GHANDRAGUPTA

MAURYA

BY

LAL

PURUSHOTTAM

With

BHARCAVA,

M.

A,

Foreword

BY

KUMUD

OR. RADHA

MOOKERJI,

Vidya-vaibhava,

Profetior and

Head

M.A.,

Itihau^jciuMa

of the

mVii

TIE

tftttt UNA

PUBU8"I"C

HflUSE LT8,

PRINTED

R.

P.

BHAKGAVA.

BY

AT

Oudh

Printing

Works,

THE

Charbagh,

Lucknow.

PREFACE.

As

by

student

the

of

kings,

of

greatest
world

should

personage

great

by

historians,

single

book

this

task,

in

could

lay

accepted
contrary.
for

the

supported

my

views

For

by

of

than

all

of

upon.

found

In

exclusively

his

an

it,
and

date

attempt.
have

tried

source!

hitherto

the

from

the

to

Jain

the

as

of

career

evidence

accepted

Chandragupta

deviated

better

take

to

original

the

have

have

the

not

life

the

use

instance,

facts

result.

the

knowledge,

make

might

compass,

where

my

incompetence

my

is

hands

coronation

of

thought

brief

to

such

unnoticed

almost

describing

aware

making

Chandragupta
I

yet

describe,

to

was

monograph

small

This

far,

so

English

in

Achievements,

up

is

the

the

that

strange

passed

have

there

for

indeed

is

of

one

administrators

and

It

fascinated

Maurya,

conquerors

produced.

has

been

always

Chandragupta

of

career

I have

history

it

is

date

better

generally

CHANDRAGUPTA

iv

accepted.
achieve
to

In

kind

any

notice, for

points, of

more

referred

1 refer

like to

to the

Culture, Vol. I no
of the

and

has

shown

at

of this

the

Mudrarakshasa

Brihatkatha
to

are,

Visakhadatta

by the

diacritical

printing

errors

have

not

the

in the
the

Indian
ticity
authen-

Brihatkatha,
following

verses

later

interpolations.
the

that

view

taken

been

probability that

plot of

from

Yeti

convincing.

descent

Chatterji,

D.

the

the two

of the

of the

Dasarupavaloka

on

are

doubt,

no

Nanda

Unfortunately,

lew

that

the

notice.

my

on

the

in

as

relation
C.

doubt

based

statement

can

the

appeared

expressed

was

to

Mr.

found

relevant,
here

came

regarding

length

disprove

Chandragupta's

it

many

subject.

the

on

of them

one

article, which

2, has

on

where

text

when

in support

arguments

bearing

Mudrarakshasa.

statement

His

proper

tioned
men-

the correct*

controversies

the

mention

Mudrarakshasa

in support

nothing

simply

emphasising

in

controversy

learned

very

that the

comes

pre-Maurya

I have

oases

important

printed

to the

Brihatkatha
in

the

of

case

been

them

to

already

was

have

less

or

1 would

text

in such

there

Recently,

but

the

evidence

views.

of my

I have

in

example

probabilitieswithout

the

it is difficult to

course,

finality till further

of

history ot Magadha;

ness

of

matters,

some

the

the

there
idea

suggested

was

is

of
to

Brihatkatha.

the

marks
here

book

suffers

for Sanskrit
and

there.

from
words
I hope

the
as

to

lack of
from

remedy

PREFACE
them
be

obligation

my

that

to

oomes

regarded
first my

pages.

dear

father, who

Among

those

from

encouragement,

1 would

kind

Mr.

my

teacher

Sanskrit

Ch alter

Sharga,

regard

as

teacher,

my

indebted

1 am

M.A.,

Ph.

to

to

because

India, not

perhaps

find

his student
infinite

the
than

satisfaction

of his

merit

of

when

the

see

high
to
me

his

him

for

the

Tripathi,

proved

the

Dr.

His

this

very

of

Radha
Ancient

on

because

and

humble

foreword

affection for
book

for

expression

least but
It.

me

give

authority

an

for

outcome

the

to

which

the

words

in

suggest

teacher,
,

History

University,

reserved

deserves

he

adequate

more

Hindu

M.A., Ph.D

D.

S hanker

esteemed

my

to

and

papers

I have

work.

in my

Mookerji,

not

Benares

C.

I entertain

Rama

Dr.

certain

me

gratitude

Kumud

to

D., of the

suggesting
useful

Indian

kind

work

Pandit

Mr.

I approached

whenever

help

ungrudging
came.

Advocate.

very

for the

sources

of the

University, and

in Ancient

was

of

names

Iyer, M.A., Head

A*, LL.B.

M.

constant

the

University, for whom

original

some

S.

these

out

I received
mention

Luoknow

A., lecturer

ji, M,

Lucknow

the

A.

write

not

place

them,

to

me

whom

like to
K.

Department,

Brijnath

If it be

help.

goaded

not

from

persons

personal, 1 shall, among

too

as

different

the

to

if 1 did

incomplete

inspiration and

1 received

whom

be

will

observations

express

can

when

published.
These

my

if and

edition

second

in the

me

is
as

yet 1 feel
attempt

CHANDRAGUPTA

vi

so

well

reviewed

by

such

high

authority

on

subject.

Luoknow know

1
;
:

'-PURUSHOTTAM

M
Marsh

1t

1935.

LAL

BHARGAYA

the

FOREWORD.
Mr*

for

congratulation

of

work

the

the

achieved

writing

dealing

of

one

Bhargava

with

the

had

that

extended
the

Unfortunately,

in

for

mystery

all something

doings

of

equally different
scholarship

am

the

book

way

to

say

subject

is

"quipped for
as a

to

borders

adds

and

through

that

the

his

Master

task

diverse.

Greek

even

regarding

places and

these

times

it is

of Arts

are

strain

and

the

work

on

out

of contradictions,

maze

been

his

works

Sometimes

and

and

difficulty

so

which

ably tackled in this

promising author
by

some

evidence

different problems with

bristlinghave
and

to

to the

record

contents

Persia.

of

are

Maurya.

different

empire

interesting and

an

definite

and

say

Indian

reconcile these differences

by its young

Sanskrit

to

establishing one

sources

Jain

in their

to truth

glad to

its

Chandragupta

belonging

sources

the

that

Buddhist,

Brahmanical,
have

is

history

of

had

who

shrouded

What

chronological certainties.
his

the

been

want

rulers

an

history of such

personality has

important
extent

right upto

It is

achievements

and

of

over

an

on

history.

India's

singular distinction

every

book

nice

life

of

greatest

deserves

Indian

politicalsovereignty

common

of

this

period ot ancient

important
small

Lai

Purushottam

who

is welt

special knowledge of

of the Luoknow

University

CHANDRAGUPTA

and

has

studied

that

the

Indian

as

arduous

Indian

Indian

Anoient

of

in

history,
stimulus

researches

historical

the

the

further

It

is

by

the

which

be

to

for

KUMUD

of

act

these

enriching

literature.

RADHA

hoped

will

continuing

publications

he

students

deserves,

author

young
in

work

undoubtedly

it

whioh

to

sources.

of

appreciation

Culture

and

History

original

its

viit

MOOKERJt.

CONTENTS.

Chapter

I.

Page.

DETERMINATION

11.

OF

GROWTH

OF

CHRONOLOGY

MAGADHA

12
...

III.

CAREER

CHANDRAGUPTA

OF

27
...

IV.

ADMINISTRATION

SOCIAL

V.

OF

ECONOMIC

AND

LITERATURE

VI.

THE

AND

EMPIRE

45

CONDITIONS

69

86

ART
...

...

Vll

ACHIEVEMENTS

VIII.

OF

LEGENDS

OF

CHANDRAGUPTA

99

CHANDRAGUPTA

105
...

APPENDICES

128
...

...

...

...

INDEX

182

Illustrations.

EXCAVATIONS

MAP

OF

AT

INDIA

IN

PATALIPUTRA

800

B.

C.

Frontispieo*

At

end

Mudrarakshasa

VII.

DETERMINATION
Thanks

Sir William

to

Sandrakottos with
ancient Indian
to

easy

CHRONOLOGY

OF

Jones' identificationof

Chandragupta,the problem of

chronologyhas become

solve.1

have since been

Many other sources

discovered which

are

valuable aid in

this direction.

comparatively

capable of renderingfurther
Puranas, the

The

Buddhist chronicles of Ceylon3 and the Jain records,

when

read together,
go

vexed

long way

solving the

in

problemsof chronology. In the judgmentof

the present writer it is

to
possible

arrive

at

nearly

the diverse chronologies

precisedates by reconciling
in these works.
preserved

Jain

Buddhist and
calculations

and

of Buddha

the

on

be

dates

correct
generally

for them

to

when

well remember.
ttesearebea Vol.

1.

Asiatic

2.

Dipavansa

and

the passing away

in other matters,

of these epochs,which

terms

of

usuallybase their

and despite
respectively,

Mahavira

occasional mistakes
to

authors

theydate
were

an

appear

event

in

important enough

Professor Geiger has,

IV. pp, 10-11.

Mahavanga.

they

CHANDRAGUPTA

2
after

Mahavira

authorityof

the

other Jain works,

these dates

accept

the kings of

in

Magadha

place
of

by Professor

Parisishtaparvan

the

We

B. Ca

468

as

the

death

the

of

at

took

determined

has similarlybeen

Charpentier,on
and

date

The

B. C.1

483

in

of Buddha

Nirvana

that the

conclusion

problem, arrived

of the

thorough study

shall

determining the chronology of

upto

Chandragupta.

Itis,at present, not possibleto verifythe Puranic

of the Kings of Magadha
before the time
account

We,

of Bimbisara.
The

therefore,start with that king.

durations of the reigns of Magadhan

downwards

Bimbisara

kings from

diverselygiven

are

Ceylonese chronicles

and

Purana, which

of the oldest Puranas,

is

the best

to

have

on

its basis most

Jain dates.

before

Mahavansa,
1

this

nearly agree

and

he

must

Qeiper, Mahavansa

p.

seems

made

calculations

years
as

of Buddha
have

Vayu

with the Buddhist and

inasmuch

Nirvana

The

the

presentlymanifest.

reigned for 28

account,

the

preservedlist,as

This will be

Bimbisara
Puranic

one

the Puranas.

in

come

XXVIII.

according to the
he

died 8 years

according
to

Dr.

to

the

the throne 36 years

Fleet

also

agrees

with

date.
2.

Cambridge

History of India

suggested by Jacobi, long

ago.

Vol.

1 p.

156.

This

date

was

also

DETERMINATION
before Nirvana
28

whose

i.

was

date

B. C.
to

he

years

C.1

B.

in 519

e.

succeeded

by his

accession

would

of

Ajatasatru reigned for 25

the

Purana

Vayu

Darsaka, who,
Jains, was

would

real

as

therefore his
throne

The

25

according

be

thus

491

according

years

by his

son

Puranas.2

the

to

B. C.
to

come

Udayi

C.

also

ruled

He,

accession

reigned for
Purana, and

have

must

in the

of
reign^period

Vayu

the

Udayi

B.

the

Darsaka
to

shown

Darsaka's

of
accept

years.

have died in 408

writings

date

successor

441

in

reign of

Ajatasatru,

son

will be

figure, as

according

years

After

succeeded

was

B. C., if we

be 466

Ajatasatru

and

though ignored by the Buddhists and

chapter.

next

25

CHRONOLOGY

OF

to

come

33

for

the

years

therefore, must

the Jain
Here, fortunately,

help. According

our

the

to

Udayi died 60
Parisishtaparvan,

years after Mahavira's

death

468

which

1.

died

place eight years

2.

Vide

in

the

Vayu

before

in

eighth year

Nirvana.

99

Purana

of

B.

the

and

Vide

C8.

Thus,

reign of
death,

Bimbiaara's

with

synchronized

accession

whose

took

Buddha

occurred

Ajataaatru,
which

Mahavansa

V.

Purana

272

Matsya

thus

for

these

references.

3.
that
when

This

60 years

Udayi

work,
had
was

while

closing the

elapsed since
succeeded

on

the
tbe

of

account

death

of

throne

Udayi's reignt tayi

Mahavlra
left

at

vacant

the time

by hii

CHANDRAGUPTA

accordingto the Jains also,Udayi died

authorities

of the

much truth,which
preserved
from falsehood

by

we

We
ill-preserved.

rise of

however,

Chandragupta, and

of this

Vayu Purana,

40

of tbe

date

Not

India*

page

death
the

from

the

The

Nandas.3

the

is wrongly

given

as

Nan

da,

hands

Udayi

appears

to

History

of

of

243.
Dr.

Smith

Jains.

thus

in

Early

Udayi

Chandrajrupta

event,

than real,

apparent

the

to

and

same

total

more

given by

as

According

4-.

The

hand, assignsa

successor

of power

155 years,

after

to

Parisishtaparvan VI

Mabavira's
yenra

is

of the

name

transfer

Vide

be correct.

having ruled

as

still lesser periodt but the

this case

tbe

of
The

correct.

periodof 95 years1

years

assigns a

Although

death.

be

Nandas

the other

on

difference in

elapsed

years

periodof only
Mahavansa

the

to

the accession

well

it may

Jains further regard the

during the whole

and

has

determine

period. According

Udayi

the death of

between

Nandas

the

Parisishtaparvana period of 95

Jain

155

easilydisentangle

can

can,

this

the total length of

after

disposalhas

our

of comparison.

means

Udayi and the

the death of

the

at

historyof the period intervening between

The

been

fact

establishesthe
sufficiently

This startlingresult
that each

B. C.

in 408

ascended

implying

an

died

60
the

interval

years

throne
of

95

Total

40

years.
2.

years.

Mahapadma

Vide

Vayu

Nanda

Purana

28

years;

99, 328"29.

bis

sons

12

years.

as

clear. According
presently

will be

firstNanda
the pretence

of acting

children, usurped

Mahavansa

supreme

allotted

rule in their name

to

the

for

the
substantially

period between

We

Purana.

are,

period of 40

the rise of Chandragupta

and

same8

years

that allotted by the

as

of

the

Deducting this

Nandas.

the

to

the death

as

Vayu

therefore,justifiedin allottinga

years, that

to

the

and

Udayi

Chandragupta according
55 years

is

period

the

figurefrom the total period of 95

between

We

time.

some

period. Thus

Nanda

sons

the ground that the firstNanda

the death of Kalasoka

as

murdered

period by the

separate

therefore,consider the whole

may,

royal

the

to

authority, and
If,
princes also to death.1

the

solelyon

pretended

then, under

Kalasoka,3 it is clear that his

was

been

have

Curtius the

Chaudhury conjectures, the

ProfessorRai

sovereign

guardian

as

afterwards put ttieyoung

as

to

and

his sovereign

murdered

CHRONOLOGY

OF

DETERMINATION

the

Jains,

elapsed

rise

get

we

the death of

period between

of

Udayi

and the rise of the Nandas.

Curiouslyenough

add

kings from the death of

the reign-periods
of the

Udayi

to

the death

1.

MoCrindle-

Invasion

2.

Political

History of

KaUwoka'B
""*

Vide

"

Mahavanaa

Kalasoka

of
of

India

Ancient

""ii822yean;

Paricfacheda

V,

as

by Alexander
India

Nanda*

given

if we

in

the

p. 222.

p. 164.

22 yean.

Total

44 years.

CHANDRAGUPTA

Mahavansa

(excludingNagadasaka, who

misplaced,as will be shown

exactly the

get almost

in the

has been

chapter)we

next

figure.1 The

same

Purana, like the other Puranas, knows

of

only

assigningto them
kingsduring this interval,

is only
probable,forty (chatvarinsat)

then
twenty-four(chaturvinsat)
Puranas

also

the

works

there is contradiction

Nanda
a

periodof

sovereignty of

for

that the

period
fact is

in details,all the

regard to the total period.

in

death

after the

of

40 years

Magadha

the

Nandas

Udayi, the
rise of the
in 353

passed the

Chandragupta

to

B.C.

in 313

by the Jains,according
Chandragupta acquired throne 155 years

This

B. C

mistake

The

The
to
family came
power.
be dated
family,accordingly,
may

Nanda

to

agree

55 years

Thus

After

to

appear

same

having elapsed during this interval.2

that while

reign of

it is clear

almost

recognize

two

but if,as
respectively;

and forty-three
forty^two
years
is

Vayu

whom

is the date given

after the death of Mahavira

era

of Vikramaditya, This

in

the

or

255

date

years before

is given, not

but also
Parisishtaparvan,*

1.

The

2.

Such

exact

total which

corruptions

we

in the

in

Puranio

only

other Jain

thus get is 54 years.

Huranas
are
numerous.

total according to this interpretation of the

53 years.

the

The
text

exact

would

be

3.

Parisishtaparvan VIII 839

CHANDRAGUPTA

8
do

hear

not

word

about such

powerful prince

Porus in Chandragupta's militarycareer, in the

as

northwest

frontier, which
alive

not

was

that time. Now,

at

that

shows

Eudemos

India after treacherously

slaying an
who

Porus

quitted

Indian prince

probably,Porus. Thus, even on this

ground, Chandragupta could not have conquered
the Punjab before 317 B. C. Therefore, the earliest
most

was,

date of the conquest

would
and

be 317

of the

B. C.

the Buddhists

quered Magadha
frontier.1 As
the

reduce

it

As

for

east

country

subduing the

have

must

the Jains

Magadha,

that Chandragupta

agree

after

Punjab by Chandragupta

taken
of the

coru

north-west
few years

to

Punjab, the date

313 B. C., for the accession of Chandraguptais quite

plausible*
This

date,

fits in with the date of

moreover,

Chandragupta reigned for

accordingto the concurrent
testimony of
Asoka.

and

the Buddhists.1 He,

succeeded
same

1.

by Bindusara

years

the Puranas
have

therefore,must

in 289 B. C. There

been

is not the

unanimity about the lengthof thisking'sreign

The

story

this fact !" found

tika. Vide
2.

24

of Chandra
in the

gapta and

the

ParieishUparvan

as

which

old woman,
well

as

in the

Chapter VIII.

Vayu

Parana

99.

831.

Mahavanga

Paricheheda.

suggest*

Mahavansa-

DETERMINATION
but

shall accept

we

Purana, as
to

OF

in other

it,Bindusara reigned for 25

date of his death would

that Asoka

be 264

years.1 Thus,
B. C

According to the Mahavansa, Asoka

would

B. C

also give 264

had become

to

supportedby

be

there could

any

all

from

me

not

accepted

does

1.
wiitten

that

Vaju
as

event

Paraaa

and

Bhandarkar"

Itseems

as

it is

clear

"9, d32.

Pancbcbeda

Aeoka

coronation

of dates from his

as

was

pointedout
interval

an

his father's death.8

The

name

2.

3.

correct,

and the

that there

Bhadraaara.

MabaYaota

that

considerable interval

necessarilymean,

by Prof. Bhandarkar,
between

for Asoka's

chronologicalconsiderarions that

have been any

not

as

other evidence.

of Asoka; and Asoka's calculation

abhisheka

which

before his formal

years

the death of Bindusara

between

B. C

264

inaugurated

was

the date

as

king four

inaugurationcannot
not

in

the

means

assertion of the Mahavansa

inauguration. The
Asoka

This

after the death of Buddha,8

in the 21 9th year

Vayu

According

cases.

inaugurated king

was

the periodallottedby the

have done

we

CHRONOLOGY

V.

pp. 9-10.

of

Bindusara

is

erroneously

CHANDRAGUPTA

10
There

be

can

only one

in the
this date viz.,difficulty

closer

examination

exists. The
difficulty

referred

to

synchronism

kings mentioned

with the Greek

on

objection against

serious

his edict.

in

that

find

we

the

of

dates

But
such

no

Greek

thus given in Hultzch's

are

of Asoka

kings

"Inscriptions

of Asoka":*"

Syria
Ptolemy 11 Philadelphusof Egypt

261.246

B. C.

285.247

B. C.

Antigonus Gonatus

276.239

B. C.

300,250

B. C.

252.244

B. C.

Antiochus

Magas

of

Alexander

If we

IITheos

of Corinth

the

the edict in which

all the kings were

accepting

Buddhist
The

B. C., and

be 251
Thus

chronology may

be

...

Darsaka

.-.

Udayi

acceptance.

is the

of

Senart;

and

this date

difficulty
reconciles

as

519.491

follows:"

B. C

49 1.466 B, C.

...

view

at

records.

tabulated
...

are

of Asoka's

there is no

and Jain dates with Hindu

A jatasatru

This

kings

chronology, which

Bimbisara

1.

these

in the 14rh year

alive.

this

of

names

engraved

was

of the assertion that

correctness

the

reign,1its date would

in

of Macedonia

Cyrene

assume

mentioned,

of

it

466.441

B. C

44L408

B. C

has

met

with

general

DETERMINATION

Other

OF

CHRONOLOGY

kings

1 1

408-353

B.C.

353-313

B.

C.

313-289

B.

C.

...

Nandas
...

Chandragupta
...

The
of

the

book.

Maurya

chronology

appears

at

the

end

II

GROWTH
There

were

India when

MAGADHA

OF

kingdoms and

many

the founder of Buddhism

lived.

Avanti, Kosala and Vatsa, while the

clans
republican

important

most

the Mallas, the Vrijis,the

were

Sakyasand the Moriyas. The

well

The

Magadha,

famous kingdomsof that periodwere

most

the

republicsin

as
ruling dynasties

the republicanclans generally

belonged to

as

class. The tendencyof the

Kshatriya

time

was

towards the growth of monarchies and the republics

generallybeing merged

were

the

into

existing

kingdoms or otherwise coming under the influence

Chandraguptahimself,the

of monarchism.

hero of

story and the 'founder of the greatest Indo^Aryan

our

dynastyknown
clan,as
The

we

in

history',1
sprang

shall see

from

king was

new

traditionally

was

founded several centuries before by

the rule of

republican

later*

kingdomof Magadha, which

Brihadratha,*was

king named

risingat thisperiodunder
rapidly

dynastywhose

first

important

of India henceforth
Bimbisara,The history

1.

