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Secondary sourceBookbetween the 4th and 8th century CE

Mudrarakshasa

Vishakhadatta · between the 4th and 8th century CE

A Sanskrit political drama about how Chanakya helped Chandragupta Maurya seize the throne from the Nanda dynasty, the main literary legend of his rise.

A later dramatization of Chandragupta's rise to power with Chanakya's help, central to his legend.

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Title page of the Hindi book Mudrarakshas, a political drama by Bharatendu Harishchandra, translated from Vishakhadatta's Sanskrit play. Printed text in Devanagari with ornamental dividers, a publisher line, and a registration note at top reading Registered under Act X of 1847.
Title page of Mudrarakshas, Bharatendu Harishchandra's Hindi rendering of Vishakhadatta's Sanskrit play Mudrarakshasa.

About this source

What it is

The Mudrarakshasa ('The Signet of the Minister') is a Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta telling how Chandragupta Maurya rose to power with the help of his minister Chanakya, outwitting the minister Rakshasa who served the Nanda dynasty. Its exact date is uncertain, ranging from the late 4th to the 8th century CE. It has since been translated and adapted into many Indian languages and other media.

Why it matters

Though written centuries after Chandragupta's lifetime and partly fictional, the play became the most influential story of his rise, shaping how generations have imagined the rivalry between Chanakya and Rakshasa and the founding of the Mauryan empire.

Look closer

  • Why might a play written centuries later still be treated as a key source on Chandragupta's rise?
  • What parts of the story might be invention rather than fact?
  • Why do you think this story has been retold in so many languages and forms?

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Book

Secondary source

Arthashastra

Chanakya (traditional attribution) · c. 1st–3rd century CE (traditionally attributed to Chanakya, c. 300 BCE)

Photo of a large, smooth, rounded granite boulder with a pitted, weathered surface, taken indoors under a pale arched ceiling. A small arched window is visible at the left edge. Faint marks and textured areas are visible on the rock, but the text is not clearly legible.Document

Secondary source

Junagadh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman

Rudradaman I (commissioner) · shortly after 150 CE

Photograph of an inscribed dark plate with light-colored carved symbols: at top, a sprouting plant, two domed structures with columns, a standing figure, and a gridded box. Below are four rows of unfamiliar angular script characters.Document

Primary source

Sohgaura Copper Plate Inscription

3rd century BCE

A dark stone wall covered with rows of small carved relief panels showing human figures in various scenes, set into square recesses. A black sign above in English, Hindi and Kannada reads 'Inscription of the incoming of Shrutkevali Bhadrabahu Swami and Samrat Chandragupta'.Document

Secondary source

Shravanabelagola Inscription of Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta

Two views of a small irregular silver punch-marked coin. The obverse shows a sun with rays at upper left, a lion-like or animal figure, a crescent-shaped mark, and other punched symbols in a worn, irregular outline. The reverse is plain silver with a single punched symbol of a stylized emblem at center.Artifact

Primary source

Mauryan Punch-Marked Silver Karshapana Coin

c. 4th–2nd century BCE

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