View source for Chanakya

{{Short description|Ancient Indian polymath (375–283 BCE)}}
{{About}}

{{Use Indian English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = [[Acharya]]
| name               = Chanakya
| image              = Chanakya artistic depiction.jpg
| caption            = Chanakya as depicted on the cover of [[R. Shamasastry]]'s 1915 translation of ''[[Arthashastra]]''
| birth_place        = 375 BCE, Chanaka village in Golla region, [[South India]] (Jain legends);{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=21}}<br />or in [[Takshashila]] (Buddhist legends){{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=12}}
| death_place        = 283 BCE, [[Pataliputra]], [[Maurya Empire]]
| occupation         = [[Teacher]], [[philosopher]], [[economist]], [[jurist]], advisor of [[Chandragupta Maurya]]
| known_for          = Prominent role in the foundation of the [[Maurya Empire]]<br/>''[[Arthashastra]]''<br/>''[[Chanakyaniti]]''
| office             = [[Amatya]] of [[Mauryan Empire]]
| predecessor        = Position established
}}
'''Chanakya''' ([[Sanskrit]]: चाणक्य; [[IAST]]: ''{{IAST|Cāṇakya}}'', {{pronunciation|Chanakya.ogg}}; 375–283 BCE) was an ancient Indian [[polymath]] who was active as a [[teacher]], [[author]], strategist, [[philosopher]], [[economist]], [[jurist]], and royal advisor. He is traditionally identified as '''Kauṭilya''' or '''Vishnugupta''', who authored the ancient Indian political treatise, the ''[[Arthashastra]]'',<ref name="Mabbett">{{cite journal |last1=Mabbett |first1=I. W. |title=The Date of the Arthaśāstra |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |volume=84 |issue=2 |pages=162–169 |issn=0003-0279 |doi=10.2307/597102 |jstor=597102 |year=1964 |publisher=American Oriental Society }}</ref> a text dated to roughly between the fourth century BCE and the third century CE.<ref>{{cite book|title=Transaction and Hierarchy|date = 9 August 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AOsrDwAAQBAJ|page=56|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1351393966}}</ref> As such, he is considered the pioneer of the field of [[political science]] and economics in India, and his work is thought of as an important precursor to [[classical economics]].<ref>L. K. Jha, K. N. Jha (1998). "Chanakya: the pioneer economist of the world", ''International Journal of Social Economics'' '''25''' (2–4), p. 267–282.</ref><ref name="bss.sfsu.edu">Waldauer, C., Zahka, W.J. and Pal, S. 1996. [https://ideas.repec.org/a/dse/indecr/v35y1996i1p101-108.html Kauṭilya's Arthashastra: A neglected precursor to classical economics]. ''Indian Economic Review'', Vol. XXXI, No. 1, pp. 101–108.</ref><ref>Tisdell, C. 2003. [https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:84337 A Western perspective of Kauṭilya's Arthashastra: does it provide a basis for economic science?] ''Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Paper No. 18''. Brisbane: School of Economics, The University of Queensland.</ref><ref>Sihag, B.S. 2007. Kauṭilya on institutions, governance, knowledge, ethics and prosperity. ''Humanomics'' 23 (1): 5–28.</ref> His works were lost near the end of the [[Gupta Empire]] in the sixth century CE and not rediscovered until the early 20th century.
Around 321 BCE, Chanakya assisted the first Mauryan emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]] in his rise to power and is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the [[Maurya Empire]]. Chanakya served as the chief advisor to both emperors Chandragupta and his son [[Bindusara]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Society|first=National Geographic|date=2020-08-20|title=Mauryan Empire|url=https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/mauryan-empire|access-date=2022-01-20|website=National Geographic Society|language=en}}</ref>

== Background ==

=== Sources of information ===

There is little documented historical information about Chanakya: most of what is known about him comes from semi-legendary accounts. [[Thomas Trautmann]] identifies four distinct accounts of the ancient Chanakya-Chandragupta ''katha'' (legend):<ref name="Namita2008">{{cite book |author=Namita Sanjay Sugandhi |title=Between the Patterns of History: Rethinking Mauryan Imperial Interaction in the Southern Deccan |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8bdULPF4gNYC&pg=PA88 |access-date=2012-06-06 |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-549-74441-2 |pages=88–89}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Version of the legend
! Example texts
|-
| Buddhist version
| ''[[Mahavamsa]]'' and its commentary ''Vamsatthappakasini'' (Pali language)
|-
| Jain version
| ''[[Parishishtaparvan]]'' by [[Hemachandra]]
|-
| Kashmiri version
| ''[[Kathasaritsagara]]'' by Somadeva, ''Brihat-Katha-Manjari'' by Ksemendra
|-
| [[Vishakhadatta]]'s version
| ''[[Mudrarakshasa]]'', a Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta
|}

In all the four versions, Chanakya feels insulted by the Nanda king, and vows to destroy him. After dethroning the Nanda, he installs Chandragupta as the new king.

=== Buddhist version ===
:The legend of Chanakya and Chandragupta is detailed in the Pali-language Buddhist chronicles of [[Sri Lanka]]. It is not mentioned in ''[[Dipavamsa]]'', the oldest of these chronicles.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=11}} The earliest Buddhist source to mention the legend is ''[[Mahavamsa]]'', which is generally dated between fifth and sixth centuries CE. ''Vamsatthappakasini'' (also known as ''Mahvamsa Tika''), a commentary on ''Mahavamsa,'' provides some more details about the legend. Its author is unknown, and it is dated variously from sixth century CE to 13th century CE.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=16}} Some other texts provide additional details about the legend; for example, the ''[[Bodhi Vamsa|Maha-Bodhi-Vamsa]]'' and the ''[[Atthakatha]]'' give the names of the nine Nanda kings said to have preceded Chandragupta.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=11}}{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|pp=18}}

=== Jain version ===
: The Chandragupta-Chanakya legend is mentioned in several commentaries of the [[Shvetambara]] canon. The most well-known version of the Jain legend is contained in the ''Sthaviravali-Charita'' or ''Parishishta-Parvan'', written by the 12th-century writer [[Hemachandra]].{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=21}} Hemachandra's account is based on the [[Prakrit]] ''kathanaka'' literature (legends and anecdotes) composed between the late first century CE and mid-8th century CE. These legends are contained in the commentaries (''churni''s and ''tika''s) on canonical texts such as ''[[Uttaradhyayana]]'' and ''Avashyaka Niryukti''.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=29}} 
:[[Thomas Trautmann]] believes that the Jain version is older and more consistent than the Buddhist version of the legend.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=29}}