Havell- Aryan

2.

This

Rule

in India p. 76.

i" recorded
tradittp

the father of Jarasfiidha, famous

in the

In the

Puranas.

Brihadratha

Mahabbarata*

was

GROWTH

13
which

this kingdom's growth,

historyof

is the

MAGADHA

OF

culminated in the rise of the Maurya empire.

Bimbisara began

reign about

to

Rajagriha. He

established his capital at

and

Mahavira,

Pradyota, Prasenajitand

Udayana,

of Gautama

contemporary
as

of

of

therebylaidthe foundation
Bimbisara

latterwas

accordingto Buddhist
from

the

well

as

the rulers

of

Magadhan imperialism.

succeeded by his son, Ajatasatru,in

was

The

491 B. C.

neighbouring territoryof Anga and

the

conquered

was

respectively.He

Vatsa

and

Avanti, Kosala

and

B. C.

519

ambitious monarch

an

removed

accounts,

He

throne1.

waged

and,

his father

with

wars

many

the aged king of Kosala. At last,the latter

Prasenajit,
constrained

was

of which

terms

to

conclude

his daughterto Ajatasatru,

he married

ceding the districtof Kasi, which

and annexed
The

son

Videha
who

to

an

integral

his dominions.

succeeded

Darsaka, according

Ajatasatru in 466

Buddhist

writers
is referred

This

do
to

not
in

the

to

scholars doubt his existence

became

Magadha. Ajatasatru defeated the Vrijis

also,

part of

was

according to the

peace

Puranas.

because

know

the Pali

the

him2.

canon

B. C.,

as

well

Some

Jain
His

as

and

name,

in the

Ceyloneae

Chronicles.
2.

Thus

jet another

Professor

Geigcr has

king, called Darsaka,

remarked:

'Again

etc., is inserted

in the

between

Parana*

Ajatanatra

CHANDRAGUPTA

14

however,

Bhasa's

in

occurs

Svapnavasavadatta,an

independentSanskrit drama, which

a

Pradyotaand

of

contemporary

indirectlysupporting
in the listof

him
The

in

is,

writers,2

his

of

omission

writers

Magadhan

no

kings by the Puranas7.

by Jain and

name

of

Dasaratha

in the

existence

of

the

Puranas

the

being proved by

his

no

it

inscriptionsin the Nagarjuni hill

of Darsaka

is also similar, and

his existence.

doubt

Puranas,

if

to

reason

the Jains, although

chronology

offer a

name,

existence

chronicles of

identified with
Udayin,

the

That

is

Ceylon
But

Darsaka.

certainly

'

an

Darsaka*.

of

mention

Professor Bhandarkar

Nagadasaka, whom

king,named

the

Mahavansa,

error

learned
trans,

pp.

XLV.

XLIV,
1.
the

admit

we

the Buddhist

Even

and

case

tallies with the chronology of the

perfectly

which

has

by

The

caves.

there is no

Moreover,

mentioning Darsaka

not

insert

body doubts

middle, and

Dasaratha,

These

Samprati the direct

but

Asoka,

Buddhist

hindrance.

way,

for example, make

successor

as

Udayana, thereby
positionassignedto

the

even

represents him

time

Darsaka
immediate

Mahasena
of

could

Pradyota

and

Udayana

Ajatasatru according
been

have

successor

2.

Vide

the

3.

Vide

pp.

of

their

to

already ruling

Buddhists,

contemporary

only

Ajatasatru.

Parisishtaparayan and
3-4

the

were

supra.

the Divyavadana,

and

by

in

therefore

being

the

CHANDRAGUPTA

16

or

destined to become
Pataliputra,
a city
of the greatest empires known

one

the

of
capital

history.The

in

foundation of this city may

be dated in the year
438 B. C, followingthe Puranic account,
according
this event

which

to

took place in the fourth year

Udayi'sreign. Udayi died

in 408 B.

of

C., after a reign

of 33 years.

Udayi was succeeded

According to
turn.

in

grandson, who

and

Nandivarddhana1

It seems

to me

1.

Professor
to

however,

except

two,
as

the

several

while
the

eldest"

of them
2.

The

the

Mahabodhivansa.

respectively.2

being

recorded
thn

was

ten
of

ever

of

names

the

also.

brothers
their

father,

are
a

fact

one

"

India,

his

and

father,

not

represented
which

the

Moreover,

of

successor
was

who

ancient

in

in literature*

sole

of

identification,

for

uncommon

of the Mahabodbivansa

successors

really

not

was

sons

between

common

reason

ten

identification,

The

sufficient

Udayi

of

son

of the

one

being nothing
a

Puran"s

his

among

Divyavadana

grandson of

Nandivarddhana,

Nandivarddhana,

name

of the

Oeylonese Chronicles,
the

and

Munda

with

is not

that

of

Nandivarddhana

simultaneous
none

to

This

Nandwarddhana

named

were

The
respectively.

son

identifies

Nandivarddhana

persons

after him,

and

far-fetched, there

name.

name

Puranas, Udayi'sson

call the

Bhandarkar

the Puranas,

is too

grandson

almost certain that both the authorities

according

Kalasoka

and

son

and Mahanandi

Anuruddhaka

as

according

the

ruled

Buddhists, however,

Udayi

by his

as

even

the

suggests that

ruled.
Anuruddhaka
latter

being

and
mentioned

Munda
in the

occur

Pali

in
canon

the

and

GROWTH
the

tnean

may

OF

MAGADHA

17

individuals* The apparent

same

either be due

to

the fact that

have been preservedby our

the

one,

as

was

not

name*

same

authorities under different

forms, or that each of the kings bore

than

difference

in

uncommon

names

more

ancient India.

Both of these kingsare

and nothing
shadowy figures,
about them.
is known
After Munda, the Ceylonese
chronicles place Nagadasaka who has been already
the

grandson of

last king of

this line, in

identified with

Darsaka.1

Udayi

as

remains

with the Puranas.

agreement

Ceylonese chronicles

The
who

the

Thus

followed

was

by his

may

with

two

be mentioned, place these kings

There

before Bimbisara.
which

Ceyloneseversion

the

make

Puranas

are,
can

Some

Sisunagaand

latter works,

The

of the Puranas.2

Kakavama

Kalasoka.

son,

scholars have identifiedthese

place Susunaga

next

it

considerably

however, grounds on
be

supported.The

of the dynasty
Sisunaga the destroyer

Avanti
with
is
Pradyota,8whose connection
also acknowledged by those works-4 As Pradyotaof
of

14"15

1.

pp.

3.

Proteflsorg
theae

among

3.

Vayu

sapra,

Geiger and

Jaoobi,

Bhandarar

aeholarB.
Parana

|| Malaya

99.314:

Parana

ilatsya Pnrarta

373. 1.

27:8. 6,

are

tto

obiaf

CHANDRAGUPTA

18
Avanti

undoubtedly

was

of

contemporary

Bimbisara, his dynasty could

been

have

not

admit that the

destroyedby Sisunaga, unless we
lattercame
considerablyafter Bimbisara. Thus it is
certain that either Sisunaga had nothing to do with
the

he

Pradyota dynasty or

considerablyafter

came

kingdom

it is clear that the

extended

its sway

however, be

Avanti.

upto

until

sure

Magadha

of

The

Nandas.

founder of this family

ruled

family,as

It is obvious

give the

in

The

personal
have

to

seems

in other

"of the

name

been

Nanda,

applicableto the

(e.g. the Pradyotas).

cases

of the founder

Puranic

simply as Nanda,

appellation Mahapadma

the Bhagavata Purana

from

(i,e. lord of

in
a

eight sons,

clear

which

and

is

epithet,hintingat the riches of the king,

the founder

was

from the. fact that several authorities

name

the

apparent

had

cannot,

Magadha

over

which, in its plural form, became

an

We

this time

get further evidence

we

familywhich

next

that of the

even

at

of it.

support

whole

then

If the latter alternative be correct,

Bimbisara.

only

as

is

dubs

Mahapadmapati
vast amount).1
Mahapadma Nanda
whence
the familyis called as that

more

BhagmraU

p. XII.

I,

terms

as

GROWTH

OF

of the nine Nandas.

real ruler

to

Mahaoadma

was

Nanda

all the nine

authorities,

many

killed by

were

19

Itis probable,however, that the

throughout

according

MAGADHA

Chandragupta

and

as,

Nandas
The

Chanakya.1

Divyavadana* actually mentions only Nanda

as
having ruled, while Kautilya also calls the ruler
dethroned by him simply as Nanda.3
Even the Greeks
give the
which

agrees

Nanda

that the

reign of 12 years
have

may

considered

Vishnu
Act

the

to

the

of Nanda, but that

fact

that

of his

Purana

2.

Divyavadana

8.

2frrT
^TOf

the

on

IV.

Purana

Vayu

5.

Mudra-Bakthasa

in

the

pp.

period
"

99.829

Purana

XII

I.

Matgya

273, 21.

Parana

(Nirnaya Sagar*)

p.

fact

introduction

ff.

XV.

thus

were

Mudra^Rakshasa.5

24; Bhagavata

310

practically

who

sons,

13.

Artbns"Blra

4.

Mahapadma

his reign rested

of

Dhundhiraja

I gloka

apithetof

an

Matsya Puranas4 allot a

eightsons

to

years

commentary

1.

Ugrasena,

virtual rulers during that

suggested by
his

and

Vayu

the hands

in

Aggramen,

as

accordingto the Mahabodhivansa.

due

been

during the last

all power

well with

very

Mahapadma
It is true

King of Prassiai

of the

name

43, sloka

to

This

1. Mudra-

30

CHANORACUPTA

why
fefcplains

the

Greeks

alto

speak of

sometimes

'the king* of Prussia!'irt plural.1

Nancfet usurped

Mahapadma
Mfcgadha
he

Puranas

353

about

the

was

Bimbisara*

by

According

but

woman,

the

the classical writers4 unanimously

father

to

been

have

however,

that he

agree

The

monarch.

barber.

was

Puranas

dynasties which

ruled

prtdecessorsof

Nanda,

dynasties

fell

his

at

McCrindle-

4.

That

3.

Pariaisbtaparvan

4.

MoCrindle-Invasion

5.

Mont

identified

is to

of

Avanti

the

tbe

probablybordered

of India

territories
N.

Bibar

(Kurus), Kanauj

Asmakas
on

and

the

as

of

India and

western

alreadybeen overthrown
by

p. 310.

Alexander

VI.

Oojrat
(Vitihotras),

territory of

Surasenas,

the

Mabanandi.

say,

follows.

(IksbvafcnsX Agra

well

of India

Invasion

1.

the

Kasis,

the

comprised the whole

of them had

Some

Orissa.5

as

These

rise.

Haihayas, the Asmakas

the Gangetic valley

the

of

many

contemporaneously with the

dominions

K"lingas,whose

his

and ambitious

that

Ikshvakus, the Kurus, the Panchalas,

the Vitthotras, the

and

authorities,

the

Maithilas,

the

were

AH

assert

Jains8

of

represent

low*bom

the

to

the last descendant

of

son

Sudra

C.

B.

of

thtone

the

Avanti.

by Alexander

ruled

223.

dynasties

these

(Panebalaa).

be

and

Mnttra

Orissa

can

b*

(Kasia), Oudh

(Maitbilas) Benares

(Haibayas)
cannot

by

p.

(Sanwenas),

(Kalingaa).

definitely identified,

but

Tbe
it

GROWTH

OF

MAGADHA

by previous kings and it

subdue

to

the

In

the

Hathigumpha
the

mentions

his

Nandaraja, who

by
been

have

must

named

king

300

about

Kalinga

other than

none

have

identified him

predecessor of Mahapadma

by readinga

scholars

in the 165th
dating the inscription

as

passage

of

of

time

Some

Mahapadma.
with

inscription,king Kharavela

conquest

before

years

Kalinga

of

conquest

accomplished by Mahapadma.
certainly

almost

was

left for Mahapadma

was

The

rest.

21

Muriya Kala, which

Chandragupta.1

But

they interpret as the

of

era

if the reference

even

year

the

to

correctly read, it is not

of Chandragupta
it as the era
to interpret
necessary
and therebyplace the Nandaraja of the inscription

Maurya

has

era

been

familyof
considerablybefore Mahapadma, whose
is the only Nanda
nine members
family recognized
by all forms of tradition. Moreover, Chandragupta

era

his
era

the foundation of

hardly be credited with

can

of the fact that his

in view
own

referred to is that of

1.

Banerji.

This

IB

The

Kandtvarddhana,

the

of

of Meiers.

K.

whom

they

with

King
son

descendant
Chandragupta's

ruled about
opinion

Udayi.

uses

probable that the

It is more

regnalyears.

Samprati, who

grandson Asoka

an

after

century

P.

Jayaswal

identify

and

hi$
E.

Nandaraja

D.
iv

CHANDRAGUPTA

22
famous
have

founded

that the

the

to

condition

the

among

In the
ruled

India

number

knowledge

of small

north-west

extreme

ruled

the other

on

resistance

strong

Alexander
made
among

the

proceeded

retreat.

The

others,by the

the Malavas

1.

Early

the

History

of

revenge

that time.

at

Jhelum

most

Porus

and gave

defeated.

was

Beas river and then

retreatingarmy

was

confronted,

powerful republican tribesof

and the Kshudrakas, who

fightto the invader.

the

as

perhaps the

was

of the

upto

the

good reception to

the invader, but

to

as

parcelledout

was

gave

Punjab

side

the

the kingdom of Taxi la,

against his rival, Porus, who

in

of

in this case.

Alexander, regardingit a fair opportunityfor

powerful king

326

kingdoms and republics.

was

by king Ambhi, who

time,

invader, as well

with the
to our

account

that

at

Indus valley at this time

a

the

subduing

vivid

pretty

came

After

he crossed the Indus in

west?

Northern

of

Indians contribute
The

India.

possess

Greeks, who

therefore,believe

may,

of

invaded

We

B. C.

to

Mahapadma reached upto Kalinga.

the periodof the Nanda
family,Alexander

Great

countries

actuallyknown

is

We

era.1

an

arms

Late in

who

and

ancestor

Mutual

India p. 20 2n,

gave

severe

jealousies,however,

24

CHANDRAOUPTA

revolted and
remained
that

regained

its

part of the Nanda

it could

empire, it is unlikely
escaped the iron grip of

have

Chandragupta, whose
implied in

independence,for if it had

absence
in

passage

of control

of the

one

it is

over

of
inscriptions

Asoka, its conqueror1. Several other kingdoms might

have similarly
reasserted their independence.
Such

condition

the

was

Chandragupta

came

already built

up

the

on

delivererwas

contributed

which

to

Thus, there were

the rise of the

by the previous rulers

the

factorwas
with

of

to

three factors

Maurya empire.

Magadha.

foreign invasion. The

great
rise.

empire,the second

third factor

But, above

gave

firstfactor
needed
him

for

In Book

Edict

XIII

unconqnered/
"previously
Asoka's ancestors.

second

coupled
was

provided
building

the main
all other things,

Asoka
which

speaks

of

seems

to

Kalinga
mean

the

the opportunity

of the rise of the glorious J^aijryaempire

1.

effected

The

the Nandas,

of
unpopularity

geniusof Chandragupta. If the

Chandraguptawith the resources
a

foreign

first factor consisted of the conquests

The

the

extremelyunsettled,and

the conditions
needed.

had

empire, but

worthlessness of its ruler and the invasion of

king had made

when

Magadha

scene.

considerable

India

of

as

was

cause

the
country,

unconquered

by

GROWTH

of

genius

not

have

opportunity

OF

without

Chandragupta,
been

able

provided

25

MAGADHA

utilise

to

by

the

which

the
first

resources

two

factors.

would

he

and

the

Hi

We

have

being

destined

the
do

to

The

heroic

in several

every-where lacking.
scholars,

several

scion

of these

of the

Nanda

works

is

pretensions
which

is

of his

to

the

invasion

who

Chandragupta

details

history, known

its

obviously
of the

account

likewise

works.
low-caste

is the

is

The
man

and

MudraJRakshasa,

important

Brihatkatha

the

Sanskrit
and

the

recensions*

re-animation

origin of Chandragupta

work

any

deserving of criticism,

not

treated, being
other

and

man

most

as

many

of Nanda

mediaeval

of stories, without

collection

are

believed

been
some

The

family.

is

metftaeval

and

low-caste

was

Chandragupta.

hitherto

was

was

this .unity

authorityof

preserved through

body

also be
old

It has
the

on

Its story of the death

and

achieve

of ancient

that Chandragupta

works,
a

far from

man

figure was

works

was

although, unfortunately, sufficient

times

by

the

early life of

and

ancestry

recorded

than

more

of

time

But

Great.

This

already bom.

the

at

country

Alexander

of

India

that Northern

seen

united

CHANDRAGUPTA.

OF

CAREER

not

which

connects

which

should

supported by other
calls
him
is also

Chandragupta
with

Nanda

said

by

the

CAREER

OF

to
Dasarupavaloka

work

contains

CHANDRAGUPTA

be based

the Brihatkatha.! This

on

inaccuracies

many

assignationof high birth to Nanda.

led the

commentators

Chandragupta
could

how

the

of

son

doubt,

no

with Nanda,
caste

the

subsequent kings
of the

one

new

Nandas,

that all

not

Sudras, for the Puranas

were

the Puranas

belonged

kings, who

Brahmans.*

as
subsequent dynasties,

describe the

Mauryas

dynasty,neither connecting them

with the

Therefore, when
as

kingshipbegan

that kingsof Sudra

means

themselves designatethe Kanva

to

Kshatriya. The

that time, and

from

rare

as

that Sudra

state

but it simply

not

were

of

otherwise

for

woman,

recognise Chandragupta
Puranas,

which

statement

the

as

postulatethat the mother

Sudra

such

be low
high bom man
the other hand, all the older works

On

born.2

to

was

27

callingthem Sudras, it is clear that they

nor

recognisedthem

the
Kshatriyas,

as

which

to

caste

the

king normallybelonged. The Kalpasutraof the Jains

DaRHrupavaloka.

c
"

2.

Tli"

Parana

give

Mura.

This

have

to

been

uifciitH tors

com

the

nam*,

of the

Ij

coined

3.
P.

71)

to

mother

of the

4 Kanva

the

Nanda*

word

Brahman*

grandmother

of the
as

as

or

mother

ia clear

from

Mudra-l"aksha*a,

Sunaudn

which

Viibnu

the

Maorya,

origin of

tbe

word,

the Utter

tbe commentator

rewmble

'These

being

far from

suggested by

that Dhnndhinija,
name

so

and

Mudra-Kakuhuaa

tbe

Cbandragupta's

of

name

of

baa been

ih"

IB

neemg

fact

given tbe
obvious-

Nanda.
will

enjoy the

earth

etc.*

(PargiUr

CHANPRAGUPTA

28
mentions

that the Mauryas

shows

and

the

Asoka,a

Kasyapa

gotra, which

high class

regarded as

were

Divyavadana calls Bindusara

of
and grandson respectively

Buddhist

The

folk,*

of the

Mauryaputra

son

The Buddhist Mahavansa

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

by the Mahavansa^tika
the

The

Sakyas.4

Himalayan off-shoot of

of the Moriyas
description

is confirmed

Kshatriyaclan

by

portion of the Pali

Sutta, a

Itmentions

authentic workthe

as

Kshatriya tribes who

Buddha

relics of

1.

8. B.

2.

In

the

and

canon

Vol

early

an

Moriyas as

claimed

one

of

portion of the

after {he latter's death.5

also recorded in mediaeval

tradjtjon
was

Mahaparinibbana

the

the

as

This

inscriptions,

86. p. 28C.

Divyavadana

(p.

370) Bindusara

said

to

woman,

In

the

Tishyaraknhita *TR
pas sage

work

game

W"T:

**

significant.

arc

chapter VIII

4.

gee

5.

B. B.

E. Vol.

XI

*ec.

A.

p. 134.

(p. 409)

**

Aeoka

^^T^f

says

to

bis

queen

^ft^T^ITf^'I TJi^

CAREER

OF

CHANDRAGUPTA

callthe Maurya family as

which

solar race1
of

usages

times, we
whom

Chahdragupta an abode of the

eminent
Kshatriy"s.aEven in modem
of a Rajput clan of Moris,
are
aware
considered

Mauryas.*
when

of the

branch

and

Tod

suggests

29

be the descendants of the

to

Finally,Kautilya himself

the noble

indirectly

origin of his sovereign'sfamily,

he laysdown

that

weak, is better than

high bom

lowborn

Therefore, it should

be

king, though

though strong.4

one,

regarded

Chandragupta belonged to

the

settled that

as

Kshatriyaclan of the

Moriyas.
the

Pipphalivana.*

ruling clan

of

According

the Mahavansautika, which

based

on

to

truth and

further stage, the

Sakyas and

were

so

the

B. C, the Moriyas were

In the fifthcentury

republic of

is supported
by Jain

Moriyas

were

called because, when

be

writingsat

branch

to

seems

of the

driven

by

theyleft
place which

the attack of the Kosalan prince Virudhaka,

and

their originalhome
Ep. Ind.

2.

Bice-Mynore and

When
hoaae

4,
5.

II 2tf".

1.

ft. The Moris

settledin

Coorg

from

Inscription* p.

the ruling d"n

were

tbeir territorywa"

wrested

of Cbitor

by Bappa,

of Mewar.

