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जैनशासन स्तम्भ था । उसके पुत्र अजातशत्र-फुणिक जैनधर्म के संरक्षक प्रतापी नरेश थे। कलिग, उत्तर भारत तथा पश्चिमोत्तर सीमाप्रांतपर जैन नरेश नंदवर्धनका शासन था। ग्रीकनरेग सिकंदर के रोनापति सिल्यु कसको जैन मम्राट चंद्रगुप्तने ही पराजित कर भारतीय सम्राज्यको सीमाको अफगानिस्तान पर्यंत विस्तारित किया था । स्मिथ महाशयने लिखा है कि . "मैं अब इस बातको स्वीकार करता हूँ कि संभवतः यह परम्परा मूलमे यथार्थ है कि चंद्रगुप्त ने वास्तवमें साम्राज्यका परित्याग कर जैन मुनिका पद अंगीकार किया था | प्रतापी चंद्रगुप्तको भाधुनिक अन्देषणकार जैन प्रमाणित करने लगे हैं । डा. काशीप्रसाद जायसवाल जैसे विचारक विद्वान लिखते हैं-पाँचदी पटीने यंग ए पाक जैन शिलालेख यह प्रमाणित करते हैं कि चंद्रगुप्त जन सम्राट् था, जिसने मुनिराजका पद अंगीकार किया था। मेरे अध्ययनने जनशास्त्रों की ऐतिहासिक जातको स्वी
. The literary and legendary traditions of the Jains about Sre nika are so varied and so well recorded that they bear eloquent wittesses to the high respect with which the Jains held one of their greatesc loyal patrons, whose historicity is unfortunately past all doubts.
-Jainism in North India, p. 116. Tradition furis that he built many shrines on the summit of Parashatha hill in Bihar.-J. R. A. S. 1824. . २. Cambridge His. of India p. 161..
३. J. 3. &O. Research Soc. Vol. 4.P.463. %. I am now disposed to believe that the tradition is probably
true in its main uutline and that Chandragupta really abdicated and became Jain ascetic.
-V. Simith-His. of India p. 146, ५. The Jain books (5th cell. A D) and later Jain inscriptions
claim Chandragupta as a Jaiti Iinperial asetic. My studies have compclled me to respect the historical data of Jain writings and see 110 reason why we shuuld not accept the Jain claim that Chandragupta at the end of his reign accepted Jainism and Xxlicated and died as Jain ascetic. I am not the first to accept the view Mr. Rice, who has studied the Jain inscriptions of Sravanbelgola thoroughly, gave verdict in favour of it and Mr. V. Smith has also leaned towards it ultimately.
-J. B.O.R.S. Vol. VIII,