=== Kashmiri version ===
: ''Brihatkatha-Manjari'' by [[Kshemendra]] and ''[[Kathasaritsagara]]'' by Somadeva are two 11th-century [[Kashmir]]i Sanskrit collections of legends. Both are based on a now-lost Prakrit-language ''Brihatkatha-Sarit-Sagara'', which was based on the now-lost [[Paishachi]]-language ''[[Brihatkatha]]'' by ''[[Gunadhya]]''. The Chanakya-Chandragupta legend in these collections features another character, named Shakatala (IAST: Śakaṭāla).{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=31–33}}

=== Mudrarakshasa version ===
: ''[[Mudrarakshasa]]'' ("The [[signet ring]] of [[Rakshasa (amatya)|Rakshasa]]") is a Sanskrit play by [[Vishakhadatta]]. Its date is uncertain, but it mentions the [[Huna people|Huna]], who invaded northern India during the [[Gupta Empire|Gupta period]]. Therefore, it could not have been composed before the Gupta era.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|pp=41–43}} It is dated variously from the late fourth century{{sfn|Varadpande|2005|p=223}} to the eighth century.{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2016|p=30}} The ''Mudrarakshasa'' legend contains narratives not found in other versions of the Chanakya-Chandragupta legend. Because of this difference, Trautmann suggests that most of it is fictional or legendary, without any historical basis.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=43}}

=== Identification with Kauṭilya or Vishnugupta ===
{{see also|Arthashastra#Authorship}}

The ancient ''[[Arthashastra]]'' has been traditionally attributed to Chanakya by a number of scholars. The ''Arthashastra'' identifies its author as Kauṭilya, a [[gotra]] or clan name, except for one verse that refers to him by the personal name of Vishnugupta.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=5|ps=:&nbsp;"the very last verse of the work... is the unique instance of the personal name Vishnugupta rather than the ''gotra'' name Kautilya in the ''Arthashastra''."}} Kauṭilya is presumably the name of the author's [[gotra]] (clan).{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=10|ps=: &nbsp;"while in his character as author of an ''Arthashastra'' he is generally referred to by his ''[[gotra]]'' name, Kautilya."}} One of the earliest [[Sanskrit literature]]s to identify Chanakya with Vishnugupta explicitly was the ''[[Panchatantra]]''.<ref>Mabbett 1964: "References to the work in other Sanskrit literature attribute it variously to Vishnugupta, Chanakya and Kautilya. The same individual is meant in each case. The Panchatantra explicitly identifies Chanakya with Vishnugupta."</ref>{{quote needed|date=April 2019}}<!--"The Panchatantra" isn't a sufficient reference. Cite an edition. -->

K. C. Ojha proposes that the traditional identification of Vishnugupta with Kauṭilya was caused by a confusion of the text's editor and its originator. He suggests that Vishnugupta was a redactor of the original work of Kauṭilya.<ref name="Mabbett"/> [[Thomas Burrow]] suggests that Chanakya and Kauṭilya may have been two different people.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=67|ps=:&nbsp;"T. Burrow ("Cāṇakya and Kauṭalya", ''Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute 48–49'', 1968, pp. 17 ff.) has now shown that Cāṇakya is also a ''[[gotra]]'' name, which in conjunction with other evidence makes it clear that we are dealing with two distinct persons, the minister Cāṇakya of legend and Kauṭilya the compiler of the ''Arthashastra''. Furthermore, this throws the balance of evidence in favor of the view that the second name was originally spelt ''Kauṭalya'', and that after the compiler of the ''Arth'' came to be identified with the Mauryan minister, it was altered to Kauṭilya (as it appears in Āryaśūra, Viśākhadatta and Bāna) for the sake of the pun. We must then assume that the later spelling subsequently replaced the earlier in the ''[[gotra]]'' lists and elsewhere.'"}}[[File:Nanda Empire, c.325 BCE.png|thumb|right|Dhana Nanda's empire, circa 323 BCE]]

The Gudnapur Pillar Inscription of Kadamba king Ravivarman (c. 465–500 CE) records a royal grant and praises the king’s qualities. The inscription contains a notable line stating that Ravivarman was “well-versed in the Nītiśāstra of Vishnugupta”. Vishnugupta is the traditional name of Chanakya/Kautilya, the Mauryan-era advisor and author of the Arthaśāstra.<ref name="KD"/> The inscription therefore shows that by the 5th century CE, Chanakya’s Nīti teachings were known, transmitted, and held in high prestige in the Kadamba court. The text also demonstrates that the Kadambas viewed mastery of Chanakya’s political science as an important royal virtue.<ref name="KD">{{cite book |last=Cecil |first=Elizabeth A. |author2=Gomes, Mekhola |title=Kāma at the Kadamba Court: The Guḍnāpur Pillar Inscription of Ravivarman as a Text-Monument |publisher=Brill |year=2021 |url=https://www.academia.edu/49042602/K%C4%81ma_at_the_Kadamba_Court_The_Gu%E1%B8%8Dn%C4%81pur_Pillar_Inscription_of_Ravivarman_as_a_Text_Monument |language=en}}</ref>  

At Sanchi Stupa No. 2, a Brāhmī inscription records a donation made by a monk named Chanakya. The inscription appears on the railing and belongs to the early Mauryan–Shunga period (c. 3rd-2nd century BCE).
{{Quotation
|style=background:#f8fbff; border-left:5px solid #3b82f6; padding:1em; font-style:normal;
|quote=
'''Brahmi script''': 𑀅𑀭𑀳𑀓𑁆𑀲 𑀪𑀺𑀙𑁆𑀦𑀼𑀲𑁆 𑀘𑀸𑀦𑀓𑀸𑀬 𑀤𑀸𑀦𑀫𑁆<br>
'''Transliteration (IAST)''': Arahakasa bhikhunō Chanakāya dānam<br>
'''Translation (Cunningham)''': “Gift of the holy Monk Chanakya.”
}}
The inscription follows the common early Buddhist donative formula, identifying (1) the religious status of the donor (arahaka = “venerable”; bhikhuno = “of the monk”), (2) the personal name “Chanakya,” and (3) the nature of the contribution (dānam = “gift”). Alexander Cunningham documented the inscription during his survey of Sanchi, noting that it was part of the extensive donations made by monks, nuns, guilds, and lay followers associated with the early monastic establishment.<ref name="CBB>{{cite book |last=Cunningham |first=Alexander |title=The Bhilsa Topes: Or, Buddhist Monuments of Central India |publisher=Smith, Elder & Co. |year=1854 |url=https://archive.org/details/bhilsatopesorbud00cunn/page/283 |page=283 |language=en}}</ref>
== Jain version ==
According to the Jain account, Chanakya was born to two lay Jains (''[[shravaka]]'') named Chanin and Chaneshvari. His birthplace was the Chanaka village in Golla ''[[vishaya]]'' (region).{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=21}} The identity of "Golla" is not certain, but Hemachandra states that Chanakya was a [[Dravidian people|Dramila]], implying that he was a native of [[South India]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta Sastri|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YoAwor58utYC&pg=PA148|title=Age of the Nandas and Mauryas|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|year=1988|isbn=978-81-208-0466-1|page=148}}</ref>

