Chandragupta Maurya
Imagine a young man—ambitious, sharp, politically aware—guided by a brilliant strategist, setting out to challenge the most powerful ruling dynasty of the time. That’s the story of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of India’s first historical empire.
🧬 Origin: A Tale of Multiple Traditions
Chandragupta’s early life is shrouded in uncertainty, and different traditions give us different versions:
- Brahmanical Tradition:
It claims Chandragupta was born to a Shudra woman in the court of the Nandas, implying he came from a humble or even servile background. - Buddhist Tradition:
Presents him as a member of the Moriya clan, which was considered Kshatriya, indicating a royal lineage.
For UPSC, you don’t need to ‘choose’ a version—you need to remember both exist and are important in understanding how different traditions perceived legitimacy.
🏛️ Rise to Power: The Chanakya Connection
The real turning point in Chandragupta’s life came when he travelled to Taxila, a major centre of learning.
- Here, he met Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta), a brilliant Brahmin scholar and master of statecraft.
- Chanakya had been insulted by the Nanda king and had vowed to overthrow the Nanda dynasty.
- Together, this student-mentor duo raised an army.
Think of Chanakya as the strategist and Chandragupta as the executor. Their partnership was not just political—it was transformational.
🛡️ Conquest and Empire-Building
Their political-military journey went like this:
- Alliance with Taxila’s local king helped them gain a power base in Punjab.
- From there, Chandragupta moved eastward, gradually defeating rulers until he finally overthrew Dhana Nanda, the last king of the Nanda dynasty, and founded the Mauryan Empire.
But Chandragupta didn’t stop there.
- He consolidated control over the Gangetic plain.
- Moved northwest, securing territories up to the Indus River.
- Then expanded southwards, occupying areas north of the Narmada.
⚔️ War with Seleucus Nicator (305 BCE)
Now enters a major international figure—Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great’s generals, who ruled over parts of northwestern India after Alexander’s death.
- In 305 BCE, Chandragupta defeated Seleucus.
- The result? A historic treaty.
What Chandragupta Gained:
- Eastern Afghanistan
- Baluchistan
- Territories west of the Indus River
What Seleucus Gained:
- 500 elephants (a crucial asset for warfare at the time)
- A marriage alliance — he gave his daughter in marriage to Chandragupta.
This was not just a war; it was a diplomatic masterstroke, combining military might with strategic alliance-building.
🌍 Greek Contact and Indica
- As part of diplomatic exchange, Seleucus sent Megasthenes as Greek ambassador to Chandragupta’s court.
- Megasthenes’ famous account, Indica, is one of our most important foreign sources on Mauryan administration and society.
🧘 Spiritual Turn and Jain Legacy
Toward the end of his life, Chandragupta underwent a profound transformation:
- He embraced Jainism under the guidance of Bhadrabahu, a Jain monk.
- He abdicated the throne in favour of his son Bindusara.
- He migrated to Shravanabelagola (in present-day Karnataka) along with a group of Jain monks.
There, in a cave on Chandragiri hill, he is said to have fasted unto death, following the Jain practice of Sallekhana (ritual fasting at the end of life).
🔚 Summary: Chandragupta’s Legacy
- A man of mysterious origin, mentored by Chanakya.
- Rose from obscurity to defeat the powerful Nandas.
- Expanded India’s boundaries and forged international diplomacy.
- Laid the administrative foundation of the Mauryan Empire.
- Retired into spiritual renunciation, embracing Jainism.
His life encapsulates power, politics, philosophy, and renunciation—all in one arc.