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Mudrārākṣasa, the unique political Sanskrit drama provides some details of the personalities of Caṇakya, Candragupta and their relationship. Of course, it is noteworthy that Viśākhadatta had gone through the minute details of the Arthaśāstra while writing his play. The Mudrārāksasa popularized the phrase 'कौटिल्य: कुटिलमति:', but otherwise the playwright prefers the name Cāṇakya, everywhere in the play. The incidents in Mudrārākṣasa carry a limited time-span. We cannot expect full life-story of Caṇakya and Candragupta in the Mudrārākṣasa. If the Mudrārākṣasa is read in the light of the Jaina background and environment, it will reveal many more facts which are otherwise unexplained.
Exactly opposite is the case of the Jaina and particularly of the Svetambara literature. Caṇakya's mother, father, birth-place, some incidents in his childhood, the prophesy of the child, his marriage, his wife, his journey to Pataliputra for getting wealth in charity, his insult by Nanda, search of a proper person, meeting of Candragupta, his search of golden mines, association with the king Parvataka (may be Sellucus-Sailaukas), seeking the kingdom, Parvataka's death by deceit, well-being of the state, enriching the royal treasury, his strict rules and orders, Candragupta's death, insult by Bindusāra, his decision of voluntary death, his retirement in the gokula-grāma, his meditation, the revenge of Subandhu by putting fire on Caṇakya's residence, the calm and peaceful acceptance of death by Caṇakya and the death of Subandhu caused by Cāṇakya - these are some of the selected details of the Caṇakyanarratives documented by the Śvetāmbaras and presented in a consolidated form in the Parisiṣṭa-parva by Hemacandra.