Chanakya was born with a full set of teeth. According to the monks, this was a sign that he would become a king in the future. Chanin did not want his son to become haughty, so he broke Chanakya's teeth. The monks prophesied that the baby would go on to become a [[power behind the throne]].{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=21}} Chanakya grew up to be a learned ''shravaka'', and married a Brahmin woman. Her relatives mocked her for being married to a poor man. This motivated Chanakya to visit [[Pataliputra]], and seek donations from the king Nanda, who was famous for his generosity towards Brahmins. While waiting for the king at the royal court, Chanakya sat on the king's throne. A ''dasi'' (servant girl) courteously offered Chanakya the next seat, but Chanakya kept his [[kamandal]] (water pot) on it, while remaining seated on the throne. The servant offered him a choice of four more seats, but each time, he kept his various items on the seats, refusing to budge from the throne. Finally, the annoyed servant kicked him off the throne. Enraged, Chanakya vowed to uproot Nanda and his entire establishment, like "a great wind uproots a tree".{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=22}}

Chanakya knew that he was prophesied to become a power behind the throne. So, he started searching for a person worthy of being a king. While wandering, he did a favour for the pregnant daughter of a village chief, on the condition that her child would belong to him. Chandragupta was born to this lady. When Chandragupta grew up, Chanakya came to his village and saw him playing "king" among a group of boys. To test him, Chanakya asked him for a donation. The boy told Chanakya to take the cows nearby, declaring that nobody would disobey his order. This display of power convinced Chanakya that Chandragupta was the one worthy of being a king.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=21}}

Chanakya took Chandragupta to conquer Pataliputra, the capital of Nanda. He assembled an army using the wealth he had acquired through [[alchemy]] (''dhatuvada-visaradan''). The army suffered a severe defeat, forcing Chanakya and Chandragupta to flee the battlefield. They reached a lake while being pursued by an enemy officer. Chanakya asked Chandragupta to jump into the lake, and disguised himself as a meditating ascetic. When the enemy soldier reached the lake, he asked the 'ascetic' if he had seen Chandragupta. Chanakya pointed at the lake. As the soldier removed his armour to jump into the lake, Chanakya took his sword and killed him. When Chandragupta came out of the water, Chanakya asked him, "What went through your mind, when I disclosed your location to the enemy?" Chandragupta replied that he trusted his master to make the best decision. This convinced Chanakya that Chandragupta would remain under his influence even after becoming the king. On another occasion, Chanakya similarly escaped the enemy by chasing away a washerman, and disguising himself as one. Once, he cut open the belly of a Brahmin who had just eaten food, and took out the food to feed a hungry Chandragupta.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=23}}

One day, Chanakya and Chandragupta overheard a woman scolding her son. The child had burnt his finger by putting it in the middle of a bowl of hot gruel. The woman told her son that by not starting from the cooler edges, he was being foolish like Chanakya, who attacked the capital before conquering the bordering regions. Chanakya realized his mistake, and made a new plan to defeat Nanda. He formed an alliance with Parvataka, the king of a mountain kingdom called Himavatkuta, offering him half of Nanda's kingdom.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=23}}

After securing Parvataka's help, Chanakya and Chandragupta started besieging the towns other than Pataliputra. One particular town offered a strong resistance. Chanakya entered this town disguised as a [[Shaivite]] mendicant, and declared that the siege would end if the idols of the [[saptamatrika|seven mothers]] were removed from the town's temple. As soon as the superstitious defenders removed the idols from the temple, Chanakya ordered his army to end the siege. When the defenders started celebrating their victory, Chanakya's army launched a surprise attack and captured the town.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=23}}

Gradually, Chanakya and Chandragupta subdued all the regions outside the capital. Finally, they captured Pataliputra and Chandragupta became the king. They allowed the king Nanda to go into exile, with all the goods he could take on a cart. As Nanda and his family were leaving the city on a cart, his daughter saw Chandragupta, and fell in love with the new king. She chose him as her husband by [[svayamvara]] tradition. As she was getting off the cart, 9 spokes of the cart's wheel broke. Interpreting this as an omen, Chanakya declared that Chandragupta's dynasty would last for 9 generations.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=23}}

Meanwhile, Parvataka fell in love with one of Nanda's [[visha kanya]]s (poison girl). Chanakya approved the marriage, and Parvataka collapsed when he touched the girl during the wedding. Chanakya asked Chandragupta not to call a physician. Thus, Parvataka died and Chandragupta became the sole ruler of Nanda's territories.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=24}}

Chanakya then started consolidating the power by eliminating Nanda's loyalists, who had been harassing people in various parts of the kingdom. Chanakya learned about a weaver who would burn any part of his house infested with cockroaches. Chanakya assigned the responsibility of crushing the rebels to this weaver. Soon, the kingdom was free of insurgents. Chanakya also burned a village that had refused him food in the past. He filled the royal treasury by inviting rich merchants to his home, getting them drunk and gambling with a [[loaded dice]].{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=24}}

Once, the kingdom suffered a 12-year long famine. Two young Jain monks started eating from the king's plate, after making themselves invisible with a magic ointment. Chanakya sensed their presence by covering the palace floor with a powder, and tracing their footprints. At the next meal, he caught them by filling the dining room with thick smoke, which caused the monks' eyes to water, washing off the ointment. Chanakya complained about the young monks' behavior to the head monk Acharya Susthita. The Acharya blamed people for not being charitable towards monks, so Chanakya started giving generous alms to the monks.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=24}}

