Some Historical Jaina Kings and Heros

Author(s): Kamtaprasad Jain
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

Page 30

CHANDRAGUPTA & OTHER MAURYAN EMPERORS.
"भद्र वाहु — श्रुतकेवलिनाथेषु चरमर्परमो मुनिः । चंद्रप्रकाशोज्वल चंद्र कीत्ति: श्री चंद्रगुप्तोऽर्जनि तस्य शिष्यः।।"
"Tr. Shri Bhadrabahu was the last Shruta Kevali (knower of the entire of the Tirthankar's Instruction) Chandragupta whose renown was more radiant than the Moon's was his pupil.”
--Inscription No. 40 at Shravanbelagola. Who was this Chandragupta, the great lover and server of the lotus feet of the Shrutakevali Bhadrabahu? He was none other than the first historical brave and great monarch of ancient India. Chandragupta was somehow connected with the Moriya Ksatriyas of Pippalivana and related to the Nanda kings of Magadha. While a young boy, Chandragupta incurred the displeasure of his kinsman Mahapadma Nanda, the then ruling king of Magadha and was obliged to go into exile. He went with his mother probably to the country of Moriyas and lived there in hiding. Fortune however favoured the young Ksatriya.' It happend that a Brahman named Chanakya, who was wellversed in politics and 1. Law, “The Kshatriya clans in Buddhist India," p 205; K. P. Jain Sankshipta Jain Itihas pp. 220-221.