Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c18.2

c18.2

The chief source of the Jaina traditions regarding Chāṇakya and Chandragupta is the work known as *Sthavirāvalī-charita* or *Pariśishṭaparvan* written by Hemachandra as an Appendix to the larger work of the same author known as *Trishashṭi-Śalākāpurushacharita* dealing with the lives of 63 great personages, divine or human, who, as believed by the Jainas, have controlled the history of the world. These comprise the 24 *Tīrthakaras* or *Prophets*, 12 *Chakravartins* or universal emperors, 9 *Vāsudevas*, 9 *Baladevas*, and 9 *Prativāsudevas*. The work has been edited by Jacobi with a summary of its contents.