Chanakya Explored in Jaina Literature

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Firodaya Prakashan

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was killing ants by deeply digging the ground because the ants had done harm to Naladāma. By observing this act of Naladāma, Cāṇakya thought that, he was a proper person for finding out and killing the harmful persons of the Nandas. The Avaśyaka-cūrṇi notes down the account briefly, in the following manner -
तिदंडी बाहिरियाए णलदामं मुइंगमारगं दठ्ठे आगतो, रण्णा सद्दावितो, दिण्णं आरक्खं, वीसत्था कता, भत्तदाणे सकुडुंबा मारिया । (AvCū. (II) p.565)
(e) Cāṇakya : A kingmaker or a shadow-king?
When we think of the relation between Caṇakya and Candragupta with the help of the Mudrārākṣasa, it is quite clear that Caṇakya is really dominating minister. His supremacy is crystalclear. Cāṇakya says that Candragupta's kingdom is 'sacivāyatta' i.e. dependent upon ministers." The preceptor-disciple relationship between them is mentioned.22 Candragupta expresses his inability to transgress Caṇakya's words. 23 Not only in the third act dedicated to pseudo-conflict but at other places also the supremacy of Caṇakya is quite evident. The strict orders of Caṇakya are mentioned in the 6th act.24 In the 7th act which is the climax of the drama, the dramatist gives a specific art-direction to the character of Candragupta - viz. राजा चाणक्यमुखमवलोकयति ie the king looks at the face of Cānakya.
The truth of Caṇakya's supremacy is openly told in the Avaśyaka-cūrṇi. The astrologer says to Caṇakya's father that, 'He will be a shadow-king'. 25 Many a times Cāṇakya stops Candragupta by merely raising his eyebrows.26 Cāṇakya openly says in front of a group of merchants that, 'The king is under my thumb' ( a). The preceptor-disciple relationship between Cāṇakya and Candragupta is also noted down in the AvCū. Hemacandra uses the