Arthashartra

Book

VII I

chapter II.

the

10.

till about
founder

728

of the

A. D,
BUodia

CHANDRAGUPTA

30
abounded

in mayura*

peacocks. When

or

extended his conquests,

Nanda

the Moriyas too

fiave shared the fate of other clans and

In

fact, we

told

are

mentioned,

monarchies.
that

unfortunatelyis

name

the chief of the

was

must

by the Mahavansa^tika

Chandragupta's father,whose
"not

king

Moriya

clan and

powerful Raja, presumably Nanda.

then
There-after Chandragupta's mother, who
was
killed by

was

pregnant,

lived

ran

her father's relations and

with

away

Pataliputrain disguise.

at

At this stage the story is wonderfullycorroborated

and the Uttradhyayanaby the Jain Parisishtaparvan
tika, which
speak of certain
peacock tamers,

Chandragupta.1
"says that the

Moriya

disguisingthemselves
which

were

Moriyas.

the

to

brieflyset

Thus

it is clear from

1.

Vide

Chapter VII

as

events

forth in
both the

I Sec.

tamers

as

the Jain

Moriya
B.

best way
of

of

peacocks,

objects for the

mention

no

in

expressly

relations lived

the

familiar

certain

are

that

to act

most

seen,

that the

see

was

Chandragupta'sfather

accounts

and her

queen

Moreover,

that it presupposes

Mahavansautika

the

As

it is easy
disguise,

in

chiefs daughter bore

whose
Pataliputra,

livingnear

is made

version

which,

as

of

it means
we

have

the Mahavansauika.

Buddhist

family had

and

Jain

lostall its

32

CHANDRAGUPTA

made

that it seemed

be

to

the effect that any one

without
that fierce animal
run

who

to

message

should

be

talented

mart.

acknowledged

He

real.

cage

exceptionally

an

dullness of the Nandas

The

could make

opening the

be

to

added

prevented

their understandingthe double meaning contained in

but

the message,

Chandragupta, in

breath yet remained,

offered

This being allowed, he made

ran

soon

wax

We

iron rod red hot and

an
a

result of

that

correct

as

did live for sometime

the

at

rule.

ceremony

at

to

then

drew

revolt.

the

revenge

induced

him

to

to a

to

end

to

religious
ill-treated

was

against Nanda.

Chanakya
They

and

an

Nanda,

of

court

take

an

open

Chandragupta

his side

and

instigated

however,

were,

Chandragupta then

suppressedand
Magadha*

wandered

Dhnndhlraja's introduction

ttaksbasa.

got

soon

obligedto quit the kingdom of

I.

determined

Chanakya, being invited

by the latter which

vow

He

Nanda,

opportunityfiery-temperedBrahman, named

learned and

Vishnugupta

the

Chandragupta

of

court

with him, became

being dissatisfied
his tyrannous

which

and the lion disappeared1."

take it

may

little

some

undertake the task.

to

thrusted it into the figure as

whom

to

his

in

commentary

the northern
on

the Mudrt

"

CAREER

OF

provinces for

some

he paid

to

visit

nothing to
the

old

an

he

was,

in his

ruled

in

finds

name

could
in

not

part

own

The

Mahavansa-tika

identification

the

his

own

of

chief

him

to

Parvataka,

named

the

this

chief

begun his

career

which

had

he

Alexander
in

arrangements

occurs

he

of foreign garrisons

in

the

determined
had made

the Punjab

ParUishUparvao,

Mudra-IUksba**.
with

whose

independentworks.1

have

presence

of Parvataka
and

to

sway.

administrative

name

he

Punjab, perhaps because

of his country,

his

1.

appears

from the

unite under

as

men

round

men

the

conquer

leader of

bom

in several

mention

to

to

and
Himalayan district,

some

brooke

before

designs and presentlysecured the

Chandragupta
of conquest

his failure

that* realising

his mind

up

alliance of

subordinate

of

cause

gathered sufficient

help him
who

the Mahavansautika

against Magadha

provinces, A
soon

story found both

provinces, and

outer

mistake, he made

northern

is

as

wandering, Chandragupta heard

revolted

the

conquering
his

curious

is

persuade

to

was

kingdom of Magadha,

saying that the

woman

that he

was

purpose

Parisishtaparvanand

relates that,while

Plutarch,

to

also, although there

scholars. A

some

the

in

Alexander

attack the

to

33

According

time.

indicate that his

invader

held by

CHANDRAGUPTA

king of Nepal.

Jacob)

*n#?e"t"

the
the

34

CHANDRAGUPTA

when

he retreated.

An

officer, named

was
Philip,

made

satrap of the Indus basin, with the confluence

of the

Punjab

the Indus

rivers with

boundary of the satrapy. The

was
put in charge of Peithon, son
Porus

allowed

was

the satrap of
murdered

Alexander.
his

by

death
chances
time

in

arrangement

the

the river Indus. The

intolerant

treacherous
C.

murder
the

hot for him,

who
and soldiers,
to

the

became

sword
the

Having

continued

were,

in 321

unaltered,
Sindh,

of
to

the

west

signal for

revolt.

Eudemos

quittedIndia.
stillremained

was

of

however, growing

by Eudemos

Porus

of

all

At the

the domineering foreigners,and

of

was

removed

the Empire

satrap

Indians

headed the revolt,and

too

place, but the

the provinces situated

transferred to

Eudemos

being renewed.

was

King

Philipwas

and

B. C.

of
of the second partition

although Peithon,

B.

323

of the arrangement

B. C., the

B. C,

his

in

Agenor.

as
principality

own

troops

mercenary

of Alexander

of

In 324

temporarilyapppointed

was

territoryof Sindh

his

rule

to

the southern

as

the

in 317

Chandragupta

findingthe

country

The

officers

in

Greek

India, were

put

by 316 B. C., Chandragupta

unquestionedmaster of the Punjab.
and,

taken

Chandragupta

possession of

advanced

towards

the

the

east.

Punjab,
It is

CHANDRAGUPTA

OF

CAREER

the

probable that the provinces of

following his

independence,

These

provinces

by

although there

one,

Hemachandra

by

given
not

submit

of

years

with
to

that

It must

ease.

valley outside

Gangetic

in the

of

all

have

did

couple

portion of the
Nanda

compressed

the

one

account

them

taken

completely the

reduce

rule.

tyrannous

indications

are

had regained

by Chandragupta

taken

were

Gangetic

upper

Nanda

valleyconquered by Mahapadma
their

35

dominions.

finallyattacked

Chandragupta

B.

314

about

Nanda

the

Nanda

The

war

reported

Nandas

the nine

to

According

affair.

serious

was

India.

His ally Parvataka

while,

although

See

the

his
3C p

footnote

to

have
to

U7.
2U

the

pf
war

preserved

Milindapanho,

by Bhaddasala1.

sufficiently

several authorities,* all

in

this

war

and

the

exterminated.

also

are

of Northern

mas'er

died

legends which

death

1. p.

the

been

thus, became

Chandragupta,

of

is

killed

were

family of Mahapadma

manner

Chandragupta

commanded

was

army

is

of

According

works.

in several

kingdom

story

C.

and

the Nandas

between

The

the

in

the

relate

mearv

to

the

contradictory and

CHANDRAGUPTA

36

It is clear

untrustworthy

could

only rival who

the

place

His

which

events

We

actuallyoccurred1.

Chandragupta, with
Machiavellian

By

of

act

powerless, but

friend, the

his

of

Rakshasa*

Chanakya,
in the

latter got

the

this

son

against

rose

named

dissensions

in sowing

murdered.

the

whom

his prime minister,however,

made

Malayaketu, and

which

five other chiefs and

help of

tactics

Chandragupta had

it that

Malayaketu

the

related

are

events

on

from

king Nanda

of

ex-minister

succeeded

learn

named

Parvataka

the

play which, although full of

imaginary details,is probably based

rendered

took

immediately followed

in the MudrauRakshasa,

The

the sole

coronation

assumption of authorityby Chandragupta

an

share

Pataliputrain 313 B" C.

at

The

of

removed

death

claim
legitimately

India.

Northern

of

master

his

Chandragupta became

and

in the conquests,

that

his.

intervention

Nanda,

of

allies

own

Malayaketu

the

on

ex-minister

his

of

camp

restored in his father's principalityas

he
vassal

was

of
was

of

Chandragupta.
The
secure

for
1.

Maurya king
in his north

conquest
This

is th"

Indian

could
opinion

at

Dr.

But his zeal

dominions.

hardly
o!

naturally became

this time

Smith

remain
and

satisfied with

Professor

Htllebnmdt.

what

the

upto

conquests

western

Chandragupta

had

Chandragupta

also

considerable

According

statement,

recorded
Mahavansa
all

other

in

Mulnamer,
of

advance

ancient

an

Mauryas

admit

we

This

of

tradition is

also,

Chandragupta

According

Jambudvipa.*

all

overran

Chandragupta conquered

documents

that

says

if

India

portion of

major

conquered

have

trans-Vindhyan India.

even

that

means

that

Surashtra.1

over

to

seems

learn from

we

Plutarch, Chandragupta

to

exaggeration,

for

Rudradaman

control

portion of

India, which

the

sea,

inscription of

Junagarh

the

pushed his

already acquired. He

had

he

37

CHANDRAGUPTA

OF

CAREER

Tamil

to

the

for

ruled

over

Prof. Aiyangar,

author, refers

to

the

Tinnevellydistrict in early

upto

Mysore inscriptionsrefer to
of Mysore.5
All these
Chandragupta's conquest
times.*

Finally,certain

statements

gupta

for doubt that Chandra*

leave littleroom

did conquer

considerable portionof the Deccan.

Chandragupta thus gained recognizance

paramount

sovereign in the whole

however, yet

to

Vide

MoCrindle-TnvMion

*.

M*hav""sit

Appendix

A*
of Indin

I'arichehbcda

4.

Beginnings of South

5.

Rice"

Mysore

and

by Alexander

p. 310

V,

Indian

History chapter.

Coorg from

the

had,

the greatest of

strengthwith

measure

1.

of India. He

as

Inscription*.

38

CHANDRAGUPTA

his rivals, Seleukos

Alexander.

Nikator, formerly a

generalof

Seleukos conquered Babylon in 3 1 2 B. Cr

and six years laterassumed

the titleof king. He

subjugatedthe Bactriansrand then advanced

crossing the Indus,about 305
shown

lengththat Seleukos could

at

beyond the Indus,1 which

Chandragupta

that

that

at

Shwanbeck

emulate

the

with the conquest

and Seluekos

No

was

the results,

treaty,

ambitious kings.

two

as

the

mentioned

by

that

Seleukos

Seleukos
in

Smith

identical
1.
2.
3

Thib

is

also

obliged

was

of

consequence

has

with
the

Early History
McCrindle-Ancient

the four

ojiuion
o{

of

India4
India

to

La

as

sen

to

marriage

to

by Strabos,

satrapies of
and

this

ably shown*

very

that the large part of Ariana, referred

was

recognized

large part of Ariana

gave

Dr.

alliance.

classical

humiliating treaty. According

Chandragupta

other

Chandragupta

the superiorityof Chandragupta and

conclude

regions

of the actual conflict has survived.

authors, clearly show

to

that

of India,

western

between

war

clash between

detailed account

But

Punjab

legendary(Hgvijaya of Raghu and

kings.Thus, the

ancient

mean

probable

thinkingof marching towards the

was

to

the

in

is, therefore,

has

proceed much

not

present

content

India,

to

be taken

may

was

It

time.

Chandragupta,not

to

B. C.

also

Aria

Milogel.

158

in ctaKsical

lit*rutur""

pp.

15

and

.88

40

CHANDRAGUPTA

war

with

war

of

Scleukos

Chandragupta,and

he devoted

establishinga
We

personal life at

this stage

Megasthenes

glance something of his

can

preserved

writers, and,

to

the
Kautilya,

name

from

the

writings of
other

fragments by

in

the Arthasastra of

from

extent,

some

by which

Chanakya

is famous

as

author.

Chandragupta lived

in

chairs of

with

furnished with

silver birds, and

tables and

statelypalace,

very

adorned
containing gilded pillars
and

the remaining

his empire
consolidating
highly efficient system of

administration.

an

the last
probability,

of his reign in

sixteen years
and

all

in

was,

state,

well

as

golden vines

richlycarved
as

basins

and

gobletsof gold. "In the Indian royal palace where

the greatest of all the kings of the country
much

besides

and

admiration,
Ekbatana

else

In the

parks tame

which

have

groves

and

been
pasture

branches which

the

neither

which

with

vie, there

can

is calculated

which

are

peacocks

are

grounds planted with

of the woodsman

some

trees

others

from

other parts, and

brought

beautyenhance

the charm

are

of the

excite

Susa

nor

besides.

kept,and pheasants

interwoven; while
are

to

other wonders

domesticated; there

art

resides,

native

shady

are

trees, and

has
to

deftly

the soil,

with

their

landscape. Parrots

CAREER

the king and

be,

Brachmanes

in which

These

artificial

are

size but

enormous

has permissionto fish for these

one

youngsters

other

all

imitate human

can

palace grounds

boyhood.

themselves while fishingin

amuse

sheet

yet in their

while

king'ssons

the unruffled

alone

The

parrot.

highly above

they keep fish of

No

quite tame.

the

eats

ever

them

the parrot

speech. Within

the

Indian

no

honour

birds" because

except

41

keep hovering about

him, and vast
though

wheeling round

their numbers

ponds

CHANDRAGUPTA

of the country, and

natives

are

OF

of

learninghow

and

water

to

sail their boats."1

Chandragupta
palace. The
ferrates who

of his person

care
were

his leisure

spent

He

armed2.

for performing administrative

sacrifices or for the chase8.
to

show

himself

finest muslin

When

MeOri

2.

McCnndle-

Aithaaaetra

mile- Ancient

Book

Ancient

India

India:

I, Chapter

McCrindJe-Ancient

in

CUnMcai

for offering

clothed in the

was

purple and gold.

and

mounted

was

liUtrntui*

Megastbenes

horseback,

on

longer distances he
travelling

1.

pp.
Atria

Ul-142.
n

p.

21.

India:

MegMthene*

to

he condescended

When

with

embroidered

the

palace either

or

making short journeys he rode

but when

3.

duties

in

entrusted

was

lefthis

public he

in

hours

and

Airian

j". 70.

70 ;

CHANDRAGUPTA

42

on

elephant. The

an

king was

performed with

rich

with

sleep

in

change
defeat

the

day

also the

was

as

The

king did

from

time

plotsagainst himj

time

to

not

used

In the night he

time.

his bedroom

any

nobles,

Court.

in the Persian

custom

splendouraccompanied

great

from

presents

of the

hairvwashingceremony

to

in order to

Chandragupta supervisedthe administration

justicehimself.

He

interruptedeven

if he had

and

the hour

had

he

His

of his

cause

busy

life

him
to

seems

abstainingfrom

king should

sleepfor

more

so

attend

hearing

day,
to

his

cases,

with

cylinders

have

been

the precept

the

that

divide his time-table that he may

than

be

sleep during the day

Kautilya,in fact, laysdown

time.

to

he continued

cases,

to

sit for the whole

to

while four attendants massaged

of wood.2

the business

allow

not

when

arrived

In such

person.

did

of

not

three hours.8

Itis interesting
to leam that the king lefthis palace
to

offer sacrifices also. The

Chandraguptawas
greater

fact

Brahmanical

probably shows
Hindu

at

that

leastfor the

part of his life, althoughhe inclined towards

Jainism during his lastdays,according to Jain authors.

1

MoCrindle-

3.

Ibid

:t

\nha3ftstrix

India:

Ancient

MeuaptbenpR

p. 71
llook

Chap

%0

and

Arrian

p.

70

CAREER

OF

Chandragupta

CHANDRAGUPTA
fond

also

was

45
of

He

sports.

delighted

in

bulls,rams

and rhinoceroses. A curious entertainment

witnessing the fightsof

was

provided by

sport

was

chase

chase.

within

pass

The

of

know

like

about his

much

his queens

for he

was,

monarchs

of

"

most

according to
name

led

is known

to

platform1.

energetic

an

We

whose

son

forms

the

on

of

Durdhara,

various

him

succeeded

one

not

polygamist

was

His only

under

do
of

name

those times"

us

to

either from

in all likelihood,
a

Hemachandra2.

Bindusara, who

death

arrows

The

family

for

went

it was

life of

the

he

empire for 24 years

vast

shot

He

elephant or from

an

Chandragupta
emperor

road along which

the ropes.

the back of

favourite

most

with ropes, and

marked

was

The

races.

ox

elephants,

throne

was

of

Rataliputra.

Chandragupta died
According

to

in

or

Chandragupta
Rajavalikatha,

Jain and abdicated

at

the time of

repairedto Mysore where

he died.

the summit
inscriptions

of the

be

marked

Belgola,is said
1

McOnndle-Ancient

'2.

Vido

the

B.

289

about

to

Jinlm

great famine

In certain

Kalbappu hill,at
with the

M^ga^thencn

was

and

C
a

and

Mysore
Sravan

of
footprints

Arrian

p. 71

CHANDRAGUPTA

44

the

great

Bhadrabahu

mums,

Bhadrabahu
of

reign
is

does

example,

southern

died

too,

place

where

some

there

have

had

trust

and,

as

Jain

the

of

Smith

Hies-

-EpiRiaphioa

"2.

Parnisfataparvan

:".

Oxford

History

Carnatica

IX.
of

India

Vol

1112.

p.

7G.

I,

as

the

has

truth8.

I.

at

Whatever

account

version

of

year

and

away

died.

Dr.

suggests

that

probable

is

passed

alternative

no

sixteenth

the

to

he

hand,

Chandragupta,

Bhadrabahu
is

to

the

after,

years

Chandragupta

we

in

It

before

died

latter

other

of

retirement

together

the

reign3.

however,

Hemachandra,

the

of

the

during

tradition,

details.

to

speak

On

direction.

Bhadrabahu

lived

Bhadrabahu

and

Chandragupta's

case,

regard
not

Bhadrabahu

that

who

Jain

The

with

Chandragupta1.

leader

Chandragupta.

Chandragupta

of

Jain

confused

very

for

was

and

3)

being

that

the

the

same

be
last

the

days

contended,
based

on

IV

ADMINISTRATION
limits

of

the

Chandraguptaare

not

known

The

But

we

the

approximate

can

to

EMPIRE

THE

OF

empire

governed

with absolute precision.

the truth by combining,

of foreignwriters with the Indian

accounts

literary

epigraphicevidence.

and

empire extended upto the borders of Persia

The

in the north-west

gathered from the

as

of the

terms

Itincluded the whole

treaty with Suleukos Nikator.1

the IndoXjangeticvalleyextending,in the

of

by

Kathiawar

upto

is evident from

as

the

west

of
inscription

Rudradaman, and in the east, upto Bengal which

have

passed

ruled

over

Chandragupta from

to

must

Nanda,

Gangaradai (Ganges delta)

who

well

as

as

Prassiai(Prachi)1.

Kalhana

1.

is known

Asoka

also of
of

to

2.

The

the

implied
reader

May

in the
is

1933.

inclusion

to

we

vassal

of

of

Mr.

of

but

as

may

conclude

and

probably

play mentions
all lea

subordinate

the

prince

Malay aketti, who

Chandragupta.

Bengal

recentlydiscovered

referred

Kalin#\,

Mudra-Kakshasa

The

among

subsequently became

kin^s of Kashmir,

part of the empire of Hindupara

Chandragupta.

Kashmir

the

among

conquered only

have

formed

that Kashmir

Asoka

mentions

in

the

Mahasthan

Jayaiwal'i

Maurya

empire

inscription.The

article

ia the

Modern

is

alao

curious
Heviev,

CHANDRAGUPTA

46

Chandragupta probably exercised

in

also, as

the Deccan

as well
inscriptions

however,

south, because
Jndia

Bindusara

represents

know

either

receive

the submission

of

mostly

was

The

independent. The

described hy Megasthenes

militaryforce, and
its conquest

by

which

to

37

*upra.

*nd

il.

"The

king 6000

ward

in

Arriau

p.

of

p. 138.

Kalinga is

possessing considerable

The

the

1000

soldi eis,

'procinctof war

of

have

kingdom of Andhra,
also

is

described

by

powerful,and it also might have

royal city
" foot

to

seem

kingdom

as

its soufh,
very

Vide

the

probablyindependentbefore

was

Asokaa.

Megasthenes as
1.

was

to

largeportionof southern India. Certain

lay

latter view

Chandragupta

portions of this region, however,

remained

the

thus there is nothing

belief that

the

invalidate
suzerain

did

tenable, and

more

to

their territories

to annex

general revolt.

content

was

kings of southern India

of the

Bindusara

what

that

suppression of

and

that northern

for certain

leftfor Bindusara

and it was

their

Taranath,

situated in the

been

Chandragupta

that

seems

Mysore

firmlyheld by Chandragupta. It,therefore,

was

means

or

certain

having conquered

as

have

must

we

control

other evidences.3

as

states, which

sixteen

from

appears

some

M
"

Calm^a
hoi

semen

McCrindl**

is

"

called

700

Ancient

Parthalis

Over

elephants, keep watch

India:

Megasthenes

CHANDRAGUPTA

48

the Kurus
consuls

the Panchalas, whose

and

called

were

Rajas,and the Kambhojas

had

Surashtras who

Raja.1 The

no

oligarchiesprobablyalso acted
of

Chandragupta, while

had

Raja had

no

officer who

with

identical

Junagarh

those

corporations which

charge of

the

as

in

Surashtra which,

Raja, but

in

the time

Raja, acting

which
had

the

it would

adopted the
ruled

difficultto
easy

which

the

to

of

which

and

by

also

at

mentions

that time, had

we

hear of

Asoka,

some

kingdoms,

although it

of them.

he mentions

independent. Yetj

were

of

approximateextent
Book

1.

Artlwaastr*

S.

