Chanakya Explored in Jaina Literature

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Firodaya Prakashan

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kauțilīya-nīti which is reflected in the brahmanic literature, of course in a brief manner. From this brief sketch we come to know, 'How the popularity of the Kauțilīya Arthaśāstra decreased serially ?? At the end of this brief survey we will discuss the reasons of the decreasing popularity and how this valuable treasure of knowledge, was lost in darkness uptill its discovery in 1909 A.D.
In the Vyākaraṇa-Mahābhāsya of Patañjali it is quoted that Maurya kings were greedy of wealth and gathered ample wealth with a lot of devices to fill their treasure.
In the dramas and one-act-plays of Bhāsa, who is the oldest among the available Sanskrit dramatists, the shadows and reflections of the terms, ideas, motifs and points enumerated in the Kautilīya Arthaśāstra are found in frequent manner. Two of his dramas viz. the Pratijñā-yaugandharāyaṇa and the Avimāraka are full of the terms and devices used by Kautilya. Scholars have pointed out the parallel references from Bhāsa's Pañcarātra and Abhiseka also.
From the literature of Kālidāsa, particularly from the Raghuvamsa and the Sākuntala, it can be well-inferred that Kālidāsa might have gone through the Kautilya's Arthaśāstra thoroughly. But the famous verse of Kālidāsa which he put into the mouth of Sakuntalā, throws light on the fact that Kālidāsa does not carry full regard or honour towards Kautilya. Sakuntalā says sarcastically, ‘परातिसन्धानमधीयते यैः विद्येव ते सन्तु किलाप्तवाचः ।'
In this remark it is reflected that the Arthaśāstra was regarded at that time as a science of deceitful means and studied by cunning persons.
If we place Bāṇabhțța, famous for his “Kādambarī, after Kālidāsa, the same attitude towards Kautilya is seen. In his excla