Meanwhile, Chandragupta had been patronizing the non-Jain monks. Chanakya decided to prove to him that these men were not worthy of his patronage. He covered the floor of the palace area near the women's rooms with powder and left the non-Jain monks there. Their footprints showed that they had sneaked up to the windows of the women's rooms to peep inside. The Jain monks, who were assessed using the same method, stayed away from the women's rooms. After seeing this, Chandragupta appointed the Jain monks as his spiritual counsellors.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=25}}

Chanakya used to mix small doses of poison in Chandragupta's food to make him immune to poisoning attempts. The king, unaware of this, once shared his food with Queen [[Durdhara]]. Chanakya entered the room at the instant she died. He cut open the dead queen's belly and took out the baby. The baby, who had been touched by a drop ("''bindu''") of the poison, was named Bindusara.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=25}}

After Chandragupta abdicated the throne to become a Jain monk, Chanakya anointed Bindusara as the new king.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=25}} Chanakya asked Bindusara to appoint a man named Subandhu as one of his ministers. However, Subandhu wanted to become a higher minister and grew jealous of Chanakya. So, he told Bindusara that Chanakya was responsible for the death of his mother. Bindusara confirmed the allegations with the nurses, who told him that Chanakya had cut open the belly of his mother. Bindusara became enraged, and started hating Chanakya. As a result, Chanakya, who had grown very old by this time, retired and decided to [[sallekhana|starve himself to death]]. Meanwhile, Bindusara learned the detailed circumstances of his birth, and implored Chanakya to resume his ministerial duties. After failing to pacify Chanakya, the emperor ordered Subandhu to convince Chanakya to give up his suicide plan. Subandhu, while pretending to appease Chanakya, burned him to death. Subandhu then took possession of Chanakya's home. Chanakya had anticipated this, and before retiring, he had set up a cursed trap for Subandhu. He had left behind a chest with a hundred locks. Subandhu broke the locks, hoping to find precious jewels. He found a sweet-smelling perfume and immediately inhaled it. But then his eyes fell on a [[birch bark manuscript|birch bark note]] with a curse written on it. The note declared that anybody who smelled this perfume will have to either become a monk or face death. Subandhu tested the perfume on another man, and then fed him luxurious food (something that the monks abstain from). The man died, and then Subandhu was forced to become a monk to avoid death.<ref name="Rosalind_1993">{{cite book|author=Motilal Banarsidass|title=The Clever Adulteress and Other Stories: A Treasury of Jaina Literature|year=1993|isbn=978-8120811508|editor=Phyllis Granoff|editor-link=Phyllis Granoff|pages=204–206|translator=Rosalind Lefeber|chapter=The Minister Cāṇakya, from the Pariśiṣtaparvan of Hemacandra|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Po9tUNX0SYAC&pg=PA204}}</ref><ref name="HJ_1891">{{cite book|author=Hemachandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iSFCAQAAMAAJ|title=Sthavir̂aval̂i charita, or, Pariśishtaparvan|publisher=Asiatic Society|year=1891|location=Calcutta|pages=67–68|translator=[[Hermann Jacobi]]}}</ref>

According to another Jain text – the ''Rajavali-Katha'' – Chanakya accompanied Chandragupta to forest for [[sannyasa|retirement]], once Bindusara became the king.{{sfn|Rice|1889|p=9}}

== Buddhist version ==
According to the Buddhist legend, the [[Nanda dynasty|Nanda kings]] who preceded Chandragupta were robbers-turned-rulers.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=11}} Chanakya ([[IAST]]: Cāṇakka in ''Mahavamsa'') was a [[Brahmin]] from Takkāsila ([[Takshashila]]). He was well-versed in three [[Vedas]] and politics. He was born with canine teeth, which were believed to be a mark of royalty. His mother feared that he would neglect her after becoming a king.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=12}} To pacify her, Chanakya broke his teeth.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=13}}

Chanakya had an [[Unattractiveness|ugly appearance]], accentuated by his broken teeth and crooked feet. One day, the king [[Dhana Nanda]] organized an alms-giving ceremony for Brahmins. Chanakya went to Pupphapura ([[Pushpapura]]) to attend this ceremony. Disgusted by his appearance, the king ordered him to be thrown out of the assembly. Chanakya broke his [[sacred thread]] in anger, and cursed the king. The king ordered his arrest, but Chanakya escaped in the disguise of an [[Ājīvika]]. He befriended Dhananada's son Pabbata, and instigated him to seize the throne. With help of a [[signet ring]] given by the prince, Chanakya fled the palace through a secret door.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=13}}

Chanakya escaped to the [[Vindhya Range|Vinjha]] forest. There, he made 800 million gold coins (''[[Karshapana|kahapana]]''s), using a secret technique that allowed him to turn 1 coin into 8 coins. After hiding this money, he started searching for a person worthy of replacing Dhana Nanda.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=13}} One day, he saw a group of children playing: the young Chandragupta (called Chandagutta in ''Mahavamsa'') played the role of a king, while other boys pretended to be vassals, ministers, or robbers. The "robbers" were brought before Chandragupta, who ordered their limbs to be cut off, but then miraculously re-attached them. Chandragupta had been born in a royal family, but was brought up by a hunter after his father was killed by an usurper, and the [[devata]]s caused his mother to abandon him. Astonished by the boy's miraculous powers, Chanakya paid 1000 gold coins to his foster-father, and took Chandragupta away, promising to teach him a trade.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=14}}

Chanakya had two potential successors to Dhana Nanda: Pabbata and Chandragupta. He gave each of them an amulet to be worn around the neck with a woolen thread. One day, he decided to test them. While Chandragupta was asleep, he asked Pabbata to remove Chandragupta's woolen thread without breaking it and without waking up Chandragupta. Pabbata failed to accomplish this task. Some time later, when Pabbata was sleeping, Chanakya challenged Chandragupta to complete the same task. Chandragupta retrieved the woolen thread by cutting off Pabbata's head. For the next seven years, Chanakya trained Chandragupta for royal duties. When Chandragupta became an adult, Chanakya dug up his hidden treasure of gold coins, and assembled an army.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=14}}