Ibid

Book

Vide

Appendix

Xf

Chap.
A.

is

Moreover, it is

were
as

as

to

protected
we

know

dominions
Chandragupta's

Chap.
8.

from

Rajas. Megasthenes

such

kingdoms

kingdoms which

understand from his writings alone

the

of

Rajaship.8.Besides

own

identifymany

probably

that time Surashtra

their

several

mentions

not

institution of

there were
oligarchies,

were

at

of Asoka

that

appear

special

Rashtriya

behalf of

on

Rashtrapala2. The

Chandragupta
Yavana

was

Rudradaman

inscription of

Pushyagupta, the Vaisya,

no

Rajas of these

and
Rashtriya,

KautilyaY

and

the representatives

as

be put in

to

called

was

presidents
or

1.

ADMINISTRATION
we

be pretty certain that the

may

situated

were

within

protected states.

system,"to sum
Mookerji, "was
the expense

at

thus

which

system

of local government/'1

has

rightlyobserved that

policyof India
be affirmed

on

as

the

left

account

Megasthenes.

The

which

have

must

been

although the work

The

Hindu

with

information
1.

India
2,

Dr.
P.

Kadba

Kumud

the

Buddhist

be

also

works

dealing

helpfulin adding to

Local

of India

of

largelytheoretical.

the administration
"

us.

Chandragupta,.

the ancient

Emperor

source

ambassador

of that

Government

10

Asoka,

chief

administration,many

to

Mookerji

reign of

Kautilyatells

followed by

and

polityare
about

of

of

can

period

any

the

by the Greek

seems

edicts of Asoka

and

than

age

later/'2 The

Arthasastra

about the methods

much

Maurya

that age

eighteencenturies

the

is

about the

subject concerning

intervening between
Akbar

pre-existing

is known

"more

in the

it was

itself

assert

empire and Dr. Smith

Maurya

of the

ment,
govern-

describingthe

for

material

ample

administration

to

affiliationto the

by its enforced
have

Kumud

authorityof the central

except

We

of Dr. Radha

physicallyunfit

was

this imperial

recognitionof local autonomy

of the

only

were

of

essence

in the words

up

49

kingdoms which

boundaries

its

"The

EMPIRE

THE

OF

p. 84.

our

period.
in

Ancient

50

CHANDRAGUPTA
The

king

wasabsolute

the head

was

in his powers,

judicial,legislativeas
which

having to perform military,

well

shall deal with

we

was

institutionswhich

state

Jayaswal

Mr.

Pauras

and

has

functions

executive

Itmust,

arises.

that the

king in ancient India

the

as

occasion

as

be remembered

however,

of the administration and

of the

autocracy

always limited by popular

thought itsafe

shown

Janapadas

to

length

at

mentioned

recognise.
that

in

the

Sanskrit

reallypopular assemblies representing

and had considerable powers.1
citizens and villagers,
literaturewere

18

Kautilyamentions
officials* who

lo

were

of Asoka.

Amatyas
the

or

high

branches

of

probablyidentical with

the

supervised all

administration, and
Mahamatras

kinds of

Megasthenes

seems

to

refer

these very officersas comprising the seventh division

of Indian

king,no

population. They

doubt, from

among

were
men

appointed by the
who

backing, as Kautilya expresslysays

had

popular

that "whatever

pleases himself he shall not consider as good, but

pleases his subjects he shall consider as
whatever

good."8

The

appointment

Polity-PartII

Bindn

g,

Artbaaastra

3.

Ibid Book

Book
I

Amatyas

function of the king.

the chief executive

1.

of these

pp

70-108.

chapter 12.

chapter 19.

was

ADMINISTRATION
The
of

OF
assisted by

king was

councillors, which

This body

have

must

The

members.

ablest of

panas

not

whom

Chanakya.

48,000

consisted

rank

The

salary of

We

functions
military

irvchief,who

got

enjoyed

of

far from

not

prime

been

value
a

was

pana,

shilling.4
elaborate

very

was

said that the king had

fact that according to Megasthenes

also

the

was

Senapati

salary equal

the king left his

in the time of war.*

army

officer of the army

four;8 and

perform, and this is clear from the

to

palace to lead the

the

were

chief minister

The

was

have

have

administration
military

and efficient.

state

than

to

of

largenumber

more

seems

annum.*

per

parliament.1

probably acquired

accordingto Dr. Smith,

The

of

assembly

or

of

sort

were

which
ministership,

by

was

highestofficersof the

chief ministers,who
the

Parishad

51

EMPIRE

THE

or

The

commander*

that of

to

highest
chief

minister.*

We

leam

regularwar
was

Megasthenes that there

from

office for militaryadministration.

thirty members

of

commission

Book

chapter

1.

Arthasaslra

2.

Ibid Book

chapter 15.

3.

Ibid

chapter 3.

4.

Early History of India*

Hook

5.

McCrindle-

6.

Arthacastra

India:

Ancient
Book

was

There

divided

into

15,

p. 149*

Megasthene*

chapter S.

and

Arrian

p. 70.

52

CHANDRAGUPTA

boards, each

six

Kautilyaalso

consisting of

seems

he says that each

probably

in

board

seems

to

This

relating to

with

pirates.8 The
These

officer

and

The

who

performed

second

board

and

commissariat

the

ships
arrest

of hinsrikas

by the

that there

or

state,
to

sea.

was

times.

charge of

service,

army

of

all

merchants!

Maurya
in

was

was

hiring of

as

maintained

trafficin

ocean

and

Navadhyaksha

destruction

shipswere

of navy,

admiral

regulations clearly show

considerable

identical

restricted to rivers but ventured

not

were

the

ships such

of suspicious persons

and

the

collecting toll from

passengers,

been

charge

in

probably identical with

duties

have

to

was

cooperation

Arthasastra.

had

by

of Arthasastra.

firstboard

worked

when

Each

Adhyaksha

The

boards

officered

superintendent,who
with the

these

to

members.1

department shall be

chiefs.2

many

refer

to

five

and

transport

worked

in

cooperation with the superintendentof bullock trains

who

was

probably identical with

Arthasastra.4

X.

MoCrindle

2.

Arthasastra

8.

Ibid Book

4.

Ibid

Book

The

Ancient
Book
II
II

bullock

India
II

28.
29.

trains

Megasthenes

chapter

chapter
chapter

the

4,

Go'dhyaksha of
were

and

used

Arrian

p. 88.

for

ADMINISTRATION

OF

engines of
transporting

third board

whose

other

The

they greatlydisagree.
had

that Asoka

to

very

it does

conquer

that the

Mauryas really maintained

Pliny would

infantryas

the

been

lead

fightbefore

not

likely

seem

such

huge

It,

believe.

to

us

that the additional

therefore,appears

infantry,

unfortunately

severe

he could

Kalinga,

soldiers,

of the fact, however,

In view
a

53

infantry is given

Solinus,8 but

offer

of

have

to

size of the

Pliny2 and

both

for the

charge

in

was

EMPIRE

requisites.
military

superintendentappears

Pattyadhyksha.
by

food

war,

provender for cattle and

The

THF

of

zero

Pliny is

mistake, as observed by Prof. Rhys

only a copyist's
when he says that
Solinus is correct
Davids,4 and
Prassian

the

has

Arrian

war

soldiers",we are

foot

they use
3.
4.

of

wny

the

in

equipped themselves

their left foot thus

A rthasAStra

bow

bears it

pressingagainst

discharge the

arrow,

the stringfar backwards: for the shaft

is littleshort of
McCrin

who

man

the ground, and

upon

having drawn

2.

soldiers.

told,"carry a

equal length with the

they rest

it with

account

60000

"

of

This

of

"The
made

preserved an

the Indians in those times

which
for

infantryconsisted

Book

die- Ancient

Ibid p. 161.
Buddhist
India

p.

being three yards long,and

if chapter 33
India:

266.

MegMthene*

and

Arrian

p. 141.

54

CHANDRAGUPTA

there is nothing which

shot, neither shield

defence, if such
carry
not
as

broad

so

of undressed

those who

all wear

engage

both hands,
The

fourth board

about

is broad in

the

thisr

lustierblow/'1
in

was

superintendentappears

whose

are

are

fight,
they wield with

in close

fetch down

to

them, but

three cubits, and

longer than

when

they

carry

they

oxJiide,which

sword, which

not

stronger

equipped with javelinsinstead of

are

blade, but

any

archer's

In their lefthand

there be.

as

long. Some

bows, but

breastplate,
nor

nor

bucklers made

Indian

resist an

can

charge of cavalary,
have

to

been

the

Greek
authors unanimously
Asvadhyaksha.* The
state that the cavalryforce of Chandraguptanumbered
30000.
Each
horseman
was
equipped with two
lances and

with

shorter buckler

by the foot soldiers.8 The

Sindhu

were

The

than that carried

horses of

Kambojaand

regardedas the best.4

fifth board

elephants whose

in

was

charge of the

superintendentwas

war

probably the

Hastyadhyaksha.* The elephants in possessionof

9000, according to the
Chandragupta numbered
1.

MoCrtndle-

2.

Atthaaaetra

8.

MoCrindle-Ancient

4.

Arthasaatra

5.

Ibid

Book

Ancient

Book

Book
II

India: Hegasthenes and

II chapter
India:
I!

chapter 81.

p, 225.

SO.

Megasthenes

chapter

Arrian

80.

and

Arrian

p. 226.

56

CHANDRAGUPTA
There

equipment.

elephants and

royalstables for horses and

were

also

the

for

royal magazine

arms

The

equally efficient. The

at the
prevailing

head

of the

the

Paura

of

turn

the

There

For

cityadministration
The

one

was

was
Kautilya,
of the high

has

who

leftan

we

account

the capital,was
Patliputra,

in which

empire, such

great cities of the

Other

was

actual details,however,

Magasihenes,

to

and

same

of

firstbe described.

Vyavaharikawho

governed.

Chandragupta

cityaffairs,according to

the way

Taxila

method

time may

officers of state.3
must

of

civil administration

as

also governed on

Ujjain probably were

lines.
was

also consisted

regularmunicipalcommission, which

of six boards, each

composed of five

members.8
or

also, mentions
adhyakshas
some
Kautilya,
whose duties exactlycorrespond
superintendents

to

the functions

Thus

the

of

the

boards

Pautavadhyaksha4or

weights and

measures,

1.

McCrindle-Ancient

2,

Arthaaastra

8.

McCrindle-Ancient

Artbasastra

5.

Ihdid

Book

Book

Book
II

India:
I

the

referred

the

to

above.

of
superintendent

Panyadhyaksha5

Megasthenes and

Arrian

p. 88.

chapter 12.
India:

Megasthenes

II chapter 19.

chapter

16.

and

Arrian

or

p. 87.

the

ADMINISTRATION

superintendentof

OF

trade and the

superintendentof
assigned

last three

the

to

tolls had

EMPIRE

THE

Sulkadhyaksha*or

duties similar

board

co-operation with

as

superintendent

militaryadministration.
elaboration
have

been

The

noticed
due

Its members

regarded as

loss of

of

rates

of

case

administrative
must

hands

well

as

wages

work

as

Artisans

body who

any

by causing the

sentenced

was

been

have

the artisans did.

incapable of

or

to

of state, and

servants

artisan

his eyes

in

to
everythingrelating

appear

which

supervisingthe work

an

in the

of the

looked after

firstboard

rendered

worked

by the Greeks, however,

responsible for fixingthe

were

those

to

the genius of Chandragupta,

to

industrial arts.

Much

the

Megasthenes.

boards by

It is,therefore, probable that every

a

57

to

capital

punishment.2
The
the

board

second

foreignersand

This

board

If any

These

of

case

was

handed

regulationsclearly

created

medical

attendance.

decently buried, and

was

over

requirements.

foreigners lodging and

need,

foreigner died he

his property

their

attendingto

provided the

and, in

escorts

responsiblefor watching

was

to

prove

the rightful
claimant
that

Chandragupta

and commercial
wide-spread political

1.

Arthasastra

Book

2.

McCrindle-

Ancient

II

relations

chapter 21.

India:

Megasthenes

and

Arrian

p. 70.

58

CHANDRAGUPTA

with

foreignpowers
The

third board

All births and

necessitate such administration*

to

in

was

deaths

charge of vital statistics-

registered,
systematically

were

only to facilitatethe collection

not

for the

information

value attached
has*

to

of the

justlyevoked

modem

the

fourth board

authorized

to

weights and

only in

and

wonder

government

of

admiration

one

The

commodity, for which

givenr

was

paid a double license tax.

supervise the

required to

was

and old

articles. New

required to be

Arthasastra

deal

could

license

was

stamped

duly

of

use

merchant

fifth board

for

the

enforce

trade of manufactured

fine

and

supervisedcommerce,

measures.

unless he had

Maurya

high

scholars.

The

were

The

government.

statisticsby the

but also

of taxes,

sold

poods

separately,and there

was

from
It appears
the
that old things could be sold only by

the

mixing

two.

specialpermission.1
The
ate

sixth board

being

one^tenth

practised fraud
punishment was

1.

Arthawwtrm

in

collected tithes
of

the

the

profit. If

payment

of

death, probably when

Book

IV

Chapter 2.

sales, the

on

any

one

thistax, hisr
the

amount

ADMINISTRATION
involved

OF

of this tax

treated.

for honest

then

Even

the

accordingto modern

reasons

penalty

that

appears

was

was

not

very

severe

so

standards.*

In their collective capacity the members

municipal

59

EMPIRE

large.1 It, however,

was

evasion

THE

commission

of

the

responsiblefor the

were

general administration of the city and

for

the markets temples,harbours and other

keeping

publicworks

of the cityin order.

Itwas

recognisedthat ''all undertakingsdepend

finance"8.

upon

officer for the

Samaharta

great officers he

Kautilya
Titter
so,

then

in

lie shall be

fraud

by death,

forgery

of taxes

It may
was

the

punished as

involving

in the

as

that evasion

2.

with

connection

payment

by dishonest

means

here

that

Book

II

words

only
as

chapter 8.

Arthasastra

4.

Ibid Book

5.

Ibid Book

II chapter 6.

chapter 8.

that

tolls,viz.,

have

only most

late

capital offence in English law.

3.

have

must

given

"Those

by
who

(Arthasastra II. 21). If thft is

thieves"

The

of

he
with

identical

be

large amount

be mentioned

Like other

adhyakshas

many

Thus

him.

of theft.

case

forests,catties and

probablyalso had
to

salary

supervisedthe

land revenue0.

as

regulation appears

got

He

from mines,

under
superintendents
This

called the

revenue

annum4.

per

panas

roads of traffic,
as well

1.

of

collection

collection of dues

or

therefore, a special

was,

who
Collector-general,

or

of 24000

There

of
was
a0

been

punished

Kautilya clearly prove

punishable.
the

eighteenth century

60

CHADRAGUPTA

been

assisted

realisation of dues from

in the

Sitadhayaksha8in

mines,
of

realisation

The

Akaradhyaksha1

the

by

revenue

it is

as

even

produce4, which

Kautilya

in

produce. The

the

practice
provinces

fact

"th of

was

referred

treated

not

to

by

however,

having been |th

to

seems

varied

proportion

were

share of the

place5. Diodorus,

one

the share of the government

of the gross

be

that in

largely and
The

alike.

all

farmers

being regarded
benevolentlytreated,agriculture

were
as

normal

also

land

been

lawgivers
is

the

by

revenue.

have

must

The

now.

the gross

mentions

and

the realisation of land

recognized by Hindu

crown

by the Kupadhyaksha3

forest dues

mainstay of finance

the

in

great

remarks

that

"there

Indians which
of famine

for

prop

are

contribute

contests

thus

waste,

the Indians, on

1.

Arthasastra

2.

Ibid Book

8.

4.

Manu

5.

Arthaaastra

hid Book

Book
II

reduce

to

II

chapter

12.

chapter 17.

II

7.130.

the

prevent

the soil and

among

observed

usages
to

chapter

Yajn.
Book

24.
1.13.

335.

chapter IS.

Megasthenes

people.

them; for whereas

among

it is usual, in the

nations

the

it

of
to

by

occurrence

other

among
to

war,
an

the

ravage

uncultivated

the contrary,

by whom

ADMINISTRATION
husbandmen

OF

regardedas

are

unviolable, the tillersof

EMPIRE

by

of

sense

any

the soil,even

each

other, but allow

those

occur,

the

which

shall be described

We

state

paid great
have

been

agriculturaldepartment.

The

land and
from

out

to

was

combatants

husbandry

in

relief measures,

various

chapter.

next

that

the govern*

irrigation,which

to

the

functions

every

one

know

from

may

have

an

of

the

measure

is let

water

into their branches,

so

equal supply of it/'2

the Arthashastra

the

duty of the irrigation

inspect the sluices by which

canals

did

famine

"superintend the rivers,

the main

of

carnage

When

attention

of

officers

engaged

in the

one

to

seems

the

Megasthenes

from

learn
also

ment

promulgated

battle

undisturbed

the conflict make

quite unmolested."1

remain

when

are

danger, for

either side in waging

on

61

class that is sacred and

raging in their neighbourhood,

is

to

THE

that

water

rates

that
We
were

also levied.8
There

is

ample evidence

pains and expenses

in

were

us

1.

McCrindle-

Ibid p. 66.

3,

Arthasastra

about

something
Ancient

Book

fact

on

India:

II

the

Megastheoes

chapter

24.

that much

irrigationeven

inscriptionof the

engraved about

Satrap Rudradaman
D. tells

lavished

dependencies. The

remote

A.

of the

and

the

year

150

historyof the
Arrian

pp

31-3

CHANDRAGUPTA

62

Beautiful (Sudarsana)of Kathiawar.1

Lake

Pushyagupta,the Vaisya, who

told that
Chandra

We

local farmers, dammed

provideda

small

up

It was

150,

until in A.D.

end

fury, befittingthe

thus

adorned

for four hundred

of

storm

of

Chandragupta'sgrandson

endured

This work

and

stream,

reservoir of great value.

with conduits in the time of

Asoka.

represented

Surashtra, noticing the needs

in

gupta

are

of

tremendous

"most

mundane

years,

period/'

destroyedthe embankment.
The

empire

provincesof

into

administration.

of

purposes

divided

was

Besides

India, which

eastern

several

parts

the

been

under the direct control of the emperor,

were

at

least three

edicts of

the

from

vice-royalties,
as
can

North-western

provinces had

his

he

to

where

Taxila, from

The

Asoka.

seems

home

to

appear

be

at

The

viceroy of

Ujjainand

western

controlled

Malwa

have
there

inferred

viceroy of

the

headquarters at
have

controlled

Afganistan, Baluchistan, the Punjab, Kashmir

Sindh.

for

India
and

was

and

stationed

Gujrat. The

which
viceroy of south had his capitalat Suvarnagiri,

probably situated

was

The

Nizam's dominions2.
1,

Vide

3.

Smith-Asoka

Appendix
p.

A.
94

in

n.

the

Raichur

district of

viceroysof these territories

CHANDRAGUPTA

64

that

courtezans

even

utilizedfor this purpose,1

were

Arrian says that the reports which

always

were

for

true,

lying.2 This

Indian could be accused

no

the character

although its strict accuracy

The
the

guild, a

established

ten,

lower

had
order

by

McCrindle-

The

case4.
to

state

villages

India:

and

decided

case

higher court

by

if the

final

from

know

Ancient

of

jurisdictionover

authoritywas
Megasthenes that

people sought the

of

clan,

of three dharmasthas

dissatisfied. The
we

to

court.8

state

eight hundred

could proceed

court

large number

Arthasastra

and

composed

king, and

1.

Sthaniya, with

in each

were
parties,

the

According

state.

could be decided

four hundred

three amatyas

by

on

Janapada-sandhi, Sangrahana,

at

and

and
respectively

the

recognizes different kinds

Dronamukha
two,

carried

corporation and finallya

Kautilyaeven
courts

Indians,

ancient

be doubted.

may

recognized by

the Dharmasastras, cases

a

of

administration of justicewas

courts

of

in contradiction with

is not

statement

other records of

these spies gave

intervention

and

Megastheues

Arrian

p.

of

86;

II 27.

2.

Ibid p. 217.

3.

Yajn2.

4.

Arthasastra

jurisdiction over
of enumeration

30.
HI
two

1.

The

Janapadasandhi

villages and

suggests that

it

was

not

the

two

Court

seems

to

districts, because

lowest

court.

have
the

ADMINISTRATION
the King in
such

cases

the

THE

EMPIRE

deciding their cases1.

had

as

the lower

OF

been

not

decision

decided
satisfactorily

constituted

courts

The

65

procedure of the

interesting. The
with

the judicialfunction

the

courts

plaintiffhad
and

name

Uw

of

file his

to

date, and

equally

was

the

along

suit

defendant

to give his reply in writing. Witnesses

similarly

documentary evidence

agreements,

such

in the dead

of

those

as

entered

writings

in India.

law

written

three being custom,

king,

constituted

that there

author

whose

writings

and

which

the edicts of

from

time

as

to

the

of

required to

the spiritof the sacred

of the Arthasastra

lawgivers such

was

of fact sacred

matter

however,

were,

with

accordance

held void2.

were

legislativefunction

the

last three

The

agreement

issuing of

the

Certain

four kinds of law, the other

of t\ e

one

were

As

well

seclusion,

into in

night or with fraud,

had

as

recognized.

were

Megasthenes erroneously asserts

no

by

king.
The

as

of

mentions

Brihaspati and

Manu,

must

have

been

consulted in

Ancient

India:

Megastbeneg

time

king.
be in

law.

several

the

The

ancient

Usanas,

deciding

cases8.
Grin die

1.

Me

2.

Artbasaatra

8.

Ibid

Book

Book
111

111 chapter

chapter

-".

