Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c15.s2.46

c15.s2.46

As to the second statement we should remember that tradition is not unanimous in representing the Mauryas as of *Śūdra* extraction. Certain *Purāṇic* texts assert no doubt, that after Mahāpadma there will be kings of *Śūdra* origin.³ But this statement cannot be taken to mean that all the post-Mahāpadman kings were *Śūdras*, as in that case the Śuṅgas and the Kāṇvas also will have to be classed as *Śūdras*.⁴ The *Mudrārākshasa*, the evidence of which is cited to prove that Chandragupta was a *Śūdra*,⁵ is a late work, and its evidence is contradicted by earlier authorities. As already pointed out above¹ the *Mahāparinibbāna Sutta* represents the Moriyas (Mauryas) as belonging to the Kshatriya caste. The *Mahāvaṁsa*² refers to the Moriyas as a noble (*kshatriya*) clan and represents Chandragupta as a scion of this clan. In the *Divyāvadāna*³ Bindusāra, son of Chandragupta, said to a girl, "*Tvaṁ Nāpinī ahaṁ Rāja Kshatriyo Mūrdhābhishiktaḥ kathaṁ mayā sārdhaṁ samāgamo bhavishyati?*" Thou art a barber girl, I am a consecrated kshatriya (king). How can I unite myself with thee?'' In the same work⁴ Aśoka says to one of his queens (Tishyarakshitā), "*Devi ahaṁ Kshatriyaḥ kathaṁ palāṇḍuṁ paribhakshayāmi?*" 'Queen, I am a *kshatriya*, how can I take onion?' In a Mysore inscription Chandragupta is described as "an abode of the usages of eminent kshatriyas.''⁵ The *Kauṭilīya's* preference of an "*abhijāta*" king seems also to suggest that the sovereign of the reputed author was born of a noble family.⁶