The army of Chanadragupta and Chanakya invaded Dhana Nanda's kingdom, but disbanded after facing a severe defeat. While wandering in disguise, the two men once listened to the conversation between a woman and her son. The child had eaten the middle of a cake, and thrown away the edges. The woman scolded him, saying that he was eating food like Chandragupta, who attacked the central part of the kingdom instead of conquering the border villages first. Chanakya and Chandragupta realized their mistake. They assembled a new army, and started conquering the border villages. Gradually, they advanced to the kingdom's capital [[Pataliputra]] (Pāṭaliputta in ''Mahavamsa''), where they killed the king Dhana Nanda. Chanakya ordered a fisherman to find the place where Dhana Nanda had hidden his treasure. As soon as the fishermen informed Chanakya about its location, Chanakya had him killed. Chanakya anointed Chandragupta as the new king, and tasked a man named Paṇiyatappa with eliminating rebels and robbers from the kingdom.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=15}}

Chanakya started mixing small doses of poison in the new king's food to make him immune to poisoning attempts by the enemies. Chandragupta, who was not aware of this, once shared the food with his pregnant queen, who was seven days away from delivery. Chanakya arrived just as the queen ate the poisoned morsel. Realizing that she was going to die, Chanakya decided to save the unborn child. He cut off the queen's head and cut open her belly with a sword to take out the foetus. Over the next seven days, he placed the foetus in the belly of a goat freshly killed each day. After seven days, Chandragupta's son was "born". He was named [[Bindusara]] because his body was spotted with drops (''bindu'') of goat's blood.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=15}}

The earliest Buddhist legends do not mention Chanakya in their description of the Mauryan dynasty after this point.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=14}} [[Atthakatha#Dhammapala|Dhammapala]]'s commentary on ''[[Theragatha]]'', however, mentions a legend about Chanakya and a Brahmin named Subandhu. According to this account, Chanakya was afraid that the wise Subandhu would surpass him at Chandragupta's court. So, he got Chandragupta to imprison Subandhu, whose son Tekicchakani escaped and became a Buddhist monk.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=28}} The 16th-century Tibetan Buddhist author [[Taranatha]] mentions Chanakya as one of Bindusara's "great lords". According to him, Chanakya destroyed the nobles and kings of 16 towns and made Bindusara the master of all the territory between the eastern and the western seas ([[Arabian Sea]] and the [[Bay of Bengal]]).{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2016|p=331}}

== Kashmiri version ==
The Kashmiri version of the legend goes like this: Vararuchi (identified with [[Katyayana]]), Indradatta and Vyadi were three disciples of the sage Varsha. Once, on behalf of their [[guru]] Varsha, they travelled to [[Ayodhya]] to seek a [[gurudakshina]] (guru's fee) from king Nanda. As they arrived to meet Nanda, the king died. Using his [[yoga|yogic]] powers, Indradatta entered Nanda's body and granted Vararuchi's request for 10 million [[gold dinar|dinars]] (gold coins). The royal minister Shakatala realized what was happening, and had Indradatta's body burnt. But before he could take any action against the fake king (Indradatta in Nanda's body, also called Yogananda), the king had him arrested. Shakatala and his 100 sons were imprisoned and were given food sufficient only for one person. Shakatala's 100 sons starved to death, so that their father could live to take revenge.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=31}}

Meanwhile, the fake king appointed Vararuchi as his minister. As the king's character kept deteriorating, a disgusted Vararuchi retired to a forest as an ascetic. Shakatala was then restored as the minister, but kept planning his revenge. One day, Shakatala came across Chanakya, a Brahmin who was uprooting all the grass in his path, because one blade of the grass had pricked his foot. Shakatala realized that he could use a man so vengeful to destroy the fake king. He invited Chanakya to the king's assembly, promising him 100,000 gold coins for presiding over a ritual ceremony.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=31}}

Shakatala hosted Chanakya in his own house and treated him with great respect. But the day Chanakya arrived at the king's court, Shakatala got another Brahmin named Subandhu to preside over the ceremony. Chanakya felt insulted, but Shakatala blamed the king for this dishonour. Chanakya then untied his topknot ([[sikha]]), and vowed not to re-tie it until the king was destroyed. The king ordered his arrest, but he escaped to Shakatala's house. There, using materials supplied by Shakatala, he performed a magic ritual which made the king sick. The king died of a fever after 7 days.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=32}}

Shakatala then executed Hiranyagupta, the son of the fake king. He anointed Chandragupta, the son of the real king Nanda, as the new king (in Kshemendra's version, it is Chanakya who installs Chandragupta as the new king). Shakatala also appointed Chanakya as the royal priest (''[[purohita]]''). Having achieved his revenge, he then retired to the forest as an ascetic.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=32}}

== Mudrarakshasa version ==
According to the ''Mudrarakshasa'' version, the king Nanda once removed Chanakya from the "first seat of the kingdom" (this possibly refers to Chanakya's expulsion from the king's assembly). For this reason, Chanakya vowed not to tie his top knot (''[[sikha|shikha]]'') until the complete destruction of Nanda. Chanakya made a plan to dethrone Nanda, and replace him with Chandragupta, his son by a lesser queen. Chanakya engineered Chandragupta's alliance with another powerful king Parvateshvara (or Parvata), and the two rulers agreed to divide Nanda's territory after subjugating him. Their allied army included [[Bahlikas|Bahlika]], [[Kirata]], [[Persian people|Parasika]], [[Kambojas|Kamboja]], [[Shakas|Shaka]], and [[Yavana]] soldiers. The army invaded [[Pataliputra]] (Kusumapura) and defeated the Nandas.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|pp=36–37}} Parvata is identified with [[King Porus]] by some scholars.{{sfn|Varadpande|2005|pp=227–230}}

Nanda's prime minister [[Rakshasa (amatya)|Rakshasa]] escaped Pataliputra, and continued resisting the invaders. He sent a [[vishakanya]] (poison girl) to assassinate Chandragupta. Chanakya had this girl assassinate Parvata instead, with the blame going to Rakshasa. However, Parvata's son Malayaketu learned the truth about his father's death and defected to Rakshasa's camp. Chanakya's spy Bhagurayana accompanied Malayaketu, pretending to be his friend.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=37}}

Rakshasa continued to plot Chandragupta's death, but all his plans were foiled by Chanakya. For example, once Rakshasa arranged for assassins to be transported to Chandragupta's bedroom via a tunnel. Chanakya became aware of them by noticing a trail of ants carrying the leftovers of their food. He then arranged for the assassins to be burned to death.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=38}}