1.

and

Arrian

p. 71,

CHANDRACUPTA

66

The

penal code

simple. Offences

was

generally punished with

96

upto

500

upto

1000

and

panas

panas1.

for which

ranging

the highestamercement
Crimes

the highest

which

ranging

surpassed those

amercement

prescribed,

was

according

term,

corporal chastisement

authorities,meant

ancient

ranging

amercement

punishable with vadha, which

were

to

the middlemost

panas,

three

fines, there being

kinds of the latter,viz., the firstamercement

upto

were

includingbeating,shaving off of the hair, mutilation

death3.

and

These

crimes

involved violence

which

moral

or

murder, hurt, theft,fraud and

Thus

thief who

50 panas

he

as

punished with

was

1.

ArttmnHstra

2.

Vadha

is unanimously

warning, dhigdanda
whioh

is

or

8, 149,
to

reserved

meaning

the

vadha

17

kinds

scolding,

13

and

from

367)

of

by

of that

term

ancient

death.

Kantilya
he

commentators

Maim

punishment,

dhftnadnnda

heating

it would

than 50 panas

corporalchastisement,

necessarily

four

of

highestamercement

explained hy Kullnka,

Yajn 1,

trifling fines

or

of false

the value

more

inkerorotfd

not

corporal punishment

(Mauu

vadha

as

grades.

were

upto

the

worth

III charter

lawgivers recognize

vadhadanda
as

Book

corporal punishment,

Ancient
or

goods

stole

there

property

punishablewith

was

if he

but

stole

such
turpitude,

the submission

in these crimes

Even

evidence.

generally those

were

and

or

for death,

fine

and

to maintain

finally

and

imprisonment
times

other

viz. vagdanda

Vijnanesvara

several

absurd

and

others
to

death

jumps

from

that

he

hat

ADMINISTRATION
which

extended

serious1.

Those

who

persons

spoke

fraud in the

correspondinglimb

as

injured happended

as

method

to

be

an

artisan

torture

was

The

administration is attested
that in

exceed

down,

in

the

of

thieves the king

his

that
and

who,

McCrindlo-Ancient

4.

Arthaa""tra

day did

one

any

in

men

hundred

drachmae

robbed

citizens

shall be made

by
good

chapter 9,

IV

IV

B^ok

opinion be

innocent,

Ancient

chapter
evidence

McCrindle-AncieDt

6.

Arthastttra

Book

the

gtvea

conf^swwl

when

India:

III

India

Megftflthonpsand

fmlia:

production of conclusive
his

of

If. 21; McHrindlo

though

criminal

the Dharmasastras, that

recover

not

Book

Arthasastra,

defend

on

property

can

2.

to

used

was

pocket"6.

own

\rtWaatra

'the

it

4,00,000

two

with

agreement

"whatever

from

of

but

eight pounds sterling5. Kautilya lays

about

or

the value

person

by Megasthenes who

to

the theftsrecorded
Pataliputra
not

the

of

recognized

of
efficiency

population of

of

the punishment
also

confession
of eliciting

were

limb

the

hand, and if the

as

with the greatest caution4.

says

of tolls

Injuryto

well

Judicial

death3.

was

very

punished with the mutilation

was

person

any

was

lie, that is to

payment

also punished like thieves2.

67

EMPIRE

THE

upto death, if the offence

committed

say,

OF

8.

Arrian

Kautilya
shall

example

of

be
a

87.
p

70,

cxprewly
insisted

certain

upon',

Mandavya,

tortured.

Megmfitber ea and

chapter 16.

Arrian

"ay"

p. 68.

68

CHANDRAGUPTA
On

One

such

Other

occasions

certain

occasion

occasions

was

the throne,

prisonersare

1.

when

or

heir

an

Book

II

new

prince is born

chapter

36.

set

free.

by Kautilya in the

apparent

usuallyset free."1

Arthasaetra

were

birthday of the King.

"Whenever

"

conquered, when

the

enumerated

are

following passage:

prisoners

country

is installed
to

the

is
on

king

V.

SOCIAL

6- ECONOMIC

The
the

social, religiousand economic

people of India

for
Fortunately

as

shape

Indians

idea

lived and
The

the

age

deserves

highly interestingsubject.

sufficient materials

possess

writings of foreignersas well

have

to

us

fairly satisfactory

in which

manner

condition of

Maurya

people

in those times

thought.
caste

system,

as

know

we

fully developed tillthen.

not

of

permit

the

of

we

us,

of ancient

to

the

in

being

treatment,

separate

in the

CONDITIONS.

traditional

certainly

Kautilya still speaks

Hindu

four

it, was

castes1

viz.

the

Vaisyas

and

the

Brahmanas,

the

Sudras, who

probably corresponded to Megasthenes'

Kshatriyas,the

and

philosophers,soldiers, husbandmen
The
been

people

outcaste

the

within

come

Megasthenes

Book

McCrindle-Ancient

of

The

overseers

castes,

and

have

may

had

but he

and

has

councillors in
recruited

3.

Megastbenes

not

population.

certainlywere

chapter
India

who

settled

more

two

of government

Arthaaaatra

panchamas,

or

pale

mentions

certainlyerred.
the service

by Megasthenes

mentioned

herdsmen

artisans*.

Arrian

88

70

CHANDRAGUPTA

from

all castes1, and

social divisions. Thus

formed

distinct

that the

settled

have

cannot

it appears

population of India still consisted mainly of four

castes,

although the

castes

as

result of

We,

begun.

the firstthree

could

marry

castes

woman

lower

The

Hindu

recognize such

of such
regard the offsprings
to new

the

Kautilya,on
the
no

of

son

other

from

than

Kshatriya.2

This

stillin vogue

rigiddivision

to

the
is

belonging

as

although subdivisions

marriages.
that

other

than

to

three

castes

the

Aryas and

must

have existed in

prime

minister

suggest

upper

Thus

extent.

is

Kshatriya

seems

the

some

of

son

no

statement

stillbetween

was

they

Kshatriya woman

woman,

that intermarriage between

was

lawgivers, no

marriages

and

bold

without

caste,

marriages, but

from

Brahman

Vaisya

caste

hand, expresslysays

other

Brahman

already

higher

thereby discouraging such

castes,

new

Kautilya that

of

man

of the

the risk of losing caste.

also

of

intermarriages had

however, learn from

among

doubt,

of the formation

process

most

Sudras,
both

of

these groups.
1.

Brahman,
2-

Chanakya,

Thus
while

the

Pushyagupta,

Commentary

translation

of

Chandragupta,

the Haehtriya of Surashtra,

:
*IWq^ftqr3K"M"iyil*T*Rtf

the

of

T.

is inaccurate

Arthasastra

Ganapati gastri.
here.

Dr.

was

ITT.

was

Vaisya.
7.

Vide

Shamasastri's

CHANDRAGUPTA

72

Kautilyaeven
should

prescribesthe period for which

before marrying another

wait

The

recognised by Kautilya.The
a

kind

of

had

whatever
and

marriage
been

have

(Stridhana)which
What

is

recognizes
from

hating her husband,

against his will.

his marriage

with

We

are,

could

of marriages.

the

Megasthenes
The

It is clear from

to

1.

Arthasastra

2.

Ibid.

Ibid

Book

have

must

is silent

horrible

unknown

HI

these

even

marriage
dissolve
will.

But

obtained."8
on

in certain

these
kinds

regulations that

been

of Suttee

custom

Book

only

woman,

man

be

may

passage

rare

and

hence

the subject.

on

Kautilya and

III

can

against her

wife

be obtained

of divorce

cases

her

told that divorce

however,

conditions

dissolve

enmity, divorce

mutual

from

his

following
"A

Nor

also

Kautilya

it clear.

not

can

to

property

own

that

The

makes

happened

her sons.*

is

kind of divorce.

father-in-law

if she

her

to

curious

most

forfeited

widow

by her

even

given

was

the Arthasastra

with him

her

to

lost

for such

only condition

husband; and

also, she

sons

frankly

also

is

that the

was

given

her deceased

wife.1

widows

of

remarriage

man

Gbap

chapter,

3.

even

2.

was

Manu.

absolutely
Moreover,

"" ECONOMIC

SOCIAL
the marriage
was

probably

of

Scythian origin
Greeks? of

apply

references

which

refer

the

was

later spread

custom

into

it,but

to

semUoreign

proper

73

clearly show

custom,

and

course,

the

to

In India

frontier.

for that

room

no

The

India.

described above

customs

that there

CONDITIONS

their

north-west

was

as

yet not

prevalent.
It is generallybelieved

certainly observed

was

classes,

At

the present

observe
but

wanting

not

are

time

purdah
such

no

to

of purdah

of

aristocratic
who

women

were

References
i.e. "notxStirringxDut."1

Anishkasini
kind

kind

women

in many

women

even

of this

other Sanskrit works

in

before

practice seems

was

however,

statement,

Some

by

refers

Kautilya

as

This

unqualified

stand

not

can

Indh.

in ancient

nonexistent

that the purdah system

also.2
India

of

parts

certain of their relatives,

been

have

to

prevalent

India.

in ancient

According
free and

not

lightof

the

to

of them

one

was

Arthasastra
As

statement.

Megasthenes all the Indians

1.

ArthasHHtia

2.

Panini

Book

me-itiorifi

HI

chapter

slave.8

have

we

of

matter

fact

to

But

were

in the

modify

this

slavery did exist.

!.

AauT-yampa"*Yafl

ft

women

m"t

wemtr

sun).
:j.

McCnndle

Ancient

India

MeRwthenes

and

Arrinn

o.

"8

Us*

CHANDRAGUPTA

74

but

perusalof Arthasastra makes

different from

so

that a

west,

forbidden

to

the

could

sell

Arya

hardly

dire necessity. "It is no

offspring,but

enslaved

"But in order

an

for fines

court

or

soon
more

if he is

so

personalrights;his

youth

not

that if a

he

should

and could
income
was

is

man

be

soon

family troubles,

over

decrees,or

slave in the

to recover

servant

got

In

of
as

time from

even

could

no

India, a

long as he

as

dasa

had

west

dead.

was

person

bondage.

independentlyif he

to

say

redeemed; his offspringsbeing free

his periodof

he

or
a

than

littleworse

was

be subjected to

(from bondage);and
adult capable of
an

him

giving help/' Moreover

dasa

own

mortgaged, they (his kinsmen) shall

is

possibleredeem

as

Kautilya,"for

says

implements, the life

household
(confiscated)

Arya

to

tide

to

option and

own

Arya

an

proceeds

then

find money

the

shall

never

was

(here including

the life of their

for inevitable reasons,

redeemed.
to

crime/'

sell or mortgage

to

slavery/'He

his

at

It

it.

notice

freeman

or

Sudra) into slaveryexcept

Mlechchhas

prevailedin the

slavery which

Greek
an

it clear that itwas

was

during

even

earn

his master's work,

regain his Aryahood if his independent

become

equal

purchased. If a

his slave,

or

to
man

employed

the

value

abused

the latter

or

to

do

for

which

caused
an

hurt

ignoble

"

SOCIAL

ECONOMIC

the slave became

work,

although there

free.
dasas

were

slavery prevalent

CONDITIONS

in the

Thus
in

west

75
that

it is clear

India, the kind

of

non-existent

in

was

India.1

Of

religionsfollowed

the

sacrificial religion

although

it

The

several centuries.

this reform

in the Hth

Krishna

also mention
we

2.

Bay

3.

Ail th"* historical Puranas

gives

born

who

about.

14th

approximately

The

chaudhurv"

King Parikahit,
was

Chapter

Arthtvsastra

was

100"

century
correct.

for

jears

B.C

contain

sometime

as

Greeks

The

Herakles"

by the

13
of

F,arly Histry

before

They

the Lord.

special honour

in

1.

Supreme

'This

Herakles.

as

III

Book

or

this

of

thirty-three

one

their saviour.

as

held

told, "is

are

to

they called Bhagavan

regardedKrishna

flourished

the

honour

to

devas, believed in devotion

further

Ray Chaudhury

followers

The

B. C8

century

God, whom

of

founder

Krishna

tradition

faith,although continuing
Vedic

this

of

Upanishad.2 According

Puranic

the

to

of

Devakiputra Krishna, mentioned

Chhandogya

the

Prof.

Krishna, whom

was

has identified with

in

popular form

most

one,

course

Bhagavata faith. The

the

religionwas

in the

greatly modified

was

Vedic

the

predominant

stillthe

was

India

in

nloka

accession

Krishna's

tim*,

S"ct

VaisWva

according
of

contemporary

tb*

the

of

to

which

Krishna,
TbU

Nanda.

which

may

b*

76

CHANDRAGUPTA

Sourasenoi,an

Indian tribe who

flows

country
The

B. C.
and

navigable river called the Jobanes."1

other

founded

religion

important

Buddha,

by Gautama
Buddhism

the maker

was

man

opposed

it

was

preached that

man

the

in

could

Buddhism,

was

6th

century

front,

obligationin the

moral

put

taught that

this respect

through whose

Cleisobora, and

and

cities,Methora

large

two

possess

of

himself.

In

Bhagavatism which

to

the

nothing without

do

will of God.

Jainism

the third important

was

This

time.

for all

antiquity,was,
Mahavira,

of life,however

Buddha.

of Gautama

ahiiisa

or

non^injuryto

to

by
Its

form

every

insignificant.
According

Chandragupta himself

high

founded

practicalpurposes,

contemporary

basic teaching was

tradition

claiming

religion, though

that

religion of

the Jain

became

inclined

towards this faith during his last days.

The

worship of images perhaps was

by the Jains

the Buddhists,who

and

images of their prophets. It was

the

Hindus

institution of

foothold

in

The

worship

temples seems
the

Maurya

humorously remarked
1.

McCrincUe-

Ancient

to

made

beautiful

borrowed
of

soon

and

images

have

begun

gained a

by
the

strong

period. Patanjali has

that the
India

first

Mauryas who

Megahtbenes

and

Arrian

wanted

p. 206

"r ECONOMIC

SOCIAL

gold raised

CONDITIONS

by institutingimages

it

ot

77

Gods

for

in

the

worship.1
Asceticism

Maurya period.
who

also

was

The

greatly in

Greeks refer to the

evidently Brahman

were

Sarmanes

who

Sramanas.

numbers,

or

may

There

not

may

Brachmanes,

ascetics,
have

been

also Jain munis

were

well

as

vogue

Ajivikas,

as

an

and

the

Buddhist

in sufficient

order of

ancient

long forgotten.

ascetics, now
The

have

Greeks

largely quoted

from

Magasthenes regardingthe lives of the Brachmams.

They

abstained
in

said

are

listening
to

the

elements,

five

They

created.1

from
very

Dandamis

named

of them

one

of

were

himself before Alexander,

of Zeus,

son

much

as

2.
8.

Alexander

to

have

McCrindle-AncifTit
Ibid

p. 116.

he

which

in

their lives

imparting

already believed
the

world

was

independent spirit,for
when

asked

to

present

the
who^dteHjtgg^lf

^^^^^^^^^

y^^5"was"*^W^^JBa

hims^^m^
tehg^fe^s

should

Alexander
anxious

repliedthat

as

Theysoent
They

others.

to

simple styleand

discourse, and

serious

their knowledge
in

food.

animal

from

lived in

have

to

disfrfifr^"
^%
f?pinttt||f
India

AI

CHANDRAGUPTA

78

Megasthenes about
summed

in the

up

Brachmanes

the

also

by

Brachmanes

the

is asserted

ancients

of Greece,

by philosophers
out

in India

by the

the

on

and

that has

"All

following passage.

been said regardingnature

perhaps

is

the

on

part

one

other

in

Syriaby the people called the Jews".1

We

fortunate

are

the

preserved from
understand

"The

abundant
the

inhabitants,"we
of

truthful and

of

and

and

witchcraft.4

has

McCrmdlo

2.

Ibid

Ibid

p. 69.

4.

Arthasastra

j.

Ibid

seems

Ancient

to

to

law

for

and

unguarded.8

is clear from

references

several

have

been

India: Mepasthenes

30.

Book

went

as

the aristocratic classes.1

1.

noted

were

the

about

Kautilyaalso gives regulationsa bout

gambling,which
among

in

distinguished

are

property

their superstitions
too,

Arthasastra, which

period

morality, being generally

generallylefttheir houses
had

to

told,"having

are

I hey seldom

honest.

that

subsistence, exceed

ordinarystature

their high standard

They

people of

proud bearing."2 They

their

by

writings of Megasthenes,

means

consequence

sufficient details,

possess

the Indian

what

like.

were

to

Book
HI

XIV.

chapter

40.

The

and

vice

common
same

Arrian

author

p. 108.

CHANDRAGUPTA

80
the

and gives further

account

which
particulars,

worth quoting. "In addition

throughoutIndia much
watered

as

for food, of which

grow

most

has

that famine
has

been

never

not

to

the sowing

when

of wheat

takes

is the proper

bosporurn,as well

inhabitants of India

sure

of

more

the

other

spontaneous
grow

afford

in

or

almost

sustenance

plainsin the

season,

other

in

as

summer

for sowing rice

and

millet-

should

less abortive

crop.

rainfall

always gather in

even

marshy places and

almost all the

season

sesamum

growth, and

abundant

place

the time of the

at

as

annually; and
prove

in the winter

year,-one

solstice,which

sowings

that there

since there is a double

the second

harvests

it

It is accordinglyaffirmed

countries*and

and

products

general scarcityin the supply of

of each

course

is

which

visited India, and

nourishingfood. For,
in the

animals, about

write.

never

what

spontaneously. The

few other edible

much

other plantsuseful

many

of

subsistence

be tedious

would

and

river streams,

well
called bofiporumi
as

soil yields,
moreover,

kept well

is

and rice also, and

pulseof different sorts,

fitfor the

cereals, there grow

to

millet, which

by the profusionof

are

The

they are

of

two

the

always

fruits,moreover,

the esculant
are

one

the

roots

of varied

for

man.

country

of

which

sweetness,

The

have

fact is,
moisture

6- ECONOMIC

SOCIAL

is alike

which

which

the rains of the

fall every

to

wont

are

81

it is derived

genial, whether

from

the rivers, or

CONDITIONS

season

summer

at a

year

from

stated

period

while the great heat which

with surprising
regularity;
which

prevailsripens the

roots

and

of the tallreeds."1

those
specially

scarcity of

India

in

crop

factors tended

various

above

the

from

It is clear

occurred
The

Maurya.

government,

relief

various

them

government

the

Chandragupta

doubt,

adopted

several of them.

The

occur.

chief

provision by

people, the employment of

allies,exhorting the rich persons

the
to

no

famine

great

did

the

thct

repair ruined buildings,request of help from

to

men

among

distribution of

the

were,

no

occur.

famine

when

measures

Kautilyahas recorded

and

did sometimes

reign of

the

in

was

the prevention of famine.

to

traditions of the Jains record

which

of

that there

that time

at

But, in spiteof all this,famine

The

in the marshes,

grow

population
The

relief

of famine

cause

to

regions havingy
of

manufacture

widespread ir
Megasthenes has highlyj
the

most

by

Indians, for
1.

McCrindle-Ancient

2.

ArtbMfwfcra

Book

their
TndUIV

eh"p.

Mcj
""

to

contribute

82

CHANDRAGUPTA
worked

are

gold, and

in

precious stones,

and

made

garments

of

they
the

witfi

ornamented
also

flowered*

finest muslin/'1

Kautilya

wear

gives elaborate regulations,about weaving, which

the importance of this industry.Itisnoteworthy
prove
that it was
of the

home

and
industry,

spinning.1 Cotton fabrics of Benares,Bengal,

Kalinga and

Madura

considered

were

according to the Arthasastra.

the manufacture

mentions

Nepal
The

famous

were

advanced.

According

source

of

metals

formed

known

were

to

be the best,

work

same

also

that the blankets

note
at

even

industry

mining

The

to

of silk,hemp and woollen1

materials. Itis surprisingto

of

did much'

women

that period.8

sufficiently

also

was

Kautilya,mines

treasury.4 Precious

stones

as

the objects of mining.

The

were

well

the
as

metals

gold (suvarna),silver (rupya),

irofi

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

(trapu

brass (arakuta).* Megasthenes has

and

also record** his observations

whjte *He

soil bears

fruits which

on

known

are

1.

MoCrindle-

2.

Arthasaeha

3.

Ibid Hook

II obap.

4.

Ibid Book

II

chap.

5.

Ibid Hook

II

obap.

India:

Ancient

Book

I(

chap.

11.

12.
17.

on

the subject. "And

its surface
to

of

cultivation,it has also

MegaBthenes
23.

all kinds

and

Arrian

p. 69.

underground
in

iron

articlesof

were

and

use

ornament,

became

gained specialreputationfor
that

already seen
looked

were

was

in the Maurya

had

country

already

things.We

certain

so

that there

have

places

some

specially fine.

as

upon

India

current

fabrics of

cotton

making

implements

as

gokLdiggingants in India.2
condition
in a flourishing
Trade was

period.Different places in the

tin and

in

Indeed

copper

even

well

as

of war."

gold that fables

in

silver,and

employed

are

83

of metals;

sorts

quantity,and

small

no

accoutrements

rich

gold and

much

metals, which

other

and

veins of all

numerous

for it contains
and

CONDITIONS

6- ECONOMIC

SOCIAL

Southern

similarlyfamous for conchshells,diamonds,

gold according to Kautilya.* Indian
pearls and

India was

trade, however,

not

was

time, India had

before the Maurya

Even

relations

trade
and

McCnndle-

2.

Ibid

8.

Arthasastra

the

India:

creation

Megastbenea

and

of

peacocks and

probably

silk, which

Ancient

1.

brisk in the

more

outside.

speciallyfamous

were

For a
Dr.Radba

allthe

proved by

maintained

other countries,4

for foreigners. Indian

praises the China

is

period,as

special board
ivory

with Babylon and

relations became

these

Maurya

limited within the country.

