Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c32.s1.14

c32.s1.14

(*e*) Names are not devised by the bearers: they are given by parents. It is difficult to get rid of names, and no sensible man cares to change an awkard name, *e.g.*, *Śunahśepha*, *Piśuna*, *Fox*. As it has been repeatedly pointed out,¹ *Kautilya* was a *gotra* name coming down from generations. The forefather who bore the name *Kutila* or *Kautili* is answerable to Dr. Jolly and not Kautilya Vishnugupta. *Chāṇakya* [the name derived from the father according to Hindu literature'] is mentioned in a painted inscription in the Bijayagadh cave (Mirzapur) in Gupta script of the 4th century A.C., a photograph of which has been brought by Rai Saheb M. Ghosh, Curator, Patna Museum. It reads *Chānakya-roshah*.