Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c2: Preface
Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c2
- Language
- English
Preface
c2.1
This work represents the Sir William Meyer Lectures I was invited to deliver by the Madras University in October, 1941. The publication of the Lectures has been delayed by the conditions created by the War.
c2.2
As a teacher of Indian History, I have felt that a comprehensive work dealing with the life and times of India's first historical emperor, and a picture of the civilization of India in that early period of the 4th Century B.C., will satisfy a long-felt need. This work is meant to fill up a gap in our knowledge of Ancient India.
c2.3
The question of the extent to which the unique Sanskrit work, the *Arthaśāstra* of Kautilya, may be treated as a source of Maurya history, has been amply answered in the pages of the book. I have utilised much material found in the *Arthaśāstra*, which is not yet sufficiently known or noticed. I am indebted for its interpretation to the erudite commentary known as *Śrīmūlam*, written by the late T. Ganapati Sastri on the basis of the earlier Sanskrit commentaries by Bhaṭṭasvāmī and Mādhavayajvan, and also a Malayalam commentary discovered by him, which are of great value as preserving older traditions. The work also embodies collation and comparison of evidence from different sources, Classical Works, Sanskrit, Buddhist and Jain Texts, and the Inscriptions of Asoka.
c2.4
I have added to the work a Table of Contents to serve as an Index of Subjects, besides an Index of Technical Terms, three Appendices, and a Plate of typical Maurya Coins.
c2.5
The system of transliteration adopted in the work will be understood from the following examples: *Krishṇa*, *Lichchhavi*, *Mahāvaṁśa*.
c2.6
*Lucknow University,* *January, 1943.*
c2.7
RADHA KUMUD MOOKERJI, This page is entirely blank and contains no text to transcribe.
Linked texts (1)
- Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit