandarkar

History of Indian Shipping.

Asoka.

Asoka.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

131

Inscriptions of Asoka.

Hultzsoh

>tRay Chaudhuri
Ray Chaudhuri

Political History of

Early

Ancient India.

History of the Vaishnava

sect.

yPargiter
vPargiter

Dynasties of the Kali Age.

Ancient Indian Historical Tradition.
Beginnings of South Indian History.

Vlyengar

Hindu

,s,Jayaswal

XMazumdar

Polity.

Corporate Life

in

Ancient India.

Bandopadhyaya Kautilya.
Akbar the Great Mogul.
\Smith Fine Art in India and Ceylon.

.xSmith

xTod

Annals and Antiquities of Rejasthan.

x Wells

Outline of History.

History of Sanskrit Literature.

- Sanskrit

<MacdoneIl
XT-aw

Drama.

Sanskrit Literature.

H istorical

VSamaddar

Gleanings.
Glories of Magadha,

Maurya Samrajya ka Itthasa.

Mysore and Coorg from Inscriptions.

Satyaketu
Rice

Asiatic Researches Vot. IV.

Epigraphia Indies Vol. VIII.

Spooner Excavations at Pa tali putr a (Arch. Sur. of
India 1912.13.)

Waddel

Excavations at Ratal iputra.

INDEX.
Adhyakshas= Superintendents, 52, 56, 59.
Administration, military,
61 ff; municipal, 56 ff;
of Justice 64 ff.

v., 19.

Agriculture, 79-80.
Ahinsa, doctrine of, 76.
Aiatasatru,
18.

14

n,

king,

3,

10,

15, 95.

Ajivikas, 77.
Akbar, 49, 108.

Alexander

(I)

great,

7, 22, ?8, 31, 88. 34,

88,

Amatyas, 50.
Ambhi, king of Taxila, 22.
Andhra, kingdom, 46.
Androkottos=C h a n d r a1

Anga, IS.
Antigonus
king
(2)

n.

(I)

Ariana,

38*.

on slavery, 91.
Indian, 58-4.
size of, 55.

Aristotle,

Army,

Arthasastra, 89-92.
Artisans, as servants of
state, 57; as a class of
Indian society, 69.
in
the age
of
Arts,
Chandragupta, 98 ff.

Aryas, definition
the

89n, 77, 102, 103, 121,

of
122, 127;
(2) king
Corinth, 10.

gupta, 8

Aria, 38.

Arms,

Afghanistan, 39, 47, 62.

Aggramen=Ugrasena,

Arachosia, 39.
Architecture, 96-8.

Gonatus,

of Macedonia, 10;
rival of
Seleukos,

122.

Antioohus Theos, king of

Syria, 10.

Anuruddhaka, identified
with
Nandivarddhana,

Asmakas,

of, 91.

20.

Asoka, 8, 9, 10, ? 1,24, 28,

45 n, 46. 48, 50, 58, 62,
63, 93, 95, 108, 104 n,
128.

Avanti,

20 n.

17, 18,

Babylon, 83, 83, 84, 121.

Baluchistan, 39, 47, 62.
Beas, river, 21, 23.
Benares, 20 n, 82, 87.
Bengal; 45, 82.

Besnagar, 95.
Bhaddasala, 35.

Bhadrabahu, 44, 92-8.

Bhagavata, faith, 75-6.
Bimbisara.
12, 13, 17,

Bindusara,
46, 128.

king,

2,

10,

28,

45,

18,20.
8,

9,

INDEX
Births and deaths, register
of, 68.

32; conquered the Pun88-4; defeated the

jab,

Boards, for military administration, 52 ff; for

administramunicipal
tion, 56 ff.

Bow, Indian,
Brachmanes

58-

4.

= B rah mans,

41. 77.8.

Brahmans, 69-70.
Brihadratha (1) founder
of Magadha, 12; f2) last
of the Mauryas, 128.
Brihaspati, 65.

Buddha,

133

28,

76,

mirvana

105; date of the

76.

64-5; family of, 43, death

48-44;

empire
of

40-41;

Maurya

age,

69-70.

charge

of, 54.

of,

of,

Ceylon, 94.

with

Chanakka=Chanakya,

q. v.

19, 82, 36, 40,

ff.

Chanakya Sataka,

Chandagutta =
gupta, q. v.

with Sandrakottos.
data of, 7*8; ancestry
life

other

great

Buddhist legends
Jain legends
1,

11- 11 9;

Hindu legends

119-21;

classical

legend of, 121-2, chronology of, 127.

Chariots, Board in charge
of, 55.

92.

Chandra*

Chando, bull, 106.

Chandrmgupta, identified

26-80; early

first

99-101;

emperor

105-11

of,

51, 68.92, 107

45-7; palace
96-8; achieve-

monarchs of the world,

102-4;

Cavalry, board in

Chanakya,

of,

extent of the

of
India, 101; his compart*

son
the

of,

historical

Bulls, fight of, 43.

