Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c17.14

c17.14

The *Ṭīkā* brings to light two interesting facts in the life of Chandragupta. It appears that the commencement of his administration was marked by an outbreak of lawlessness in the country. To suppress the disorder, Chandragupta “sent for a former acquaintance of his, a Jaṭilian (i.e., a Jaṭila Brāhmaṇa ascetic), named Maniyatappo (=*Maunī-tapasvī*), and conferred a commission on him. ‘My friend, (said he), do thou restore order into the country, suppressing the lawless proceedings that prevail.’ He, replying ‘*sadhu*’, and accepting the commission, by his judicious measures, reduced the country to order. Chandragupta thus “conferred the blessings of peace on the country by extirpating marauders who were like unto thorns in a cultivated land.”