Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c4.39

c4.39

**Evidence of '*Mudrārākshasa*': the terms '*Vṛishala*' and '*Kula-hīna*.'** It is generally supposed that the true source of the story is the *Mudrārākshasa*, of which the relevant passages may be now critically examined. It would appear that the whole story rests upon the meaning of the two words, *Vrishala*, and *Kula-hīna*, applied in the drama to Chandragupta. The words should not be torn from their contexts and interpreted independently. The term *Vrishala* has been applied to Chandragupta at several places in the drama and is taken in its ordinary sense to mean 'the son of a Śūdra.' It is, however, to be noted that the term may bear another meaning as one of compliment instead of opprobrium. A passage in the drama itself [III. 18] uses the term *Vrishala* as a term of honour to mean 'one who is a *vrisha* among kings, the best of kings.' In several other places, the term is used as one of endearment by Chāṇakya for his favourite pupil and almost as his personal nickname. It is left only to the enemies of Chandragupta to use it as a term of abuse against him [VI. 6], and that also by way of a pun on what is taken to be his nickname. Thus the derogatory meaning of the term *Vrishala* is not at all established in the drama. A similar meaning is sought to be found in the other term *Kula-hīna* as applied to Chandragupta [II. 17] and pointing undoubtedly to his 'inferior lineage.' But the context in which the term is used only shows that it should mean *lowly*, and not *low* or degraded lineage, and does not cast any slur on it. It practically indicates what Justin has stated, viz., 'that he was born in humble life.' It really means that Chandragupta was born of a *hīna* or 'humble', *kula* or 'family,' as contrasted with the Nandas described as '*prathita-kulajāḥ*,' 'of illustrious lineage,' or of 'high birth' [*uchchairavijanam* (VI. 6)]. The point emphasised against Chandragupta by his enemies in the drama is that he is a mere upstart, of a family unknown to name and fame (*aprathita-kula*), having no trace of any aristocratic or royal blood in him, and, as such, utterly unworthy of the throne which was adorned by the Nandas of noble lineage. This is undoing the *Purāṇas* with vengeance. While the *Purāṇas* represent the Nandas as Śūdra kings of odious origin, the tables are completely turned by the *Mudrārākshasa* which gives to the Nandas a proud pedigree and reserves to Chandragupta all the opprobrium attaching to a mere commoner, and an upstart of unknown family of indifferent status. But dramatic partisanship and prejudice cannot be taken as sober history, nor should a drama separated by an interval of about eight centuries from the time of Chandragupta prevail against the *Purāṇas* as a historical source.