Caste, in

became

of

88-39; his life as king,

41-2; his personal supervision
of justice,
42,

ments

of, 2.

Buddhism,

and

northern
India, 35; coronation of.
86; defeated the plot of
con*
86;
Malayaketu,
quered Deo can, 87; defeated Seleukos Nikator,

of,

18,

1, 9,

Nandas
master

of.

of, 81-

Chase, royal, 41, 43.

MahftkshaC hash tana
trapa, 128, 125.

China, trade with, 88-4.

Chola, kingdoms, 47.
Chronology, I f f ; tables of
127-8,

INDEX

134

of,

Fines, three kinds of 68.

in
board
Forigners,
charge of, 57.

Commander-in-chief, 61.
Board
in
Commerce,

Gangaridae, 23.
Ganges, 96; valley, 2fc 85.

charge of, 58.

Commissariat, Board in
charge of, 52.
Councillors, as a class of

Gautama=Buddha,

Cliessobora, 76.

Cloth,

ft

manufacture

81-2.

Col lector general, 59.

Indian population, 69.

Courtezans, as spies, 64.

Dandamis,

Darsaka, king, 3, 18-5, 17.

Dasaratha, king, 14, 128.
Death, penalty of, 67.
Deccan, 87, 46.

Guilds, 84.

Haihayas, 20.
Hairwashing,

ceremony r

Herakles, 75.
Herat, 89.

Hiranyagupta, 121.

Husbandmen, as a

class

of Indian population, 69.

Devavarman, king, 128.

Dhanananda, 23, 111.
Dharmasutras, 86.
Digvijaya, 88, 100.
Dramila, epithet of Chanakya, 88.

Durdhara, queen of Chan*

dragupta, 86.

in

Iconography, 95.
Images, worship of, 78.
Indian

museum,

95.

Indians, morals of, 78.

Indus, river, 22, 34, 88.
I ndustries, Board in charge
of, 57.

Infantry, Board in charge

of, 63.
Irrigation, 61.

charge of, 64-5.

Erannaboas, river, 98*

Eudemos,

Ghosha, prince, 106.

42.

77.

Ekbatana, 40, 96.

board
Elephants,

q. v.

Gedrosia, 39.

Jainism, 78.

7, 8, 84.

Jambudvipa, 87, 105, 108

Famine,

measures

relief of, 81.

Female, guards* 4i.

for

Janapadas, 50.
Jarasandha, king, 12 tu

Jheium, river, 22.

INDEX
Jobane6= Yamuna,

78,

Junagarh, inscription, 97,

48, 123-6.
Justice, administration of,

133

Kurus, 20, 48,

Kusu mapura=Patali pu tra,

15.

Land revenue,

64*

taw
Kabul, 39.
Kakavarna, 17.
Kalasoka, 5, 17.
Kalbappu, hill, 43.
Kalinga, 21,22,29.2411,
46, 82.

60*

courts, procedure oft

66.

Law, four kinds

of, 85.

Lichchhavis, 47.
Literature, in the Maurya
age, 86-98.

Lokayata, philosophy, 87*

Kalingas, 20.
Kalpasutra, 27, 93.

Chanakya

Machaevelli,

compared

Kambhpias, 48.
Kamboia, 54.
Kandhara, 39.
Kashmir, 45 n, 62.

Madras, 47.
Madura, 82,

Kasi, 13.
Kasis, 20.

Magas, king of Gyrene, 10*

Mahabharata, 66.

Magadha, history of

Mahamatras

Kasyapa, gotpa, 28.

Kathavattha, 99.
Kathiawar, 62.

Kautilya^chanaky*.

q. v.

Kerala, kingdom, 47.

Kharavela, king, 1.
King, functions of, 50.
KQS, defined, 89.
Kosala, kingdom, 12, IS,
94.

Krishna, 76.
Kshatriyas, 12,

Kshudrakas, 22Kukuras, 47.

Kumrahar,

$$.
Kunala, 128 n.

with, 92.

12, 25.

60.

Mahanandi, king, 10, 20 n.

Mahapadma, Nanda. 18,
22,23, 26, 27, 80. 8),
32, 85, 86, 46, 65.
MfthAvit**, 1, 8, 8, 13, 78,
119; date of the death
of, 2.

Maithiles, 20*

MaJavas, 22.
Malavaketu, >6.
7, 69, 70.

Mallas, 12, 47.

72.
4

Manu 69 f

Manufactures, Board in
charge of, 68,
Marriage, kindsctf, 7J,

INDEX

136
Maurya,

27

dynasty,

Pabbato=Parvataka

ff;

q. v.

chronology of, 128.

Mauryaputra, 28.

Painting, 94.
Palace, Maurya, 40*

Medicine, science of, 87.

sent
as
Megasthenes,
Greek ambassador to the
Maurya Court, 89; as a
soured of information,
40 ff.
known in the
Metals,

Palasini, river, 128, 125.,

Pal i rn bothra
Patli putra
96.

