Amatya Rakshas

Amatya Rakshas was an ancient Indian scholar and the royal prime minister of Magadha during the Nanda[1] and Maurya rule.[2]

Amatya Rakshas
Born375 BCE
Pataliputra, Nanda Empire
Died
Pataliputra, Maurya Empire

He was formerly the advisor of Dhana Nanda and later the advisor of Chandragupta Maurya.[3] He was Chanakya's competitor.[4][5]

Background

The main sources of information about Amatya Rakshas are Vishakhadatta's play Mudrarakshasa[6] and the Chanakya Neeti.[2]

Amatya Rakshas was formerly Dhana Nanda's prime minister.[7][8][9] Like Chanakya, Rakshas also studied and was educated at Takshashila (modern day Taxila).[4] In a competition between Chanakya and Rakshas, the latter was made the Mahaamatya (Prime Minister) of the Nanda Empire by Dhana Nanda.[10] According to some sources, it was because Rakshas' father had already once been a minister during Nanda rule.[11]

Amatya Rakshas was extremely loyal to Dhana Nanda. Dhana Nanda highly trusted Rakshas as he knew that the latter was the best prime minister.[7][12][13][14] He continued to be Dhana Nanda's advisor until the overthrow of the Nanda dynasty by Chandragupta Maurya in 321 BCE. When Chandragupta Maurya killed/exiled Dhana Nanda and became the emperor of Magadha, Dhana Nanda's ministers either stayed or were arrested, except Rakshas. Amatya Rakshas escaped with Chandragupta's enemies so as to later make plans to kill Chandragupta. He wanted to take revenge for Dhana Nanda's death/exile and later death, and the defeat of Magadha in war.[2][15][16]

Events after Chandragupta Maurya's Victory

Absconding from Magadha

For the task of getting Chandragupta Maurya killed, Amatya Rakshas made an alliance with some of Chandragupta's enemies.[17]

Rakshas failed several times in his plan to get Chandragupta killed.[18] He tried having some kings attack Pataliputra, the Maurya capital, but the plan failed due to Chanakya's intelligent tactics.

Meanwhile, Chanakya knew that it was dangerous for a clever leader like Amatya Rakshas to hold a grudge against the king.[19] Soon, Chanakya made plans to capture Amatya Rakshas by luring him to return to Magadha. Chanakya spread rumors among certain people in Magadha, thanks to which he arrested one of Amatya Rakshas's associates. Chanakya knew that Amatya Rakshas would come searching for his associate, or try to free him.[20]

Becoming the Amatya of the Maurya Empire

Rakshas was tracked and captured finally by Chanakya, as per his plan.[2][3][20] Chanakya told Rakshas about his plan to make him the prime minister of Chandragupta's empire as Rakshas had diligence and patriotism towards Magadha.[3][15] Chanakya knew very well about Rakshas' efficient administrative skills and diplomatic tactics. Chanakya asked Rakshas to become the Principal Amatya (Maha Amatya) of the Mauryan empire and to serve the kingdom with the same diligence and faithfulness he showed during the Nanda rule.[15] Rakshas was initially reluctant to do so. Chanakya convinced Rakshas to become the Maha Amatya as he would be an extraordinary royal advisor.[21] Finally, Amatya Rakshas agreed to Chanakya for the benefit of Magadha.[22][23][24] Amatya Rakshas then realized Chanakya's dignity and overcame his enmity with him.[25][26][27]

Death

It is unclear how Amatya Rakshas died. It is presumed he died of natural causes, after the death of Chanakya.[15]

Film and television

See also

References
  1. Pillai, Radhakrishnan (2019). Chanakya and the Art of War.
  2. RP, Jain (2013). Chanakya Neeti. p. 16.
  3. Parashar, Dr. Ashwini. Mahamatya Chankaya. p. 117.
  4. M, Prabhu (2019). Chanakya Kautilya: Understanding the Colossal Genius.
  5. Kautailiya Ka Arthshastra. p. 36.
  6. The Mudra Rakshasa, Or The Signet Of The Minister, A Drama, In Seven Acts. Visakhadata. 1831. p. 154.
  7. B. K., Chaturvedi (2010). Chanakya. p. 18.
  8. Rajeshwar Mishra, Acharya (2014). Chanakya The Great.
  9. Mudrarakshas. Vishakhdutt. p. 34.
  10. Prasad Singh, Dr. Dinesh Prasad Singh (2007). Hindi Gadya Samgraha. Dr. Veena Shrivastava. p. 94.
  11. Mishra, Rajeshwar (2012). Cāṇakya: jīvanī, nīti, sūtra, aura arthaśāstra, saṃyukta saṃskaraṇa. p. 64. ISBN 9788128811678.
  12. Jaina, Nemīcanda (1968). Jayaśaṅkara Prasāda aura unakā Candragupta Maurya. pp. 27, 76, 129.
  13. Jaina, Nemīcanda (1968). Jayaśaṅkara Prasāda aura unakā Candragupta Maurya. p. 76.
  14. "Bombay: The City Magazine, Volume 12, Issues 1-12". Bombay: The City Magazine. Living Media India. 12 (1–12): 63. 1990.
  15. "After Altered Changed the Scene Itself". Amarujala. September 18, 2014.
  16. Sinha, Ashok (2011). Alexander and Chandragupta the Great: An Original Historical Play About India in 327 Bce. p. 96.
  17. Śāstrī, Haridatta (1962). Saṃskr̥ta-kāvyakāra. p. 211.
  18. Caudharī, Vimalā (1993). Prācīna Bhārata meṃ guptacara-vyavasthā. pp. 111, 114, 115.
  19. Prasad, Jaishankar (2008). Prasad Ke Sampoorn Natak Evam Ekanki. p. 64. ISBN 9788180313455.
  20. Prakāśana, Viśvavidyālaya (1969). Mahākaviviśākhadattapraṇitaṃ Mudrārākṣasam: Ramānāmnyā Saṃskr̥taṭīkayā, rāshṭrabhāshānuvādena, ṭippaṇyā,bhāvasaṃvalitayā vistr̥tabhūmikayā ca sanāthīkr̥tam. Viśākhadatta. pp. 129, 207, 369.
  21. Śukla, Rāmacandra (1970). Mudrārākṣasa-nāṭakam. Viśākhadatta. p. 502.
  22. Mo. Ga., Tapasvi (2001). Rashtraya Namah.
  23. Śarmā, Hemanta. Bharatendu samagra: Bharatendu gramthavali. Sabhi khanda aura aneka alabhya samagri jilda mem.
  24. Guptā, Sureśacandra (1963). Mudrārākshasa. Viśākhadatta. p. 135.
  25. Chanakya Prapanch. p. 10.
  26. Upadhyay, Bhagwatsharan. Bharat Ki Nadiyon Ki Kahani. p. 18.
  27. Sharma, Ramvilas (1999). Bhartendu Harishchandra Aur Hindi Navjagaran Ki Samasyayeen. p. 118.
  28. "Chandra Nandini 10 July 2017 Written Update of Full Episode: Chanakya Asks Chandra Not To Kill Amatya Rakshas". india.com. July 10, 2017.
  29. "Chandra Nandini 14 July 2017, Written Update of Full Episode: Amatya Rakshas tells Nandini that Malayketu wants to murder Bindusara". bollywoodlife.com. July 14, 2017.
  30. "Nimai Bali and other 65 crew members of Sony TV's Chandragupta Maurya go BALD! Here's why..." tellychakkar.com. November 26, 2018.

Bibliography
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