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"In kauṭiliyā (or cāṇakyī ) script, the letter kṣa () is added at the end of each word. Short and long vowels are mutually exchanged. Anusvāras and visargas take place of each other. The tradition of caṇakyī and mūladevi script is very old and people used them for a long time.” (भारतीय संस्कृति में जैनधर्म का योगदान, p.286)
In the Ardhamāgadhī text Samavāyānga, a list of eighteen scripts is given but cāṇakyī and mūladevī scripts are not mentioned. It is noteworthy that in the narrative literature of the Jainas, Mūladeva is a famous personality like Caṇakya.
Thus, the rarest reference of caṇakyi-script preserved by Maladhārī Hemacandra is really valuable.
[37] The Upadeśamālā-ṭīkā of Ratnaprabhasūri is a didactic text full of narratives written in the 12th century A.D. The dvaragāthās are written by Dharmadāsagaṇi and the commentary is written by Ratnaprabhasūri. We find two references of Cāṇakya in this text. The first one is a passing reference and the second one is the full lifeaccount of Caṇakya given in a very different context with the author's remarks inbetween.
(i) Upadeśamālā-ṭīkā p.347 line 3:
121
अहो महिला पगईए चेव चाणक्कवंकभावं विसेसेइ ।
While describing the natural deceitful attitude of womanfolk, Ratnaprabha comments, 'Oh a woman instinctivly surpasses the crookedness of Caṇakya very easily.'
The author's sweeping remark throws light on his attitude towards womankind in general and towards Cāṇakya in particular. (ii) Upadeśamālā-ṭīkā Dvāragāthā 150, pp.354-363
Context of the Dvaragāthā :
In the 149th dvāragāthā, Dharmadāsagaṇi discusses the reliability of one's own son through the example of Śrenika and Konika.
