Sources of Mauryan History
The rise of the Mauryan Empire marks a turning point in Indian history. Before this, political power in the subcontinent had mostly been fragmented into regional kingdoms. But under the Mauryas, for the first time, we see a unified pan-Indian empire—a political structure that stretched across almost the entire Indian subcontinent, touching even parts of Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Now, to study any historical empire, we must ask: Where is the evidence? Who told us all this? That brings us to our sources.
How Do We Know About the Mauryan Empire?
History is like a puzzle, and its pieces come from two major sources:
- Literary Sources (Texts—both Indian and foreign)
- Archaeological Sources (Inscriptions, monuments, coins, etc.)
Let’s first look at the literary sources.
📘 Kautilya’s Arthashastra: A Manual for Statecraft
Think of Arthashastra as the ‘Handbook for Kings’. Written in Sanskrit, it is a detailed treatise on politics, administration, economics, warfare, and diplomacy.
- Who wrote it? It was authored by Kautilya, also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta, the brilliant strategist who played a key role in helping Chandragupta Maurya overthrow the Nandas and establish the Mauryan dynasty.
- Content Structure:
The text has 15 books and 180 chapters, broadly classified into:- Part I – The King, his council, and administrative departments.
- Part II – Civil and criminal law.
- Part III – Foreign policy, diplomacy, and warfare.
- What does it talk about?
It touches every aspect of governance:- Ethics, law, court procedures
- Trade, market regulation, taxation
- Role and duties of ministers
- Espionage, military strategies
- Even the condition of slaves in society.
For instance:
- Slavery could arise due to war or unpaid debt.
- If a female slave bore her master’s child:
- She would be granted freedom.
- The child would be the legitimate heir.
- Rediscovery of the Text:
For centuries, this text was lost. In 1905, a manuscript surfaced in Tamil Nadu, passed down through generations. It was Rudrapatna Shamasastry, a librarian at Mysore’s Oriental Research Institute, who realized it was none other than Kautilya’s Arthashastra. - Authorship Debate:
Some scholars argue that the Arthashastra might have been compiled over centuries, not the work of a single author.
🌍 Megasthenes’ Indica: A Foreigner’s Gaze
Now let’s hear from an outsider’s perspective.
Megasthenes, a Greek ambassador from Seleucus I, visited the court of Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra.
- He wrote a book called Indica, describing the Mauryan Empire’s:
- Political administration
- Military organization
- Urban planning of Pataliputra
- Social customs and daily life
- But there’s a catch:
- Original book is lost.
- We know about it through quotes in the works of later Greek historians—Diodorus, Strabo, Pliny, Arrian, etc.
- These secondary accounts contradict each other and must be read critically.
- Preservation of Indica:
In 1846, a scholar named E.A. Schwanbeck compiled the surviving fragments. Later, J.W. McCrindle translated them into English (1877). - Note of Caution:
Some of Megasthenes’ claims (like Indians having no private property or that they didn’t lie) are clearly exaggerated or mythologized.
🎭 Visakadatta’s Mudrarakshasa: A Political Thriller in Sanskrit
- This is not a textbook—it’s a drama.
- Written by Visakadatta during the Gupta period, it dramatizes how Chandragupta Maurya, with Kautilya’s help, overthrew the Nanda dynasty.
- Why is it important?
- Gives us indirect insight into the socio-economic conditions of the Mauryan period.
- Shows political intrigue, diplomatic cunning, and the realpolitik of empire-building.
📚 Other Literary Sources
- The Buddhist, Jaina, and Puranic texts also reference the Mauryas.
- Specifically:
- Ceylonese Chronicles like Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa mention Ashoka’s role in spreading Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
🏛️ Archaeological Sources: The Inscriptions of Ashoka
And now, let’s come to the most tangible and direct evidence—Ashokan Edicts.
- These rock and pillar inscriptions are spread across India and speak in the king’s own voice.
- They reveal:
- Moral principles (Dhamma)
- Administrative orders
- Religious tolerance
- Efforts in public welfare
- Ashoka’s remorse after the Kalinga War
We’ll go into Ashoka’s inscriptions in greater detail later. For now, understand that these edicts ground the Mauryan Empire in verifiable historical evidence, unlike many ancient dynasties that rely solely on literary myths.
🏛️ Dynasty vs Empire
Let’s simplify two terms aspirants often confuse:
- Dynasty: A ruling line where power passes within a family. The Mauryas were such a dynasty—Chandragupta → Bindusara → Ashoka.
- Empire vs Kingdom:
- Empire: Larger, requires a centralized bureaucracy, strong army, and vast resources.
- Kingdom: Smaller, often localized and less complex.
So Chandragupta wasn’t just a king—he was an emperor, ruling a multi-regional empire.