Maurya age, 82,

Me thora= Math ura,

Pali literature, 98.

Panchalas, 20, 48.

Pandya, kingdom, 47.

Parishad, 51.
.

Ministers, 61.

Mlechchhas, slavery permitted among, 74, 91.

Moris, 29.
Moriyas, 12,28,29,80,105.
Munda, identified with

96*8

Parkham
76.

I,

state, 95.

Paropanisadae, 89.
Parvataka, 38, 85,86, 107,
108, 109,

116,

117,

118,

119.

16-17.

Pataliputra, 80, 86, 85, 96,

III, 112, 118; population
of 67; date of the foundation of, 18, 127.

Muriyakala, 21.
Mysore, 87, 48, 46.

Pauras, 50.
Pauravyavaharika, 56.
Peithon, son of Agenor,

Mahanandi,
Mura, 27 n

84.

Hagadasaka,

6,

14, 15,

17.

Nagarjuni, hillcaves, 14,

Nanda

(I) Mahapadma q.
v. (2) family, 6, 18, 28.

Nandas, nine. 19, 85.

Nandivarddhana, 16.
Napoleon, 101, 108, 104.
Navy, Board in charge
of, 52.

Penal code, 66

ff.

Persepolis, 98.
Persia, 45.

Philip

(1)

ander,

Satrap of Alex*

84;

(2)

Pipphalivana, 29.

Polygamy, 71.
Porus, king,

8,

22, 84.

Nepal, blankets of, 82.

Pradesh ta, 68.

Orissa, 20 n.

Pradesika, 68.
Pradyota, king,

Oxen, races

of, 43.

father of

Alexander 102.

15 n. f 17, 18.

13,

14,

INDEX
Prakrit literature, 92*3.
Prasenajit, king. 18.

PrassiaiPrachi,

19,

20,

free

on

105.

Sakyas, 12,28,29
Saiisuka, king, 128.

Sambhuyasamutthana, joint
stock companies, 84.

28, 45.
set

Prisoners,
certain occasions, 68.
Philadelphia,
Ptolemy
king of Egypt, 10.

Punjab,

137

7,

22, 83. 84,

8,

38, 62.

Puranas, 86.
Purdah, system, 78.
Pushyagupta, 48, 82, 124,
126.

Samprati, king, 21, 104, n.

128.

Sanaq=Chanakya, 92.
SandrakottosC h a n d r a
gupta,

100

Queens, of Chandragupta,

1,

121, 122.

Sanghas, 47.
Sankhya, philosophy, 87*
Sanskrit literature, 86-92.
Satadhanvan, king, 128.
Seleukos, Nikator, 88, 89,
121, 122.

Senapati=oommander

in

chief, 51.

43.

Simhala, Ceylon, 31.

Raghu, King,

36.

Sindh, 34, 54, 62.

Sisunaga, 17, 18.
Soldiers, as a class of
Indian population, 69.
Soursenot Surasenas, 76.
Spies, as a class of Indian

Rajagriha, 13.
Rajukas, 68.

Rakshasa, 36.

Ramayana, 86.
Rams, fight of,

43.

population, 68.
Sreshthin, head

Rashtrapala, 48.
Rahtriya, 48.

Revenue, collect ion

of, 59;

Stadium.

land, 60.

Rhinoceroses, fight of 48.

Roads, 85.

Great

Rudradaman,
Satrap, 87,
>

45,

48

128, 125.
laerifioes, 41. 42, 79.
Stkfttala, 1 19-2 1.

61,

of

guild, 84.

d&xfS3^^

the

INDEX

138

Valmiki, 86.
Vatsa, kingdom, 12,
Vedangas, 86.
Vedic literature, 86.

Surashtra, 37*
Surashtras, 48.
Susa, 40, 96.

Susunaga,

17.

unknown

Suttee,

to Kau-

tilya, 72.

Suvarnasikata, river, 128,

125.

Taxila, 22, 56, 62, 85, 87,

charge

of, 58.

Torture, judicial, 67.

Trade, in the Maurya
period, 68.

Tush as ph a, yavana,

Vidudabha, 106.
Vikramaditya, era of, 6.
Vtrudhaka, 29.
Chanakya,
Vishungupta

126.

board

Vriiis, 12,

18, 47.

Off ice, 51.

Water

rates, 61.

Wriiing, 65.
6,

Tasobhadra, 92.
Yogananda, 119*21.

Ulifcin, 56, 62.

Utanas, 65.

Yoga Philosophy,
36.

in

Vitihotras, 20.

Widows, remarriage of

16, 16 t 17.

7*dha, defined,

32, 68.
Vita] statistics,
charge of, 58.

War
rain,

ttdmyana, king, 18, 14,

Udmyi, king, 3, 4, 5,

M,

Vehicles, 80.
Viceroys, 62.
Videha, 19.

88.

Tinnevelly, 87,
Tishya, Maudgaliputra. 93.
Tithes on sales, board in

124,

13.

Zeus, 77.

87.

72.

\\BB5