Meanwhile, Parvata's brother Vairodhaka became the ruler of his kingdom. Chanakya convinced him that Rakshasa was responsible for killing his brother, and agreed to share half of Nanda's kingdom with him. Secretly, however, Chanakya hatched a plan to get Vairodhaka killed. He knew that the chief architect of Pataliputra was a Rakshasa loyalist. He asked this architect to build a [[triumphal arch]] for Chandragupta's procession to the royal palace. He arranged the procession to be held at midnight citing astrological reasons, but actually to ensure poor visibility. He then invited Vairodhaka to lead the procession on Chandragupta's elephant, and accompanied by Chandragupta's bodyguards. As expected, Rakshasa's loyalists arranged for the arch to fall on who they thought was Chandragupta. Vairodhaka was killed, and once again, the assassination was blamed on Rakshasa.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=37}}

Malayaketu and Rakshasa then formed an alliance with five kings: Chiravarman of Kauluta (Kulu), Meghaksha of [[Persia|Parasika]], Narasimha of [[Malaya Mountains|Malaya]], Pushkaraksha of [[Kasmira Kingdom|Kashmira]], and Sindhusena of [[Sindhu Kingdom|Saindhava]]. This allied army also included soldiers from [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]], [[Gandhara]], [[Hunas]], [[Khasas|Khasa]], [[Magadha]], [[Shakas|Shaka]], and [[Yavana]] territories.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=38}}

In Pataliputra, Chanakya's agent informed him that three Rakshasa loyalists remained in the capital: the Jain monk Jiva-siddhi, the scribe Shakata-dasa and the jewellers' guild chief Chandana-dasa. Of these, Jiva-siddhi was actually a spy of Chanakya, unknown to his other spies. Chandana-dasa sheltered Rakshasa's wife, who once unknowingly dropped her husband's signet-ring (''mudra''). Chanakya's agent got hold of this signet-ring, and brought it to Chanakya. Using this signet ring, Chanakya sent a letter to Malayaketu warning him that his allies were treacherous. Chanakya also asked some of Chandragupta's princes to fake defection to Malayaketu's camp. In addition, Chanakya ordered Shakata-dasa's murder, but had him 'rescued' by Siddharthaka, a spy pretending to be an agent of Chandana-dasa. Chanakya's spy then took Shakata-dasa to Rakshasa.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=38}}

When Shakata-dasa and his 'rescuer' Siddharthaka reached Rakshasa, Siddharthaka presented him the signet-ring, claiming to have found it at Chandana-dasa's home. As a reward, Rakshasa gave him some jewels that Malayaketu had gifted him. Sometime after this, another of Chanakya's agents, disguised as a jeweller, sold Parvata's jewels to Rakshasa.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=39}}

Sometime later, Rakshasa sent his spies disguised as musicians to Chandragupta's court. But Chanakya knew all about Rakshasa's plans thanks to his spies. In front of Rakshasa's spies, Chanakya and Chandragupta feigned an angry argument. Chandragupta pretended to dismiss Chanakya, and declared that Rakshasa would make a better minister. Meanwhile, Malayaketu had a conversation with Chanakya's spy Bhagurayana while approaching Rakshasa's house. Bhagurayana made Malayaketu distrustful of Rakshasa, by saying that Rakshasa hated only Chanakya, and would be willing to serve Nanda's son Chandragupta. Shortly after this, a messenger came to Rakshasa's house and informed him that Chandragupta had dismissed Chanakya while praising him. This convinced Malayaketu that Rakashasa could not be trusted.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=39}}

Malayaketu then decided to invade Pataliputra without Rakshasa by his side. He consulted the Jain monk Jiva-siddhi to decide an auspicious time for beginning the march. Jiva-siddhi, a spy of Chanakya, told him that he could start immediately.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=39}} Jiva-siddhi also convinced him that Rakshasa was responsible for his father's death, but Bhagurayana persuaded him not to harm Rakshasa. Shortly after, Chanakya's spy Siddharthaka pretended to get caught with a fake letter addressed to Chandragupta by Rakshasa. Wearing the jewels given by Rakshasa, he pretended to be an agent of Rakshasa. The letter, sealed with Rakshasa's signet-ring, informed Chandragupta that Rakshasa only wished to replace Chanakya as the prime minister. It also stated that five of Malayaketu's allies were willing to defect to Chandragupta in return for land and wealth. An angry Malayaketu summoned Rakshasa, who arrived wearing Parvata's jewels that Chanakya's agent had sold him. When Malayaketu saw Rakshasa wearing his father's jewels, he was convinced that there was indeed a treacherous plan against him. He executed his five allies in a brutal manner.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=40}}

The rest of Malayaketu's allies deserted him, disgusted at his treatment of the five slayed allies. Rakshasa managed to escape, tracked by Chanakya's spies. One of Chanakya's spies, disguised as a friend of Chandana-dasa, got in touch with him. He told Rakshasa that Chandana-dasa was about to be executed for refusing to divulge the location of Rakshasa's family. On hearing this, Rakshasa rushed to Pataliputra to surrender and save the life of his loyal friend Chandana-dasa. When he reached Pataliputra, Chanakya, pleased with his loyalty to Chandana-dasa, offered him clemency. Rakshasa pledged allegiance to Chandragupta and agreed to be his prime minister, in return for release of Chandana-dasa and a pardon for Malayaketu. Chanakya then bound his top knot, having achieved his objective, and retired.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=40}}

== Literary works ==
Two books are attributed to Chanakya: ''[[Arthashastra]]'',<ref name="Shamasastry1905">{{cite book |title=Kautilya's Arthashastra |year=1905 |translator-last=Shamasastry|translator-first=R. |url=https://archive.org/details/Arthashastra_English_Translation |access-date=2020-08-23}}</ref> and ''[[Chanakyaniti|Chanakya Niti]]'', also known as ''Chanakya Neeti-shastra''.<ref name="Miles1981">{{cite book |title=Sri Chanakya Niti-shastra; the Political Ethics of Chanakya Pandit Hardcover |year=1981 |translator-first=Miles |translator-last=Davis |translator-first2=V. Badarayana |translator-last2=Murthy |url=http://www.hinduism.co.za/chanakya.htm |access-date=2014-08-15 |publisher=Ram Kumar Press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716182652/http://www.hinduism.co.za/chanakya.htm |archive-date=16 July 2014}}</ref> The ''Arthashastra'' was discovered in 1905 by librarian [[R. Shamasastry|Rudrapatna Shamasastry]] in an uncatalogued group of ancient [[palm-leaf manuscripts]] donated by an unknown [[pandit]] to the [[Oriental Research Institute Mysore]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Srinivasaraju|first1=Sugata|title=Year of the Guru|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/year-of-the-guru/250522|access-date=17 March 2018|work=Outlook India|date=27 July 2009}}</ref>
* The ''Arthashastra'', which discusses [[monetary policy|monetary]] and [[Fiscal policy|fiscal]] policies, [[welfare (financial aid)|welfare]], [[international relations]], and [[military strategy|war strategies]] in detail. The text also outlines the duties of a ruler.<ref>Paul Halsall. [https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ECON301-1.3.pdf Indian History Sourcebook: Kautilya: from the Arthashastra c. 250 BC] Retrieved 19 June 2012</ref>{{reliable|date=March 2016}} Some scholars believe that ''Arthashastra'' is actually a compilation of a number of earlier texts written by various authors, and Chanakya might have been ''one'' of these authors (see [[#Identification with Kauṭilya or Vishnugupta|above]]).<ref name="Namita2008"/>
* ''Chanakya Niti'', which is a collection of [[aphorism]]s, said to be selected by Chanakya from the various [[shastra]]s.<ref name="Miles1981"/>

== Legacy ==
{{Quote box
 |quote = Arthashastra is serious manual on statecraft, on how to run a state, informed by a higher purpose, clear and precise in its prescriptions, the result of practical experience of running a state. It is not just a normative text but a realist description of the art of running a state.
 |source = - [[Shiv Shankar Menon]], [[National Security Advisor (India)|National Security Advisor]]<ref name="India needs to develop its own doctrine for strategic autonomy: NSA"/>
 |width = 25%
}}

Chanakya is regarded as a great thinker and diplomat in India. Many Indian nationalists regard him as one of the earliest people who envisioned a united India spanning the entire [[Indian subcontinent|subcontinent]]. [[National Security Advisor (India)|India's former National Security Advisor]] [[Shiv Shankar Menon]] praised Chanakya's [[Arthashastra]] for its precise and timeless descriptions of power. Furthermore, he recommended reading of the book for broadening the vision on strategic issues.<ref name="India needs to develop its own doctrine for strategic autonomy: NSA">{{cite news|title=India needs to develop its own doctrine for strategic autonomy: NSA|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-needs-to-develop-its-own-doctrine-for-strategic-autonomy-nsa/articleshow/16868737.cms|access-date=18 October 2012|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=18 October 2012|agency=Press Trust of India|location=New Delhi}}</ref>

The diplomatic enclave in New Delhi is named [[Chanakyapuri]] in honour of Chanakya. Institutes named after him include [[Training Ship Chanakya]], [[Chanakya National Law University]] and Chanakya Institute of Public Leadership. Chanakya circle in [[Mysore]] has been named after him.<ref>{{Cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5APECQAAQBAJ&pg=PA8 |title=Chanakya's Views on Administration |last=Yelegaonkar |first=Dr Shrikant |date=23 April 2015 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1329082809 |pages=8 |language=en}}</ref>{{sps|date=February 2020}}

== Chanakyan vocabulary ==
Chanakya uses different terms to describe war other than [[dharma-yuddha]] (just war), such as [[Kutayuddha|kutayudhha]] (unjust war).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Workshop on Kautilya: Creating Strategic Vocabulary|url=https://idsa.in/event/WorkshoponKautilyaCreatingStrategicVocabulary|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-11|website=Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329143043/http://www.idsa.in:80/event/WorkshoponKautilyaCreatingStrategicVocabulary |archive-date=29 March 2013 }}</ref>

== In Popular Culture ==

===Plays===
Several modern adaptations of the legend of Chanakya narrate his story in a semi-fictional form, extending these legends. In ''[[Chandragupta (play)|Chandragupta]]'' (1911), a play by [[Dwijendralal Ray]], the Nanda king exiles his half-brother Chandragupta, who joins the army of [[Alexander the Great]]. Later, with help from Chanakya and Katyayan (the former Prime Minister of Magadha), Chandragupta defeats Nanda, who is put to death by Chanakya.<ref name= sourcessukumar>{{cite book |last1=Ray |first1= Dwijendralal |editor1-first=Sukumar |editor1-last=Bandyopadhyay |title=Dwijendralaler Chandragupta |trans-title=Chandragupta by Dwindralal |edition=4th |year=1969 |publisher=Modern Book Agency |location=[[Kolkata]] |language=bn |pages=Preface–10–14 |trans-chapter=Preface: Historic References |chapter=Bhumika: Aitihasikata }}</ref>

=== Film and television ===
* The story of Chanakya and Chandragupta was portrayed in the 1977 Telugu film entitled ''[[Chanakya Chandragupta]]''. [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]] played the role of Chanakya, while [[N. T. Rama Rao]] portrayed as Chandragupta.<ref>{{Citation|title=Chanakya Chandragupta (1977)|date=25 August 1977|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259242/|access-date=2017-05-24}}</ref>
* The 1991 TV series ''[[Chanakya (TV series)|Chanakya]]'' is an archetypal account of the life and times of Chanakya, based on the ''Mudrarakshasa.'' The titular role of the same name was portrayed by [[Chandraprakash Dwivedi]]
* ''[[Chandragupta Maurya (2011 TV series)|Chandragupta Maurya]]'', a 2011 TV series on [[NDTV Imagine]] is a biographical series on the life of Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya, and is produced by [[Sagar Arts]]. [[Manish Wadhwa]] portrays the character of Chanakya in this series.
* The 2015 [[Colors TV]] drama, ''[[Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat]]'', features Chanakya during the reign of Chandragupta's son, Bindusara.
* Chanakya was played by [[Chetan Pandit]] and [[Tarun Khanna (TV actor)|Tarun Khanna]], in the historical-drama television series [[Porus (TV series)|Porus]] in 2017–2018.
* Chanakya was played by [[Tarun Khanna (TV actor)|Tarun Khanna]], in the historical drama TV series [[Chandragupta Maurya (2018 TV series)|Chandragupta Maurya]] in 2018–2019.

=== Books and academia ===

*An English-language book titled ''Chanakya on Management'' contains 216 sutras on ''raja-neeti'', each of which has been translated and commented upon.
* A book written by [[Ratan Lal Basu]] and Rajkumar Sen deals with the economic concepts mentioned in ''Arthashastra'' and their relevance for the modern world.<ref>Ratan Lal Basu & Rajkumar Sen: ''Ancient Indian Economic Thought, Relevance for Today'', {{ISBN|81-316-0125-0}}, Rawat Publications, New Delhi, 2008</ref>
* ''Chanakya'' (2001) by B. K. Chaturvedi<ref name="BKChaturvedi2001">{{cite book | author=B. K. Chaturvedi | title=Chanakya | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ArAaNTn7FwIC | access-date=2012-06-06 | year=2001 | publisher=Diamond Pocket Books | isbn=978-81-7182-143-3}}</ref>
* In 2009, many eminent experts discussed the various aspects of Kauṭilya's thought in an International Conference held at the Oriental Research Institute in [[Mysore]] (India) to celebrate the centenary of discovery of the manuscript of the [[Arthashastra]] by [[R. Shamasastry]]. Most of the papers presented in the Conference have been compiled in an edited volume by Raj Kumar Sen and [[Ratan Lal Basu]].<ref>Raj Kumar Sen & Ratan Lal Basu (eds): ''Economics in Arthashastra'', {{ISBN|81-7629-819-0}}, Deep& Deep Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2006</ref><ref name=outlook>{{cite news|last=Srinivasaraju |first=Sugata |title=Year of the Guru |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?250522 |access-date=8 March 2012 |newspaper=Outlook India |date=27 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012211517/http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?250522 |archive-date=12 October 2012 }}</ref>
* ''[[Chanakya's Chant]]'' by [[Ashwin Sanghi]] is a fictional account of Chanakya's life as a political strategist in ancient India. The novel relates two parallel stories, the first of Chanakya and his machinations to bring Chandragupta Maurya to the throne of [[Magadha]]; the second, that of a modern-day character called Gangasagar Mishra who makes it his ambition to position a slum child as [[Prime Minister of India]].
* ''[[The Emperor's Riddles]]'' by Satyarth Nayak features popular episodes from Chanakya's life.
* Kauṭilya's role in the formation of the Maurya Empire is the essence of a historical/spiritual novel ''Courtesan and the Sadhu'' by Mysore N. Prakash.<ref>''The Courtesan and the Sadhu, A Novel about Maya, Dharma, and God'', October 2008, Dharma Vision, {{ISBN|978-0-9818237-0-6}}, {{LCCN|2008934274}}</ref>
* Chanakya's contribution to the cultural heritage of Bharat (in Kannada) by [[Shatavadhani Ganesh]] with the title Bharatada Samskrutige Chanakyana Kodugegalu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spiritualbangalore.com/knowledge-center/audios/shatavadhani-dr-r-ganesh/bharatiya-samskrutige-chanakyana-kodugegalu-part-2-shatavadhani-dr-r-ganesh/ |title=Bharatiya Samskrutige Chanakyana Kodugegalu Part 1&nbsp;– Shatavadhani Dr.R.Ganesh&nbsp;— Spiritual Bangalore |work=spiritualbangalore.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302045721/http://www.spiritualbangalore.com/knowledge-center/audios/shatavadhani-dr-r-ganesh/bharatiya-samskrutige-chanakyana-kodugegalu-part-2-shatavadhani-dr-r-ganesh/ |archive-date=2 March 2014 }}</ref>
* {{cite book | author=Pavan Choudary | title=Chanakya's Political Wisdom | publisher=Wisdom Village Publications Division | isbn=978-81-906555-0-7| date=2 February 2009 }}, a political commentary on Chanakya
* {{citation | last= Sihag | first = Balbir Singh | title = Kautilya: The True Founder of Economics | year=2014 | publisher = Vitasta Publishing Pvt.Ltd | isbn = 978-81-925354-9-4}}
*Radhakrishnan Pillai has written a number of books related to Chanakya — "Chanakya in the Classroom: Life Lessons for Students",<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Chanakya in the Classroom: Life Lessons for Students|url=https://rupapublications.co.in/books/chanakya-in-the-classroom-life-lessons-for-students/|access-date=2021-02-06|website=Rupa Publications|language=en-US}}</ref> "Chanakya Neeti: Strategies for Success", "Chanakya in You", "Chanakya and the Art of War", "Corporate Chanakya",<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sethi|first=Vinay|date=December 2015|title=Corporate Citizen|url=https://corporatecitizen.in/issue19/tete-a-tete-the-corporate-chanakya.html|access-date=2021-02-06|website=corporatecitizen.in}}</ref> "Corporate Chanakya on Management" and "Corporate Chanakya on Leadership".<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Books - Radhakrishnan Pillai|url=https://www.crossword.in/books/search?q=Radhakrishnan%20Pillai|access-date=2021-02-06|website=www.crossword.in|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Rajamandala]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{citation |last=Mookerji |first=Radha Kumud |author-link=Radha Kumud Mukherjee |title=Chandragupta Maurya and his times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-y6ZUheQH8C |edition=4th |year=1988 |orig-year=first published in 1966 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=81-208-0433-3 }}
* {{citation |last=Rice |first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMUUAAAAYAAJ |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |volume=II: Inscriptions and Sravana Belgola |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |location=Bangalore |year=1889 }}
* {{citation |last=Singh |first=Upinder |author-link=Upinder Singh |title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pq2iCwAAQBAJ |publisher=[[Pearson Education]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-93-325-6996-6 |ref={{sfnref|Upinder Singh|2016}} }}
* {{citation |first=Thomas R. |last=Trautmann |author-link=Thomas Trautmann |title=Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3iDAAAAMAAJ |year=1971 |publisher=Brill }}
* {{citation |first=Manohar Laxman |last=Varadpande |title=History of Indian Theatre |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fOZB7MbeMrAC&pg=PA223 |year=2005 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=978-81-7017-430-1 }}

==External links==





* [https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/kautilya-arthashastra Kautilya Arthashastra] English translation by R. Shamasastry 1956 (revised edition with IAST diacritics and interwoven glossary)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140716182652/http://www.hinduism.co.za/chanakya.htm Chanakya Nitishastra]: English translation by Miles Davis.

{{Indian philosophy}}
{{Social and political philosophy}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:4th-century BC Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian military writers]]
[[Category:Hindu philosophers and theologians]]
[[Category:Military theorists]]
[[Category:People of the Maurya Empire]]
[[Category:4th-century BC Hindus]]
[[Category:Preclassical economists]]
[[Category:Taxila Tehsil]]
[[Category:Theoretical historians]]
[[Category:Indian political philosophers]]