Kautilya

proves

Arrian

that
80,

94

Book

detailed
Kumnd

Shipping.

VI I

chapter
of this

12

subject the reader

Btudy
Mukerji's excellent

book

it referred to
Hittory of Indiaa

84

CHANDRAGUPTA

there

was

trade

traffic

some

carried

through ships. Even

Buddhist work, the Baveru Jataka,refers to
was

journey
sea

and

voyage

and

on

Babylon by

to

close

recommends

the

to

tradingport

many

shore

corporate

caste,

much

like the

srenis

were

members

of the

Sreshthin.8

of

ioint stock companies

of

business

several persons
the

the members

in

The

proportion

of the sreni

the

institution
system

much

was

the

they

disputeamong

head

was

like the

day. This
established by

was

share, and

were

to

when

divided among

the

share

Life

in Ancient

of

each

member.4
1.

ArthiiBasatr*

9.

Ibid

3.

For

4.

Book

Hook

VII chap

II

chap.

of

present

corporation

earned

of

Another

contributing
some

profitswere

was

and had

government

The

sreni.

same

the

to

guild of Eurcpe.

decidingcases

as

the

at

that

life of

sreni, which

own

life
representing corporate
sambhuya samutthana, which

kind

it touches

belonging

not

recognized by the

called

was

their

mediaeval

such
rights,

along

activity. People followingthe

though

formed

same

mentions

towns.2

professioneven

many

better,as

is

trading

route

specialfeature of the economic

periodwas
same

that the

early

an

Kautilyaalso

sea.

This

China.1

with

even

11.

12.

this vid" Maxumdar-Corporate

H chap. 14.
Book
Arthatattra

India.

"

SOCIAL
Much
roads.
to

of the

The

by officers of the
half

stadia

the

by-roadsand

or

kos

pillarwas

distances.1

Trunk

Grand

the

journeying on
"The
are
use

animals

used

Road.

roads

by the

horses and

elephants

for it is the

"

carries

royalty. The

in honour

considered

1.

ft.

no

to

p.

by Arrian.
for ridingon
the

elephant which

and

drawn

for

which

wealthy
in

ranks

four;the camel

by

India
next

ranks

single horse

distinction at all."a

McCrindla-Ancient
Ibid

be

vehicles used

while

conveyance

is the chariot

third;while

asses,

from

ran

the

sort

common

show

of

mentioned

are

every

to

up

royal road

The

order

at

the forerunner

was

and

camels

set

upon

attention
in

department and

Taxila and
to
Pataliputra
modern

maintained

were

proper
a

depends

paid due

government

this necessity. Roads

ten

trade

prosperityof

Maurya

85

CONDITIONS

ECONOMIC

227.

India:

Megantberu)*"nd

ArHan

86

is

VI.
LITERATURE
A

Unfortunately
very

of the

mind.

human

about

little is known

intellectual achievements
of

stimulating

the

activities of

the

on

ART.

reign always has

prosperous

effect

"

people

the

in the reign

but the littlethat has sruvived is

Chandragupta,
and
idea of the titeraty

sufficientto give an

developmentof the

age.

Indian literaturewas
the diffusion of the
accessible. The

art

already considerable,
of writinghad made

Vedic

Kalpa,

Even

Vyakarana,

Jyotishaare

mentioned

and

the

Ramayana

the six vedangas,viz, Siksha,

Nirukta, Chhandas

by Kautilya.1The

the Mahabharata

Kautilyarefers
Even

Valmiki

of

have

must

to

the Puranas

the
in

events
some

recognised,being mentioned
1.

ArthftiMtra

2.

Ibid Book

8.

Ibid Book

Book
I
I

chap.

chap. 6.
chap. 5.

itgreatly

Upanishads,was

Dharmasutras probablyhad also come

The

and

literature,includingthe

Samhitas, the Brahmanas

alreadyancient.

artistic

3.

and

and
oldest

into existence.
the

kernal

of

alreadyexisted,for
mentioned

shape
in

were

therein.*

already

the Arthasastra.1

CHANDRAGUPTA

88

belong

constitute

well

Hindu

His

southerner in

by his

Jain

is
as

was

surname,

policy,although
of the gotra

corruptedform

is described

Dramila

as

Vatsyayana2. Born of

with

parents,

Taxila, according
shrewdness

He

or

Sanskrit couplet,which also erroneously

identifies him
Brahman

to

was

age

personalname

his crooked

scholar considers it a

Kautalya1. He

the

Buddhist and

he is also known

which refers to
Kautilya,

name

in

works.

Vishnugupta,and

one

of

of Chandragupta.

minister

by his patronymic
as

important enough

important author

most

Chanakya, the
famous

are

literature in themselves.

The

period

this

to

he
to

received

his

tradition8.

He

poor

education

at

then, by his

the chief counsellor

became
ability,
of Chandragupta, and according to some
authorities,

continued
his

to

as

guide the affairs of the

after the latter'sdeath4.

master

both

and

author and

an

inspiteof his defects,a great

was,

The
1.

famous

most

T.

Ganapati

He

work

man

of

is

No

statesman.

successor

of

famous

doubt he

of his age.

Chanakya

is the

Arthasastra.

Shaatri"

2.
"

3,

Vide

4.

Taranath

Maharansa

tradition,

and

Abhidhana

tika

and

Chintaraani.

l"ariai"htaparv"n.

Htmaehandra

ha**

both

preferred

thl*

Arthasastra.
the

on

LITERATURE

"

Some

have

scholars

traditional age

that the author

does

are

of

set

disprove its traditional

is

genuine composition
is strengthenedby

forth in this book, wonderfully agree

Megasthenes, and

details is due
book.

the

only

as

referringto the work

"even

its size

Sanskrit

its present form,

considerable
The

itself8. Some

indebted

are

Arthasastra, as

1.

Keith

2.

Mr.

of the

to

the Arthasastra in

in
a

measure.

and

Jolly

Jayaswa) and

the

genuineness

also

hold

Dasftkmnara

the

its name

the

and

politicaleconomy

S.

exactly with the size,

agrees

notably the Yajnavalkya Smriti

works,

of

Chanakya, mentions

of

in the Arthasastra

mentioned

the difference in

early writers refer to

Dandin,
statecraft,and

on

while

which

the

several

writer

with

theoretical character

the

to

Moreover,

Chanakya

on

to

features of the government

fact that the main

descriptionof

of his

name

agreed that these

now

This view

Maurya agea.

the

the

are

that the work

date, and

ground

his capital Pataliputra1.

or

sufficient grounds

not

the

on

the

mention

not

of the scholars

most

expressed doubt

of the work

sovereign Chandragupta
But

89

ART.

the

are

name

charita

among

art

this

view.
11 8.

work.

book

of government.

those

*"hania*aatryhave

Dr.
of

chief

indicates,is a

Several

scholars.
very

German

ably proved
scholar*

90

CHANDRAGUPTA

jit is mainly

adhikaranas

or

It

chapters.

books,

each

deals

with

.administration
relation with

foreign

.and

secret

has

been

such

early authors

witchcraft
No

espionage.
.against these

both

to

circumstances

the

But

the

the

was

it

Maurya

have

been

restore

peace

with

honour.

advocated
The

praise.
1.

ft

observation

to

book

sides

But

as

at

and

said

have

well

the

the

Indian

the
The

of

time

all kinds

same

in
to

as

necessary

deserve
an

of

be

we

considered

of

the

as

composed.

was

things which

many

things occurring

empire,

might

including

institution

unsettled

very

means

has

bad

book

of

score

much

is

judging

which

The

the

other

and

good

in

of

rise

in

warfare,

of

it, such

in

there

similar

and

of India

condition

the

on

and

doubt

the Arthasastra.
look

l,

kings,

judiciary,

critics,

things advocated
of

and

enemy.

an

many

Bana

numerous

of

duties

methods

by

as

into

affairs, law

injure

condemned

practice

the

fifteen

into

subdivided

powers,
to

means

undesirable

"

public

of

divided

work,

prose

of
to

author

nothing
scholar

but
may

" ART

LITERATURE

be quoted

the position of the

slavery,and
to

slavery,Kautilya'sattitude stands

glowing light
barbaric

liberalism and

of

While

age.

human

institution

denounced

it as
characterising

that among

Arya with

Chanakya was

members
of

one

other social

$nd

matters

commendable.

without

abolish

He

also

not

equally

to

the

include

must

view

on

generally liberal

was,

praised him

only

was

his motive

his admirers, for Kamandaka,

Nitisara, has

"

higher castes/'1

the

the pioneers

are

it

unfree

was

strengthen Aryavarta. His

to

nature,

the Arya

Sudra within the Aryan fold, and

have been

by

should be

the Sudra

of

beneficient

could exist

definition of

According to him,

narrow.
an

His

boldlyenunciated

none
Aryas (freeborn)

enslaved.

to

which

custom

of social existence,

strove

Mlechchhas.He

the savage

among

and

it

in

Aristotle

only sanctioned

not

as

humanity

divine and

but justified
by the circumstances
he

apart

his contemporary

justifying
slaveryas

was

or

Kautilyatowards
"In regard
Sudra.

the attitude of

show

to

9i

not

moreover,

the author

highly.* We

of

may

therefore conclude, in the words which Sir Frederic

1.

N. C.

2.

Bandopfcdbjmya" K"utily"

?r"T^

^^jninni^

%W% Nitisara of Kamandaka.

p. *n.

92

CHANDRAGUPTA

Pollock
the

another

about

wrote

ranging

cynical counsellor
who

those
and

iniquity

regard him
of

contains

more

Chanakya
collection
the

of

champions

events

with

writing

of his
The

the

on

Bhadrabahu
He

occurred

of

to

by Chandragupta.
correct,
1.

as
Machae

velli, with

to

the

K*ith"

History

of

of

regin

that

famine

great

died

there

he

was

by

not

seem

Hemachandra

whom

Chanakya

Sanskrit

Literature

Samadhi.

accompanied
to

be

Bhadrabahu

IK often,

inappoaitely,compared.
9.

to

Sthavira

sixth

the

But this does

according

According

Chandragupta, Bhadrabahu

accounts

some

was

age

discipleof Yasobhadra.

the

repaired to the south and

According

this
No

Sanaq.*
the

during

During

even

is known.

of

was

wrote

the time

in

as

pontiff.

the

was

and

Chandragupta.

in

Jain

Sthaviravalis

lived

and

Prakrit author

the

after Mahavira.

medicine,
writers

entitled

book

is

subject,however,

greatest

of

He

Arabic

to

Bhadrabahu,

He

reputed author

ethical poetry.
on

all

at

the former.

witfy aphorisms, and

on

preparers

latter

the

unity,

the

also

capacity is known
book

of the great

one

was

panegyric of

the

to

truth than

Chanakya^sataka

credited

as

Indian

is

of

he

vulgar prejudice that

the

from

in this bookr

Chanakya's object

opinions about

that of all

statesman,

p.

505

through

rather

"" ART.

LITERATURE
died
in

after the Niravana

1 70 years

the

sixteenth

Bhadrabahu

is the

Prakrit works.

reputed author

The

Kalpasutra. This

of Mahavira,

of

is divided

Jain

of many

famous

most

book

i.e.

Chandragupta's reign.1

of

year

93

these is the
three

into

parts,

viz., Jina charitra (lives of Jinas) Sthaviravali

(list

of Sthaviras)and

Samachari

(rulesfor Yatis). It

doubtful

whole

this book

if the

Bhadrabahu.

Jacobi

contained

in

Devardhi,

the

Weber

of

the

Skandha,

which

attributed

to

the Siddhanta.

period

whole

that the

eighth lecture

is included

was

periodwe

are

It is obvious

Chandragupta
achievements,

attained in that

and

Niryuktis

ten

of

the

Maurya
to

however, composed

does

not

belong
strictly

to

dealing with.
from

the above
not

was

in the field of

P*ri"isht"p"rvRn X

that the

devoid
arts

2*

reign of

of

literary

also the

periodby Indians

remote

as
insignificant
1.

the Dasasutra

Kathavatthu, ascribed

Buddhist

the

in the reign of Asoka

means

in

work

Maudgaliputra Tishya. it was,

the

Professor

Kalpasutra is

the

in

by

Bhadrabahu.

only important Pali

The

probably added

was

editor of

incorporated as

of

thinks that the listof Sthaviras

this book

ascertained

is the work

is

is clear from

the

was

success

by

no

following

CHANDRAGUPTA

94

"They

observation of Megasthenes.
to

be welUkilled
who

men

inhale

water/'1 We
of the chief

in the

shall

We

arts.

fresco

pain ing

following

was

already well

The
with

fine

tell

us

and

of Magadha

an

Davids

about

quoted

patterns,

painters.

often covered

was

with

decorated

belonging to

Kosala, and

doubt similar in

character

style than, the

earlier

frescoes of the seventh and

the Ajanta

caves,

SigriRock

in

and

of

These

the

frescoes

but

well

with

of

kings
were

in

course

known

ancient

eighth centuries A. D.
the

Ceylon." No

such
to,

this

in

pleasurehouses, adorned

of

painted figuresand

no

houses

plaster and

chunam

The

But they also painted frescoes.

painting.
passages

be

known.

mostly house

were

of the

work

Rhys

India may

"They

wood

Prof.

of

among

writings that

Buddhist

from

paintersin Buddhist

development

high place

learn

passage

connection.

the

finest

Maurya period.

always held

Painting has
fine

drink the very

brieflynote

in the

arts

might be expected of

as

air and

pure

arts

found1

also

are

fi'-thcentury

doubt this art

the

on

must

on

have

continued in the Maurya periodunder the patronage

of an enlightenedGovernment.
1.

McCrindle-Ancient

2.

Rhys Darids-Buddhisi

india

India

Megastbenes
p

96.

and

Arrian

p. 30.

CHANDRAGUPTA

96

possessing

of

account

an

the

which

in

way

the capital,and the royal palace in

Pataliputra,
excavations have proved
built,and modern
were
We

correctness.

quoted by

Pataliputraas

is that

India

cify in

in the dominions
of

which

Palimbothra,

that

each

length on

that its breadth

encompassed

was

it all

feet in breadth

fifteen

round,

and

thirty

crowned

was

with

sixty gates."1 We

and

four
the

city stretched in

extreme

an

streams

wall

which

girded the city

also built of wood.

palace

The

by
praised
in

to

hundred

had

and

towers

further learn
was

that the

us

ditch

Ganges

depth, and that the wall

cubits in
570

six

was

is called

greatest

unite

eight stadia,and

stadia,and that

"The

"

the

and

its

descriptionof

the

the inhabited quarters

side of

Arrian

which

informs

Megasthenes

the

of the Prassians, where

Erannaboas

the

firstgive

may

it

of

Chandragupta

the Greeks, who

regarded it as

beauty the palaces of Susa and

the

excavations

at

carried

by

remains

This

on

of
all

Dr.

McCrindle-

of

the

Spooner

part

highly

surpassing

Ekbatana.

The

village Kumrahar

have

mighty pillared hall

probably formed

Chandragupta
1.

site

was

disclosed

of

of

the

Mauryan datethe

palace of

himself.

Ancient

India.:

Megxstbeneg

and

Armn

p.

67.

"

LITERATURE
The

97

of this hall
fragments of the pillars

stone

found

were

ART,

ashes

among

buried

beneath

brickwalls probably belonging to the Gupta

Beneath

ashes

the

the

covered

which

According

by

down

flood

with

connection

with

which

then,

for the ashes

the silt, in

of the superstructure

the

made

has

Spooner

occurred

the silt was

accounts

the woodwork

hall.

depositedon

fragments above

stone

the

Christ, and

of

time

fire, which

lyingmixed
Dr.

silt was

period.

feet of silt

centuries,the portion above

after some
burnt

by

the

about

somewhere

original floor of

hall

the floor of the

layer of

Spooner the

Dr.

to

was

old

following remarks.

"Judging from the timbers that have been preserved to

us,

it is clear that the wood

and

the

and

massive,

conflagration
evident

and

above

bolts which
in

the

top

extremely solid

heat

been

have

must

to

of

the

crack

the silt,and

also

to

final
It is

enormous.

off innumerable

that portion of the columns

fragments from
rose

the

that

it sufficed

that

been

have

must

room

of the superstructure

work

expand

the

which
metal

fitted into the socket, holes observable

fragments of

pillarswhich

we

have

recovered/'1

According
1,

to

Dr.

Archaeological Surrey

Spooner this Maurya hall was

of

India

1912-1918

p.

63.

98

CHANDRAGUPTA

built
Dr.
of

on

the

Smith,
the

of

was

buildings
not

the

pillared

observed

however,

Maurya

Persepolis

model

with

definitely

hall

that
the

the

Persian

established.

at

Persepolis.

resemblance

palace

at

VII

ACrilEVEMENTSOFCHANDRAGUPTA
A

of the lifeand

review

career

hardly be complete without

can

importance of his achievements.

a

who,

personage

in

of

Chandragupta

survey

of the

It is strange that
times, capturedthe

ancient

imaginationof Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Greek

Roman

authors alike,has been

in modern
in

We

times.

history
on

the

and

camparatively
ignored

shall here discuss his place

ground of his achievements.

Chandragupta began his

career

as

mere

rebel

against the existingorder of thingsin India. His

first achievement

perhaps, the expulsion of

the Punjab in about 317 B. C.

was,

from
Greek garrisons

he became,
from that point,
Starting

and

never

brief space

that scientific

possessionof

frontier"sighedfor in vain

of the greater part of

of twelve years, the emperor

India, entering into

in

by his Englishsuccessors

held in its entiretyeven

by the Moghul

monarchs of the sixteenthand seventeenth centuries"1

In judgingthe

remember

that India is
of

and the conquest

is

no

mean

noted,
1.

of

extent

his

we

nearlythe whole of this area

Moreover,

as

Arrian HAS

of justicepreventedthe

Early History

of

must

continent
geographically
a

achievement.
sense

conquests,

India

126

ancient

100

CHANDRAGUPTA

Indian kings from

subjection.1 They

their

their superiorpower

satisfied

were

by getting

acknowledged by foreignkings,
this end.

they performed their digvijayaonly to

and

under

bringingforeign countries

by this standard, Chandragupta was

he defeated
successful digvijayiin as much
as
Judged

held all
be

can

doubt

no

under

Asia

western

that

the

Nikator, who

powerful foreign king, Seluekos

most

Thus

his sway.

Chandragupta

there

great

sense,

one

was

conqueror.

Chandragupta, moreover,
of those few

who

men

in

real

changed the destinies

have

for him, India, with

But

of nations.

was,

warring rulers,would

her

surelyfallen

have

numerous
a

to

prey

He

the

ambition

was

for the redemptionof India.

solelyresponsible

of the

Chandragupta, however,
adventurer
his

upon

about

his greatness

militaryfeats.
Indian

in

He

temporary.
a

conquer

and

vast

of Alexander.

successors

was

no

does

not

The

politicswas
knew

to

empire.

depend only

change he brought
flickeringor

not

organise
His

and

1.

well

as

at

India:

Megatthenes

and

so

least to his

grandson. It is, therefore,obvious

MoOrindlt-A"oi"at

to

as

organization was

thorough that his empire passed intact

son

military

mere

Arrian

that he

p. 809.

ACHIEVEMENTS
the will

had

CHANDRAGUPTA

OF
well

as

the

as

101

capacity to organize an

empire rarelysurpassedin magnitude.

praisedby Indian and

been

has

Chandragupta

foreign authors alike for bestowing prosperityupon

Thus, Visakhadatta, the author of the

his country.

Mudrarakshasa, has treated him

earth

upon

to restore

only

foreign writers the

Among

has accused

who

one

Chandragupta of

contradiction with the earlier account

refers

everywhere

Indian

Megasthenes

prosperity of

the

to

of

directions.

He

of

the conqueror

was

in many

vast

territory,

trator
the capable adminis-

the emancipator of his country,

empire, and the harbinger of peace

his people. He
is usually considered as the first
of

great

historical emperor
the

of India.

mightiestruler of his

easy

to

embark

upon

of the best ways

be worthwhile

to

of

was

and
of

compare

one

undoubtedly
of the

most

monarchy. It is not

comparison,but

understandinga

of the world's greatest

Napoleon.

He

time

lustrous stars in the firmament

and

the

people.

himself
Chandragupta thus distinguished

to

tyranny

historian Justin, but his opinion is in

is the Roman

who

of India

in the country

peace

troubled by barbarians.

Deity descended

as

as

person,

it is one
it would

Chandraguptawith three
Kings Alexander,
"

Akbar

CHANDRAGUPTA

102

the Great

Alexander

We

conqueror.

recall

is

that

had

his wide

for he

of time"

died

much

of

quite

face

to

is

It may

His
to

But

vanity

have

death.

as

to

had

no

exile

at

1.

frustrated

hardly borne

countries

dazzle the world

by

his

by

by his

out

his

the

on

different metal.

Alexander

and

other

to

advantages of birth and

the

of

outset

Wells-Outline

of

his

History

career.

page

""4*

career.
seems

his valour.

His

himself

hand,

to

was

and couragous
to

have

his country.

He

seems

purpose

honour

early

purpose

brave

As

himself,his sole

bring peace

of

Alexander

the

insuperable,and
to

In

hero

true

much

so

no

argued that he had schemes

were

Chandragupta,

of

been

not

the

had

career.

drank
accomplished, he literally

purpose

man

"

found

gained nothing by the change

be

this is

was

been

of his

outset

Wells

had

thus

Philip/'1Moreover,

of organisation which

death.

the truth

accomplished

father, and

G.

conquered by Alexander
masters*

we

brief space

Yet

young.

the

at

H.

of Mr.

his father

of

when

ability.Alexander

the historyof Alexander

as

Alexander

his field prepared by his

the words

in

great

planned by his father, Philip,a

uncommon

difficulties

be dazzled

to

conquests

what

of

already been

man

bound

are

mind

to

undoubtedly a

was

was

He

actuallyan
too

was

CHANDRAGUPTA

104

as

much

virtue

of

he also

rose

of his birth.

