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382
prevented him saying that the new dynasty would flourish for nine generations. Later on, the kingdom of Nanda was divided between Candagutta and Pavvaya, when the latter, along with his she also took the 'poisonous girl (visakanna). Pavvay enjoyed with her and in course of time died, and thus Candagutta got possession of both kingdoms.
But Canakya was not satisfied with this He wanted to exterminate the entire family of Nanda. One day he saw a weaver, named Naladāma, who was burning out the holes of ants (makhoda). Being que. cd, the weaver answered that his son had a bite from an ant and so he would destroy their whole species Canakya was pleased to find out such a person of resolute mind and he employed him to destroy the family of Nanda. Thus Canakya was successful in overthu owing the Nanda dynasty and anointing Candragupta on the throne of Padaliputta.35 We are told in the commentary on the Bihathalpa Bhasya that when Candragupta ascended the tone some Ksayas did rot obey his commands, because he was the son of per cock-tumor en Canakya knew this, he started incognito as a Kārpātika and by buining out the whole village to ashes, punished the offenders 30
LIFE IN ANCIENT INDIA
A Jain tradition related in the Rajavalikathe observes that Candragupta was a Jain and that, when a great famine occurred, he abdicated in favour of his son, Simhasena, and icpaned to Mysore where he died Two inscriptions on the north bank of the Kaveri near Seringapatam of about 900 A D, describe the summit of the Kalbappu Hill, 1 e Candragiri as marked by the foot-prints of Chadrabalu and Candragupta Munpati (Rice, Mysore and Coorg from the inscriptions, pp 3-4) 37 However, it should be noted that the earliest litera.y form of this tradition is found in the Brhatkathako'a (131) by Hariscne dating from about A D 931, according to which Bhadrabahu had the king Candragupta as ..s disciple
Cedaga
Cedaga belonged to the Haihaya clan and was a ruler of Vesāli. He was the most eminent among the Licchavi princes and an influential leader of eighteen confederate kings (ganaraja) of kasi and Kosala, who were his vassals. Cedaga's sister, Tisala, was the mother of Mahavira and his seven daughters are said to have been given in marriage to various kings and rulers His daughter Pabhāvati was given to Uddayana of Virbhaya, Paumavati to Dadhivahana of Campa, Migavati to
35 Uttara Ti pp 57 ff; Aa. cũ, 563 f Also of the tradition recorded in the Kathasarisägara, Vol I, Bk. II, ch V.
38 ] 2489, Pinda Bha 44 ff p 142 For other tradition regarding Chandragupta, see P.HA I., pp. 216, 295, 242n.
37 P.HA.I., p. 241 f.
39 According to the Brhatkashāko sa (55-165), Keka was Cedaga's father and Yasomati his mother.
