Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c3.10

c3.10

who will inaugurate Chandra Gupta as king."¹ There are also similar references in the *Matsya*, *Vâyu* and *Brahmâṇḍa Purâṇas* to Kauṭilya’s bestowal of the sovereignty on Chandra Gupta.² In his *Sthavirâvalîcharita*, or "Lives of Jaina Patriarchs," Hemachandra gives an account of Châṇakya which, though legendary, agrees with the Purâṇas in making him the extinguisher of Nanda supremacy and supporter of Chandra Gupta. In the *Nandisûtra*, again, which is a Jaina religious work in Prâkrit language, Châṇakya is extolled for the signal success which he achieved as Finance Minister of Chandra Gupta. In the Jaina work *Rishi-maṇḍalaprakaraṇavṛitti* there is a reference to the alliance of Châṇakya with Chandra Gupta, who seized the kingdom by slaying Nanda. Among the Buddhist works recording the same fact may be mentioned Buddhaghosha’s Commentary, *Samantapâsâdikâ*, on the *Vinaya Piṭaka*, as well as the *Mahâvaṃsaṭîkâ* of Mahâ- namasthavira. *Kamandaka* [*Nitisara*] also refers to the overthrow of the Nanda dynasty and the inauguration of Chandra Gupta in a very forcible passage.¹ The same fact, as is well known, has supplied the basis of the drama *Mudrarakshasa*. Finally, we may refer to the evidence of the *Arthasastra* itself, as set forth in one of its concluding verses, where it is stated that the *Arthasastra* is composed by "him who with angry determination rescued (the Brahmana's) learning and (the Kshatriya's) art, as also the mother-country, from the clutches of the Nanda kings."²