In

as

seems

But

country.

ambition

early youth he

behind

the great

Hindu
famous

thus,

was

genius. He

dynasty,to
Buddhist

was

dreamt

ftnd

to

maintain

gained nothing by

and

8*mpr*ti.

on

he

the

the founder

which

literature.

Asokft

failed

In this respect,

Jain

supplied materials to many

and he is still
a
popular hero

by

too

falls

whole,

an

Maurya.

Chandragupta
uncommon

and

for conquest,

splendidexploits.

not

drifted towards

later, Napoleon

In fact, his country

his empire.
his

his

of merit, and

independent Corsica, much as Chandragupta

of the independence of his
dreamt
to have

an

mere

by dint

also

of the greatest

belonged the

monarchs.1

His

most

career

poets for writing upon

in

modern

vernacular

VIII.

LEGENDS

OF

CHANDRAGUPTA,
BUDDHIST.

A.

While

Buddha

yet lived,driven

produced by the

wars

members

Sakya

of the

discovered

of

by the misfortunes

Vidudabha,
(prince)

beautiful location, well

watered

and situated in the midst of

bo and

other

several

surrounded

ramparts,

having

embellished

met,

at a

town

of defence

gates

gardens. Moreover

that

it resounded
itwas

mayuras

with
so

by

were

notes

of

row

arranged in

of flocks of kraunchas

From

called.

Sakya lords of

and

descendants,

this

and

town,

were

(Chandraguptawas
queen

bom
consort

in

and

their children

renowned

that dynastyhas been called the

as

this circumstance

throughout

Jambudipa by the titleof "Moriya", From

the

pleasure

plumage of peacock'sneck, and

these

mother,

durable

therein, and

(city)having

which
buildingscovered with tiles,

the pattern of the

place where

delightfuledifices and

with

lofty

by the desire of

Influenced

roads

forest of

there,theyfounded
settling
great

Himavant

line retreatingto

and
delightful

trees.

certain

thistime

Moriyan dynasty.
thisdynasty.) His

of the

monarch

of

the citybefore mentioned, was pregnant

Moriyanagara,
powerful provincial
certain
raja
at the time that a

CHANDRAGUPTA

106

conquered that kingdom, and put the Moriyan king

to

death.

the child in her

In her anxiety to preserve

departing for the capital of Pupphapura

womb,

under the protectionof her elder brothers and

disguiseshe dwelt there.

him
relinquishing

placed him
of

in

cattle pen.

himself

by him,

watched

also, that the

prince Ghosha

at

Chando

protect him, in the

to

and

son,

In the

bull.

herdsman

in

repairedto

the

door

the

stationed
manner

same

of
by the interposition

by

over

depositedhim

bull named

that Prince Ghosha,

was

and

vase

to

protectionof the Devas, she

the

to

completion of the

giving birth

of pregnancy

ordinaryterm

the

At

under

the Devas,
manner,

same

of

that

the

bull

instance

the spot where

observing this
on
planted himself, a herdsman,
his
borne
to
prince,moved by affection, like that
child, took charge of and tenderlyreared him,
own
in reference to his having
and in givinghim a name,
been watched

Chandagutta
attained an
wild

age

huntsman,

attached
his

own

to

by the bull Chando, he called him

he had
When
and brought him up.
to

be able

becoming

him, taking him

dwelling,

to

cattle, a

tend

certain

acquainted with, and

from

(theherdsman)

established

him

here.

to

He

"x"ntinued to dwell in that village.

Subsequently,on

certain

occasion,

white

LEGENDS

OF

tending cattle with other children

joined them
He

himself

in

Raja

named

was

offices of

subbing,

etc.

judges,were

placed

made

in

officers- Having

justice, he

brought

in

sat

to

others he

constituted
On

judgement.

according to the

off their hands

proved

to

awarded

sentence

feet. On

and

axes"; he

no

answered"

should

chop

ye

feet,making

with the horns

axes

on

his

satisfaction,

by

his

judicial
chop

to

court

replying."Deva,

their

Chandagutta that

'It is the order of

off their hands and
for blades

of goats

They acting accordingly,on

loptoff.
the hands and feet were

sticks for handles.

strikingwith the
On

of

court

culpritsbeing

ministers, he ordered the officers of the

and

he

some

regularlyinspectingand trying them,

up,

have

the

gave

being appointed

Some

thus

royalty".

of

judgement hall

their guiltbeing clearly

we

village,he

in the

called the "game

game

107

CHANDRAGUPTA

the

axe

commanding,

person

same

reunited," the hands and feet

former

were

"Let

be

them

their

restored to

condition.

(a Brahman),

Chanakka,
that spot,

amazad

was

at

the

happening

to

to

come

beheld.

he
proceedings

for taking
(He had been insulted by King Nanda,
he had
already taken into
againstwhom
revenge
confidence

search for

Prince

second

named

Pabbato,

and

individual entitledto

be

was

to

raised

CHANDRAGUPTA

108
to

Accompanying (theboy)

sovereign power).

Kahapanas,

thousand

"1 will teach your

him

applied for him

he

accomplishment,consign

every

dwelling,he encircled his

own

worth

his

to
a

single

golden thread,

lac.

He

woollen

While

cord.

had

each

him,

living with

Pabbato, also, with

Prince

invested

similar

with

neck

cord, twisted with

of woollen

fold

saying,

Accordingly conducting him

me."

to

son

with

herdsman

presenting the

the village,and

to

these

youths

dream

which

were

they

he heard
As soon
as
separatelyimparted to him.
each (dream) he knew that of these prince Pabbato

would

monarch

in

time, become

loss of

without

would,

that Chandagutta

royalty; and

attain

not

Jambudipa. Although

discovery,he disclosed nothing to

On

certain

an

offeringat

from the

main

Brahmanical

road, and

made

them

this

them.
of

some

had been received

disputation;retiring

lyingdown

place protected by the deep

fell asleep. Among

he

having partaken

occasion

milkrice prepared in butter,which

as

paramount

in

foliageof

the

first rose;

and, for the

Pabbato's

to the
qualifications

sword, and

him "Bring me
telling

purpose

trees,

shady
they

Achariyo awaking
of
test,

putting prince

giving him

the woollen thread

LEGENDS

Chandagutta's neck, without either cutting or

on

untying it/'sent
and

failingto

him off.

consideringhow

sleeping, and

was

effected,decided "there is no other

only be

can

got possessionof

Pleased

him,

with

Thereafter,

deciding"From

to

spot

bringing

his

on

to

the

profound silence.
this

of

account

on

in the

of

course

six

or

profoundly

attaining manhood,

henceforth this individual is capable

forming and controllingan

the

of doing it;it

way

off, and

in

however,
him

be

to

was

highly accomplished,and

years

learned.

him

received

who

he rendered
(exploit),
seven

Pabbato

thread, presented himself

the woollen

Brahman,

similar

it

by cuttinghis head off."

Accordingly chopping his head

away

On

returned.

Chandagutta on

sent

mission,

repairingto the spot where

He

mission.

the

Startingon

accomplish it, he

subsequentday, he

of

109

CHANDRAGUPTA

OF

where

his

army,"

treasure

and

buried, and

was

takingpossessionof, and employing it;and

forces

from

all quarters,

among

them, and

army,

he

and

it

to

enlisting

distributing
money

having thus formed

entrusted

repairing

him.

From

powerful
that

time

and invadingthe inhabited

throwing off all disguise,
parts of the country,

by attacking towns
their (Chanakka

he
and

and

commenced

his campaign

villages.In the

course

of

Chandagutta's)warfare, the

CHANDRAGUPTA

110

population rose

their army

hewing

and

their

weapons,

yet

advantage has

no

Thenceforth,

retiringto

town

some

other, they

or

attending

of

from

acquire

people."

the

roaming about, after

thus

to

the

the
thus

disguisethey travelled about

in

While

country.

habit

the 'sentiments of

of

knowledge

in

resulted

militaryoperations,let us
relinquishing

war;
a

with

consulting together, they

and

decided; "As

surrounding them,

Dispersing,
they reunited

vanquished them.
wilderness

and

masse,

en

sunset

in

were

of

converstation

the

the
the

inhabitants of those places.

In

of these villages, a

one

leaving the edges would

child, who

his

On

centre.

remarked

"This

in his attempt

On
and

giving them

was
appalpuwa (pancakes)

some

to

asking

take

has

only

is like

Chandagutta

what

done?"

eat

her
the

Chandagutta's
kingdom/'

possessionof the

why,

to

cake, she

another

for

boy's conduct

his enquiring,"Mother,
what

having baked

woman

am

I doing,

"Thou,

my

the outside of the

boy, tsaidshe), throwing away
also in his
cake, eat the middle only. Chandagutta
without subduing the
ambition to be a monarch,
before he
frontiers,
heart of the
that account,

attacked the

towns,

laid

towns

country,

and

invaded
waste.

both the inhabitants of the

town

the
On
and

CHANDRAGUPTA

112
of

tamers

She

birth

gave

to

The

Chandragupta.

had

Their headman

peacocks.

who

son

latter

soon

daughter.

named

was

grew

into

up

fine lad.

Chandragupta used

play with the boys of the

to

neighbourhood,and give villages and

to

them,

made

them,

by

the

he

if

as

boys act

in

his

He

of Chandragupta, and
him

thus:" "O

your

gifts.
you

yourselffrom
dare

at

arQ

these

smiling, said.

test

those

to

thee,

who

are

have

The

also

village kine.

brave/'

manners

share

replied,
some

No

body

in

"

O
for

can

promise/' Chanakya,

shall 1 take these

whole

there,

libertyto choose

Chandragupta replied, "Do

help

could

came

lest they should best

fear the cowhards

cows

who

the latterhe addressed

also

Pataliputra,

at the
surprised

what

"How

of

revenge)

was

to

predicted

Chanakya (who

person

Chandragupta

withhold

to

King let me

"

Brahman

of
of

vow

wandering.

named

by King Nanda

in search

was

on

Subsequently,on

Brahman

insulted

been

and who

while

is often

man

he

elephantsto ride

or

previous conduct.

his

him

horses

as

things

king. Sometimes,

future of

for the

certain occasion,

had

were

other

not

earth

me

kine ?

sevefely"

fear.

I allotthese

be

enioyed by

can

Chanakya

was

struck by

LEGENDS
his

who

OF

intelligenceand
he

asked

The

was.

which,

while

to

be

given

(remembering that
formerly come

it

was

to

the

of

means

ascetic,

he

himself

the idea of acquiring

him, and

Chanakya

quickly

boy like a highwayman.

Chanakya

treasures,

forces,for the

sake

of

beseiged the city of

his

forces

thus

fled

in

the

boy
had

guise of

kingdom,

pleased at

too,
to

an

the latter

induced

kingship,agreed

way

who

the

Chandragupta

to

as

Chanakya

promise of securing

him.

accompany

womb,

an

ascetic) recognised the boy and

by

the

him

mother's
to

113

playmates

villagein

the

to

his
told

boys

stillin his

promised

was

CHANDRAGUPTA

accompany

the

with

away

Then, taking hold

of his

and

other

arrayed infantry
destroying Nanda,

He

then

all sides with

Pataliputraon

gathered. King Nanda,

however,

easily defeated the inadequate forces of Chanakya.

Chanakya

and

Chandragupta, thereafter,fled

their lives, for it is said that

oneself

at

any

one

should

prosperity being

cost,

only by preserving one's life. Nanda,

sent

some

kings

can

cavaliers
not

their.y
kingdom.

tolerate

When

capitaltriumphant,the
each

catch

to

such
Nanda

for

protect

attainable
his part,

on

Chandragupta, for
returned

citizens celebrated

covet

as

persons

to

his

festival,

his share according to capacity.

contributing

CHANDRAGUPTA

114
One

of the cavaliers

reached, due
where

the swiftness of

to

Chandragupta

the cavalier
asked

from

that

The

Yogi.

asked

He

nearby adorned

silent meditation,
with

draw

his swimming

Then,
came

the
mount

The

cavalier

from

if to offer

shouted

out

of

the

on

in

Then

the

was

water,

what

began

to

to wear

dancing girl wears

she

has

the

meanwhile,

perform

to

and

got

off the

cut

Water.goddess.

the

to

Chandragupta, the latter

as

having

horse
to

as

to

order

in

water,

the

as

he

ocean*

should

the

as

*sked him
when

as

Chanakya,

way.

cavalier's sword,

latter'shead,

young

pointed his finger towards

gown,

the

of

wind.

his

dance.) Chanakya,

hold

there

of

some

seen

break

special petticoat(when

her

swiftness

lest he

Chandragupta

out

the

that

care

hum.

with

quickly came

if he had

passing

take

pretendingto
water

had

water

silent like

stayed there
of Nanda

Chanakya

recently

man

quick wit,

situated

his horse, which

on

using his

himself in the

horseman

near

Chanakya, seeing

hide

to

was

his horse,very

gone.

afar and

himself

He

lotuses.

had

Chandragupta

of the lake

despatched by King Nanda

the

rises from

moon

Chandragupta

made

of the cavalier,
he

pointed

thought
out

to

Chanakya
to

the

himself
cavalier.

LEGENDS

OF

Chandragupta

said

he

understand,

they

before which

washerman

Nanda

was

him

was

sword,

drawn

and

statement,

began

wash

to

drawing

left behind.

had

about

life.

clothes which

and

King

best for

from

by the

afar with

Chanakya's
Chankaya then
the washerman

to

be

near

asked

washerman)

quick-witted Chanakya,

before, killed that cavalier also*

Chanakya

act

washerman

cavalier coming

the fugitives.The

acting as

that

killed

The

coming

(mistaking him

Chanakya

believe

to

near.

fled for his

The

to

the truth of

believed

the

on,

Seeing

Chandragupta

should be

lest he

seeing the cavalier

too,

Yama.

his guild,and it was

on

away,

going

swift cavalier of

of

standing there

that

cavalier

by

never

Chanakya then persuaded

did.

he

angry

to run

thus

were

again asked

him, Chanakya
as

they

like a messenger

coming

what

in

obedient pupil would

an

not

hearingthis,thought

on

followed

again

were

Nanda

Chanakya,

While

betray him.

might

nothing but good

that such

himself

1 15

that, although he

saw

his teacher did.

to

CHANDRAGUPTA

Chandragupta

resumed

Then
their

wanderings
While

thus wandering, Chanakya,

by Chandragupta,reached
as

bird retires to its nest.

accompanied

villagein the evening,

In that

village,
roaming

116

CHANDRAGUPTA

for the sake of

alms, he approached

certain old

food

her

to

who

woman,

There

are

foolish

as

to

the

matron

Chanakya

as

in

before

centre

got

the

perished. This
his
a

even

Nanda's

frontiers

child,too,

fingers burnt.

as

result of which

his hand

to

the

regions,and there formed alliance with

One

view

to

day, Chanakya

idea of conquering

kingdom between
this, and

their way,

-capture it.
in the

Himalayan
chief named

suggestedto Parvataka

king Nanda

and

Parvataka

agreed

the kingdom of

they beseigeda

town,

mendicant.

but could

There

to

and

Nanda.

Thereupon Chanakya entered the

disguiseof

the

dividing his

Chandragupta, Chanakya

Parvataka started to conquer

On

him

his help.

secure

themselves.

then

thus

thinking that

intelligentthan

(and realising his mistake)went

in the

the sides and

Chanakya

more

was

Parvataka, with

and asked

capital, before

put

slowly eating from

woman

house

replied,"Chanakya

woman

folly, attacked

his

gettingcontrol of
he

old

The

himself/"

for her comparison of the child

reason

Chanakya.

remarked:

woman

Chanakya, overhearing,entered her

the

his carelessness.

to

the child's screaming the old

"You

child, feeling very

hungry, got his fingersburnt due

On

of

serving fresh cooked hot

was

children.

the house

not

town

Chanakya

OF

LEGENDS

goddessesand thought that

seven

saw

due

been
he

that the

them

to

thinkingof the

was

certain citizens

predictas

The

would

long

the

which

the citizens became

again

Having

as

last besieged

King Nanda

largearmy.

both
Nanda

valour, due

retires with

does

not

to

virtue.

Chanakya to

two

warriors

the

at

grant

him

(beij
a

safe

value his life, Cha

leave the citywith only

him that none
would stop him
to

warriors

also,

with

Chanakya,

that time had become

his unvirtuoi
He

town.

also with
Pataliputra

destituteof sufficient treasuries and

and

citizens

Chanakya,and

But the

town

of

country

at

town

Chandargupta and

charioteer. Being guided by

heroes

the

do specially under

not

glad.

very

conquered the

two

will

thus captured this

Chanakya

The

enemies.

like a seaside and entered the

back

came

the

there

were

retreated at the hint of

then

Parvataka

free from

be

to

Chandragupta replied

craftyfellow.

the images,

the images, for there is nothing

troubled person

the influence of

the

from

quicklyremoved

then

of

While

requested him

would

town

have

must

safe.

was

and

the goddesses
secure

it

of removing

him

preceptor

as

be

not

town

way

to

came

when

to

invaders.

that so

1 17

ANDRAGUPTA

CH

118

CHANDRAGUPTA

Then

and

wives

wealth
that

Nanda

king
a

having taken with him his two

daughter and

leftthe city. The

time

Chandragupta and gazed

of

amount

daughter of Nanda,

attracted

was

sufficient

the

by

of

appearance

unwinked

him

at

like

goddess. By thus gazing by her side glances

daughter of Nanda
love

with

Nanda

the

fallen in

had

proved that she

Chandragupta,

at

having

too,

understood, asked his daughterto choose her husband

according

her

to

will,

as

the

was

kings. Accordinglyhe asked her

chariot of

spokes

and
that chariot,

from

Chandragupta, as
broken,

were

pressed by

to

Chandraguptabut

from

the

to mount

result of which

her

forbade

the

breaks when

cane

from

the

chariot.

Chandragupta from

doing so, tellinghim that it wasa

for

began

sugar

remove

Chanakya, however,

get down

Chandragupta thinking it

yantra.

inauspicioustried

as

among

Being thus asked she

his chariot,wishing her well.

got down

to

custom

good

omen,

not

also for his descendants.

only
Then

Chandragupta and Parvataka having entered Nanda's

palace began
There

was

latter had
became
an

so

to

divide the huge wealth of that king.

also the

daughter

slowly fed
enamoured

angel. The

on

of

Nanda

poison, and

whom

the

Parvataka

of her that he treated her like

preceptor

of

Chandragupta agreed

120

CHANDRAGUPTA
One

he

day, while brooding on

observed

asked him

Brahman

the

replied,"1

Brahman,

digging

for

reason

the

as

fit person

in

firnruminded

angry

accomplish

then engaged him

reward

of

one

and

come

celebrated

went

Subandhu,

for

persuaded by Sakatala
fit person

Nanda

place which
in

the

loosened
kill Nanda
would
was

he

to

to

Brahman

promise

the appointed
Another

desirous

and

Nanda

from

Chanakya, pleadinghis own

Burning with
matter.
rage,
of his sikha, and

knot

within

seven

tie his sikha

innocence

enraged, but

On

Chanakya

Chanakya

took

days, after which

again.

the

communicated

to

the

was

Thereupon

Chanakya

occupied. Sakatala

of
was

believe that Subandhu

remove

be

Chanakya

was

himself

to
to

was

Sraddha.

the

of

suvarnas

Nanda.
on

the

at

the

given precedence.

orders

gave

the orders

be

to

of

however,

precedence

getting

at

by
which

his house and

preside

to

Brahman,

palace

to

the

death

the

thousand

sraddha

the

the

in

accompanied him
day

hundred

presideat

struck

was

He

and

this grass which

Yogananda.
of

meadow,

rooting out
minister

to

revenge,

Chanakya,

am

reply and regarded that

plan of

doing that.

foot/' The

has hurt my

his

vow

to

alone

he

hearing this Nanda

escaped

and

was

sheltered by Sakatala. Thereafter,Chanakya

secretly

LEGENDS

OF

CHANDRAGUPTA

121

being suppliedwith all materials,practiseda magical

rite

which

in

the seventh

he

was

day Nanda

Yogananda's

genuine Nanda,

the throne.

on

prince'sminister,

and

Chanakya became

retired

x
.

Nicator

waged

He

then

been
to

into

over

death,

as

if the

India, which

achieved

Sandracottus
their freedom,

forfeited

by his
liberator,for he

people whom
thraldom. He
prompted
1.

to

tyranny

had
bom

was

all title

to

in humble

5 translated

leader

who

an

the

of

name

servitude the very

emancipated

aspireto royaltyby

Kathasaritsagara

prefects

after his victories he

oppressed with

he

his

put

the

was

but

after

yoke of servitude had

shaken off from its neck, had

death.

his

among

by victory subjugatedthe Bactrians.

passed

Alexander's

empire

Babylon and then with his

first took

forces augmented

in the east

wars

many

after the partitionof Alexander's

generals. He

spend his

to

EUROPEAN.

D.

