Chanakya Explored in Jaina Literature

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Firodaya Prakashan

Page 35

25
* The Vișnu', Vāyu' and Matsya-purāṇas have majorly documented
the history of the Nanda and the Maurya dynasties while describing the legendary history of Magadha. Cāņakya and Candragupta are mentioned but not a single piece of information
is given about Cāņakya's personality. * In the dramas of Bhāsa and in the literature of Kālidāsa, some
sūtras, terms, terminologies and details in polity are mentioned here and there. The treatment given to Cāņakya and his Arthaśāstra by Bāņa and Dandin is not taht of full regard because they highlight Cāņakya's crookedness and shrewdness. The
pañcatantrakāra's reference is brief and formal. * The decreasing popularity of the Arthaśāstra due to the rise and
popularity of the smộtis, particularly the Manu and the Yājñavalkya, went to such an extent that this landmark work rested in dark
ness for many centuries. ' The Mudrārāksasa of Visakhadatta popularized the phrase 'कौटिल्य:
gabeaufa:'. Cāņakya's personality pictured in this drama creates a confused and debatable sketch of Cāņakya. The details of Cāņakya's birth and death are missing in this drama because the dramatist has chosen a particular part of Cāņakya’s life. But it is certain that he has gone through deeply the text of Arthaśāstra.
The Mudrārākşasa, the only political play of this genre, is studied and edited by many Sanskritists and Indologists. A lot of research work is done with many perspectives. So far to my knowledge, nobody has brought out the Jaina-connections of this play.
Even the eminent scholar like Dr. R.D.Karmarkar had not paid any attention to the Jaina sources. In the introduction of his edition we find the title as - ‘The Buddhist and Jaina Sources of the