Saleucus

of the

son

Sakatala having obtained

the only objectof his existence

last days in the woods

Hiranya*

son

also,and raised Chandragupta, the

gupta

on

deprivedof life.Sakatala

was

effected the destruction of

the

adept,and by which

an

from

foreign

life, but

omen

bj the author.

was

significant

122
of

CHANDRAGUPTA

destiny. For when

august

an

behaviour
ordered

he

had

offended

by that king

safetyby

Nandrus1

be put

to

by his insolent

he

lay

overcome

with fatigueand

had

of

approaching the slumberer

size

enormous

with

body

with the

having collected
Indians

to

When

he

thereafter

was

tame

preparing

wild elephant
a
prefects,
and

elephant received

having thus

him

the throne

won

when

Seleucus

future

greatness.

and

with

him

east,

returned

1.

of

monstrous

its back

to

on

was

Seleucus
otherwise

home

to

attack

to

reigning

having

over

made

settled his
prosecute

and

Sandrocottu

army.

laying the foundation

was

so

kneelingsubmissivelylike

fought vigorouslyin front of the

Antigonus1

throne, and

existing Government.

the

approached him,

size

the

firstinspired

of robbers he instigatedthe

overthrow

Alexander's

band

licked

profusely
quickly took its

prodigywhich

hope of winning

lion

oozed

he awoke

this

was

deep sleep,a

which

sweat

and when

departure. It
him

the

its tongue

from his

fallen into

was

death, he sought

to

speedy flight. When

and

India

of
a

his

treaty

affairs in the
war

with

corrupt

reading

the

'Nandrum'

has

b"*n

substituted

for

the

'Ataxandrum'.
*2

Justin

(McCrindle-InvHKion of

India

by Alexander

pp.

827-8).

APPENDIX

History

of

the

A.

Sudat

I ,ake.

santi

(Portionof the Junagarh Inscription

from

EpigraphiaIndica Vol. Vlll,Edited

and

Translated by Prof. F. Kielhorn.)

1.

Siddham

idam

tarfakam Sudar^anam

radapi(d)(u) ram

(n) t (a)

Cir (i)
nagau

ik.opala.vis
(tt)

tarayam.occhraya* niAsandhi.baddha

drirfha.sar.

a.pa 1ikatvat.parvata.pa
"

2.

da^ppratispardhususlish
( ndha ) m
( t )a(ba)
( va

) jaten^akritrimena setubandhenopapannam

supprativihita.ppranalt.pari
( v )cha
3.

mirfhavidhanam

cha triskan (dha)

anuagrahairxmahaty.upachaye
vartate-

n.adibhir.
Tadidam

rajno mahakshatrapasya
sugrihi
"

4.

tanamnaA

Swami.Chashtanasyapautra

putrasya

rajno

abhyastanamno
70
tatitam(e)

mahakshatrapasyagurubhir.
Rudradamno

varshe

divisap^

2.

5.

MargasiYsha.bahuIa.prat(i)h srish/a.vrisk
Jina parjanyena ekarnava.bhwtayam.iva
prithu
Suvarnasikata.
kritayamgirerx/7rjayataA
vyam

6.

Palasini.Prabhriunam nadinam

vegaiA setum(a)

atimatrodvrittair^

(ya) moaanurupa^pratt^

.0#a!ak. opatalpau
karamapi .giri*ikharflutaru.ta"

CHANDRAGUPTA

124

dvara-^aranocchraya
^vidhvamsino^yuga nidhana
,

sadri
7.

"

sa^paramaghorawegena

pramathita-salila*

vayuna

(k) sh (i)

vikshiptajarjarckritava(dt)
.

a
vrikshagulmaJatapratanam

ptasma*
la

Chatvari-hastau
(d) ity-udghatitam-^sit.

nuvinsad^uttaranyxiyatena
etavantyeva
8.

nadf

(ta)
"ata*

visttrnena

pancha^saptati hastan^avagorfhena bhedena

nissrita-'Sarva^toyammarudhannva
atibhrisam

kalpam^

(s)y(a)rthe
Mauryasya

durda

rajnah Chandrag (u)(pta)(s)

(ya)(r)ashfriyena

(V) aisyena

Pushyaguptena karitam

Asokasya

Mauryasya ;kri?)te YavanarajenaTush (a)spheiv

adhish^haya

pranaltbhir^ala(m)krita(m)

9.

TRANSLATION
This lake Sudarsana, from

1.

distance?)

long

joined as

to

of

rival the spur

all its embankments

*

The

following letters have

1.

a,

2.

t, d, n,

3.

r,

4.

Jt, representing

s,

t,

in

u,

representing

are

been

long

representing the

ri, representing g$

representing y\

Girinagara (even
a

of

structure

so

well

mountain, because

strong, in breadth, length

printed

in

italics.

vowels
letters of %":

if

HISTORY

SUDARSANA

height constructed without

and
of

THE

OF

(clay)

stone,

three

favours is
3.

This

"

is

name

the firstof

son's

name

clouds

pouring with

is

water

into

one

proper

by

of

king, the

the

taking of

stones,

which, of

storm

hilUops,

raised

bushes

most

mundane

banks,

turrets,

places of shelter

and

thus laid open

was

bottom of the river

trees,

"

pieces, (tore apart)

to

trees,

scattered about,

by the

Urjayat the
precautions (were taken),

down

with

been

mount

period,tore

scattered,broke

had

Suvarnasikata,

fury befittingthe end of

stories,gates and

by the

ocean

tremendous

upper

"

the

earth

floods of the

streams

churned

the

rain

were

Palasini and other

the

72nd

"

when

auspicious

it

though

of

son

Chashtana

excessively swollen

dam

half

Mahakshatrapa Rudradaman

whose

as

dark

second

seventy

Lord

Mahakshatrapa

converted

the

repeatedby the venerable, the

and

of

son

other

and

by

on

of the king,the

whose

are

natural

excellent condition.

of Margasirsha in the
year

an

in

(lake)

same

they

as

guard against foul

to

means

sections

(now)

125

,and with well provided

conduits,drains and
matter,

gaps

furnished with

(formed by?)

dam

LAKE

"

creeping plants
down

to

the

CHANDRAGUPTA

126

7.

By

breach

long,

just

cubits

deep,

lake),

for

by

the

governor

adorned
the

as

Yavana

the

all

(to

(and)

the

king

-..ordered

(the

(became)

for

to

the

king

Maurya

Tushaspha

that

so

at)

of

conduits

five

seventy

desert,

sandy

Pushyagupta,

Vaisya

with

look

sake

the

of

cubits

twenty

escaped,

water

like

ugly

and

broad,

many

almost

extremely

hundred

four

Asoka
while

be

made

provincial

Chandragupta,
the

Maurya

governing

by
etc.

128

CHANDRAGUPTA
11.

The

According

Puranas

by

the

son

Hence

ruled.

reigns

the

to

the

Knn"la,

is also

lengths

seems

same.

to

the

of

testimony
was

period of
he

Recording

given

are

identical
If

we

Mavrya

and

blind

eight

this, the
with

dynasty

as

the
a

to

Puranas.

and

could

allotted

Dasaratha's

accept

the

to

Buddhists

the

therefore

years

with

Kings entirely agree

Maurya

Puranas

Asoka,

the
to

reigns

concurrent

of

exactly the
of

of

Table*

Dynastia

not

him

reign-period
detailed
total

whole.

by

Jains,
hay*
bcni

which

figures for the

period assigned

APPENDIX

C.

Bibliography.
Aneient

7.

Kautilya's
T.

Hindu

Arthasastra

with

Works.
the

of

commentary

Sastn.

Ganapati

X^autilya's

translated

Arthasastra

by

Or.

Shama-

sastry.
\

Visakhadatta's

Mudrarakshasa

the

with

com

men*

tary of Dhundhiraja,

Somadeva's

Kathasaritsagara.

X^Manusmriti.

xYajnavalkyasmriti.
Vayu

Parana.

Matsya

Purana.

Vishnu

Purana

Bhagavata

yBana's

with

the

of Sridhara,

commentary

Purana.

Kadambari-

Kamandaka's

Nitisara.

vDandin's

Dasakumaracharita.

xBhasa's

Svapnavasavadatta.

^Ka!hana's

Rajatarangmi.
2.

An? lent Buddhist

Works.

YMahavansa"

Edited

and

translated

by Geiger.

Mahavansa"

Edited

and

translated

by Tumour,

^Dipavan"a"Edited
Mahabodh

and

ivansa.

Mahaparinibbana

Sutta.

translated

by Olden berg.

130

CHANDRAGUPTA
Milindapanho.

Divyavadana.
Anoient

5.

Parisishtaparvan

xkalpasutra

Hemachandra

of Bhadrabahu.

yicharasreni

of

Merutunga.

Uttaradhyayana
Hajavali

of

Work*.

Jain

Tika.

Katha.

Tithoogaliya Payanna.
Prakirnaks.

Tirthoddhara

McCrindle

"

McCrindle"

xMoCrindle

"

xCambridge

ySmith"

(in Translation).

Works

Classical

4.

of India

Invasion

Alexander.

by

Literature.

Ancient

India

in Classical

Aneient

India:

Megasthenesand

5.

Modern

History

of

-Oxford

Early

Arriao.

Works.

India

Vol.

History

1.
of

India

4th

Edl*

tion.

Xfiavell"

Rule

Aryan

Buddhist

Davids"

vRhys
ifR. K.

in India.

Local

Mookerji"

India.

Government

in

Ancient

India.
*R.

K.

Mookerji

\R,

K.

Mookerji"

,*

Smith

"

"

History
Asoka.

Asoka,

^Bhandarkar"

Asoka.

of

Indian

Shipping.

131

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hultzsoh

Chaudhuri

"tRay

Political

"

Chaudhuri

Ray

Asoka.

of

Inscriptions

"

History

of

History

Early

"

India.

Ancient

of

Vaishnava

the

sect.

yPargiter
vPargiter

Ancient

"

Vlyengar

Hindu

"

XMazumdar"

\Smith

Fine

Sanskrit

Sanskrit

Glories

Maurya

Mysore

and

Researches

Epigraphia

Spooner"

Indies
Excavations
India

Waddel

"

and

Ceylon.
of

Rejasthan.

Literature.

Literature.

Gleanings.

H istorical

Asiatic

India.

Ancient

Drama.

Sanskrit

Satyaketu"
"

Antiquities

of

VSamaddar"

Rice

and

History

"MacdoneIl"
"

in

History.

"-

XT-aw

India

Art

of

"

in

Mogul.

Outline

"

History.

Indian

Life

Great

the

Annals

"

Wells

South

of

Kautilya.

Akbar

"

Tradition.

Polity.

Bandopadhyaya"
"

Age.

Historical

Corporate

.xSmith

Kali

the

Indian

Beginnings

"

,s,"Jayaswal

xTod

of

Dynasties

"

Excavations

of

Magadha,
ka

Samrajya
from

Coorg

Inscriptions.

"

IV.

Vot.

Vol.

Itthasa.

VIII.
at

Pa

tali putr

1912.13.)
at

Ratal

iputra.

(Arch.

Sur.

of

INDEX.
dents,
Adhyakshas= Superinten52, 56,

Arachosia, 39.
Architecture, 96-8.

59.

military,
Administration,
61 ff; municipal, 56 ff;
64 ff.

of Justice

62.

Aggramen=Ugrasena,

Agriculture, 79-80.
of, 76.
Ahinsa, doctrine
Aiatasatru, king, 3, 10,
18. 14 n, 15, 95.

Ajivikas,77.
(I) the

great,

89n, 77, 102, 103, 121,

(2) king of
122, 127;
50.
Amatyas,
Ambhi,
king of Taxila, 22.

gupta,

kingdom,
8 1

a n

r a-

(I) Gonatus,
king of Macedonia, 10;
(2) rival of Seleukos,

Antigonus

122.

Theos,

king of

Syria, 10.
with

in

Arts,

the

age

of

98 ff.

definition of, 91.

20.
Asmakas,
Asoka, 8, 9, 10, ? 1,24, 28,
45 n, 46. 48, 50, 58, 62,

63,

93, 95,

108, 104

n,

Avanti,

17, 18, 20

n.

Baluchistan,

39, 47, 62.

Beas, river, 21, 23.

Anga, IS.

Anuruddhaka,

society, 69.

Babylon, 83, 83, 84, 121.

46.

n.

Antioohus

Indian

128.

10.

Androkottos=C

Army,
Arthasastra, 89-92.
of
servants
Artisans, as
class of
a
state, 57; as

Aryas,

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

Andhra,

on

Chandragupta,

49, 108.

Corinth,

38*.
slavery, 91.
Indian, 58-4.
size of, 55.

Arms,

v., 19.

Alexander

Ariana,

Aristotle,

Afghanistan, 39, 47,

Akbar,

Aria, 38.

identified

Nandivarddhana,

Benares, 20 n, 82, 87.

Bengal; 45, 82.
Besnagar, 95.
Bhaddasala, 35.
44, 92-8.
Bhadrabahu,
Bhagavata, faith, 75-6.
Bimbisara.
king, 2, 10,
12, 13, 17, 18,20.
Bindusara, 8, 9, 28, 45,
46, 128.

INDEX
Births

deaths, register

and

of, 68.
Boards,

for

56

Bow,

ff; for

master

tion,
administra-

municipal

Brachmanes

4.

quered

69-70.

(1)

12; f2) last

Magadha,
128.
of the Mauryas,
65.

Brihaspati,

1, 9, 18,

105; date

northern

of the

28,

76,

mirvana

of

historical

Bulls, fight of, 43.

Maurya

age,

69-70.
board

in

charge

of, 54.

Ceylon, 94.
Chanakka=Chanakya,

monarchs

v.

of

legend

in

charge

royal, 41, 43.

C hash tana

v.

106.

trapa,

identified
1 ;

of.
of, 7*8; ancestry
26-80; early life of, 81data

classical

of, 55.

Chandra*

Sandrakottos.

the

of, 127.

Chase,

with

great

121-2, chronology

of,

Chandagutta

Chando, bull,
Chandrmgupta,

compart*

119-21;

Chariots, Board

gupta, q.

of

other

51, 68.92, 107 ff.

Chanakya Sataka, 92.
=

first

world,
102-4; Buddhist
legends
Jain
105-11
of,
1,
legends
of, 1 11- 11 9; Hindu
legends

19, 82, 36, 40,

Chanakya,

99-101;
emperor

with

of,
q.

vision
super-

justice, 42,

India, 101; his

son

the

king,

empire
of, 45-7; palace
of
ments
40-41; 96-8; achieveof,

76.

Buddhism,

Nikator,

64-5; family of, 43, death

of the
of, 48-44; extent

of, 2.

Cavalry,

of

88-39; his life as

41-2; his personal

founder

of

Caste, in

became

Seleukos

Brihadratha

Buddha,

and

86;
con*
Deo can,
feated
87; de-

41. 77.8.
Brahmans,

the

Malayaketu,

B rah mans,

jab,
Pun-

India, 35; coronation

of.
the plot of
86; defeated

ff.

Indian, 58-

32; conquered
the
88-4; defeated

ministration,
adNandas

military
52

133

China,
Chola,

128, 125.
trade

with, 88-4.

kingdoms,

Chronology,
127-8,

Mahftksha-

47.

I ff ; tables

of

INDEX

134
76.

Cliessobora,

of,

manufacture

Cloth,
81-2.

general, 59.

Col lector

61.

Commander-in-chief,
Board

Commerce,

Board

Commissariat,

Ganges, 96; valley, 2fc 85.

Gautama=Buddha,
q. v.

in

Gedrosia,

Ghosha,

of, 52.

Councillors,

Gangaridae,23.

in

of, 58.

charge
charge

Fines, three kinds offt68.

in
board
Forigners,
charge of, 57.

of

class

as

39.

Guilds, 84.

population, 69.

Indian

Courtezans,

spies, 64.

as

Haihayas,

20.

Hairwashing,

king,

Dasaratha,

17.

14, 128.

penalty of, 67.

87, 46.
king, 128.
Devavarman,
Deccan,

Herakles, 75.
89.

Herat,

Hiranyagupta,

121.

Husbandmen,

as

of

population, 69.

Indian

Iconography,

86.

Dharmasutras,

Digvijaya, 88, 100.

Dramila, epithet of

Chana-

Indian

of Chan*

Indus,

of, 78.
95.

museum,

Indians,
queen
86.

95.

worship

Images,

kya, 88.
dragupta,

class

23, 111.

Dhanananda,

Durdhara,

ceremonyr

42.

77.
Dandamis,
Darsaka, king, 3, 18-5,

Death,

106.

prince,

of, 78.
22, 34, 88.

morals

river,

I ndustries, Board

in

charge

of, 57.

40, 96.

Ekbatana,

board

Elephants,
charge
Eudemos,

in

river, 98*

Jainism,

7, 8, 84.
measures

relief of, 81.

Female,

charge

of, 63.

78.

Jambudvipa,

Famine,

in

Irrigation, 61.

of, 64-5.

Erannaboas,

Board

Infantry,

guards* 4i.

for

Janapadas,
Jarasandha,
Jheium,

87, 105, 108

50.

king, 12

river, 22.

tu

INDEX

136

Pabbato=Parvataka

Maurya,
dynasty, 27 ff;
chronology of, 128.
28.
Mauryaputra,
Medicine, science of, 87.
as
sent
Megasthenes,
Greek

ambassador

soured

40

Pal

Pali

known

82,

age,

Me thora=

Math

Ministers,

61.

Mlechchhas,

the

in

ura,

slavery

mitted
per-

74, 91.

among,

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

Patli putra

literature, 98.

Parkham
76.

Panchalas, 20, 48.

Pandya, kingdom, 47.
Parishad, 51.

ff.

Metals,
Maurya

bothra

i rn

96.

Court, 89; as a
of
information,

Maurya

state, 95.

Paropanisadae, 89.
Parvataka, 38, 85,86, 107,
108, 109, 116, 117, 118,
119.

Pataliputra, 80, 86, 85, 96,

III, 112, 118; population
of 67; date

of the foundation

16-17.

of, 18, 127.

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

Pauras, 50.
Pauravyavaharika,
of
Peithon, son

Mahanandi,
Mura,

27

v.

Painting, 94.
Palace, Maurya, 40* I, 96*8
Palasini, river, 128, 125.,

the

to

q.

56.

Agenor,

84.

Hagadasaka, 6, 14, 15, 17.

Nagarjuni,hillcaves, 14,
Nanda
(I) Mahapadma
q.
28.
18,
(2)
family, 6,
v.
Nandas, nine. 19, 85.
16.
Nandivarddhana,
101, 108, 104.
Napoleon,
in
Board
Navy,
charge
of, 52.

Nepal, blankets

Orissa,20
Oxen,

races

of, 82.

n.

of, 43.

Penal

code, 66 ff.
Persepolis, 98.
Persia, 45.
Philip (1) Satrap of Alex*
ander, 84; (2) father of
Alexander

102.

Pipphalivana, 29.
Polygamy, 71.
Porus, king, 8, 22,
Pradesh

ta,

84.

68.

Pradesika, 68.
king,
Pradyota,
15 n.f 17, 18.

13, 14,

137

INDEX
Prakrit

literature, 92*3.

Prasenajit,king. 18.
19,

Prassiai"Prachi,
28, 45.
Prisoners,
certain

free

set

occasions,

20,

on

68.

Philadelphia,
king of Egypt, 10.
Punjab, 7, 8, 22, 83. 84,
Ptolemy

38, 62.
Puranas,

86.

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

Queens, of Chandragupta,
43.

Raghu, King, 36.

Rajagriha, 13.
Rajukas, 68.

fight of 48.

Rudradaman,

Great

Satrap, 87, 45, 48f 61,

128, 125.

laerifioes,
41. 42,
Stkfttala,1 19-2

1.

79.

92.

Sanaq=Chanakya,
Sandrakottos"C
gupta,

r a

1, 121, 122.

Sanghas, 47.
Sankhya, philosophy, 87*
Sanskrit
literature,86-92.
Satadhanvan,
king, 128.
Seleukos, Nikator, 88, 89,
100
121, 122.
in
Senapati=oommander
chief, 51.
Simhala, Ceylon, 31.
34, 54, 62.

Sisunaga, 17, 18.

Soldiers, as a class
Indian population, 69.
Soursenot"

Surasenas,

Spies, as a class
population, 68.
Sreshthin, head
guild, 84.
Stadium.

Roads, 85.

"

128.

Sindh,

Rakshasa, 36.
86.
Ramayana,
Rams, fight of, 43.
Rashtrapala, 48.
Rahtriya, 48.
Revenue, collect ion of, 59;
land, 60.
Rhinoceroses,

105.
Sakyas, 12,28,29
Saiisuka, king, 128.
joint
Sambhuyasamutthana,
84.
stock companies,
Samprati, king, 21, 104, n.

of

of

76.

Indian
of

d"xfS3^^

the

INDEX

138

40,

Susa,

Vedic

17.

Susunaga,

unknown

Suttee,

Kau-

to

72.

tilya,

86.

Vedangas,

96.

Suvarnasikata,

128,

river,

86.

literature,

Vehicles,

80.

Viceroys,

62.
19.

Videha,

106.

Vidudabha,

125.

Vikramaditya,

Taxila,

22,

of,

era

6.

85, 87,

62,

56,

13.

12,

kingdom,

Vatsa,

48.

Surashtras,

86.

Valmiki,

37*

Surashtra,

29.

Vtrudhaka,

88.

Vishungupta
68.

32,
93.

Maudgaliputra.

Tishya,

board

sales,

on

charge

of,

judicial,

67.

Trade,

in

Maurya

the

Vitihotras,

20.

Vriiis, 12,

18,

War
ph

a,

Off

rain,

yavana,

51.
61.

126.

ttdmyana,
Udmyi,
M,

ice,

rates,

Water

124,

47.

68.

period,
as

58.

58.

Torture,

Tush

in

in

charge
of,

board

statistics,

Vita]

Tithes

Chanakya,

87,

Tinnevelly,

king,

16,

7*dha,

3,

4,

5,

Wriiing,

65.

65.

36.

of

6,

Yogananda,

62.

defined,

14,

remarriage

Tasobhadra,

16t 17.

Ulifcin, 56,
Utanas,

18,

king,

Widows,

92.
119*21.

Yoga

Philosophy,

Zeus,

77.

87.

72.