IV
The notes have been made rather full in consideration of this being
the first work published of the series; but experience has taught me that
it is impossible to satisfy any student in the matter of notes. What
presents no difficulty to one student is one to another, and vice versâ.
The references are to my last edition (1867) of the "Catechism of
Malayalam Grammar with a translation"— a work the student should
constantly have in hand during his study of this book.
The story of the Chánakya Sútram is briefly as follows:—
Nanda or Sarvárthasiddhi, king of Pátaliputra (otherwise Kusumapura)
had two wives, Sunanda and Mura, the latter a Súdri. For many years he
was not blessed with children by either wife, but at last by the benediction of
a holy sage who visited him, both wives became pregnant. In time Mura
was delivered of a son, mamed after her, Maurya (=son of Mura), Sunanda,
however, who was proud and envious, brought forth only a lump of flesh.
Rákshasa, the able and devoted minister of the king, remembering the similar
instance of the birth of the sage Agastya, divided the lump into nine portions,
which he preserved in jars of oil. In due time each portion became a male
infant. The king thus became the happy father of ten sons, all of whom were
carefully educated. But the eldest, Maurya, far excelled both in sense and
courage his nine brethren (called the nine Nandas). Time rolled on, and in
due time Maurya married and became the father of no less than a hundred
sons. Now he and his sons ranked much higher in popular estimation than
the Nandas, and were hated by them in consequence. When king Sarvártha
siddhi, oppressed by age and infirmities, contemplated (as in Hindu duty
bound) retiring to the forest to live the life of a Sanyási, he made over his
kingdom to the nine Nandas, appointing Maurya the commander of their army.
Though this denial of his having any right to the throne and the subordinate
part assigned him, was deeply felt by Maurya, he accepted the post, and bided
his time, But his brothers, equally fearing and hating him, planned his
destruction and that of his sons, They prepared an underground council
chamber in which they and Maurya and his sons were in the habit of assembling.
One day Maurya and his hundred sons were invited to this subterranean apart-
ment and when they were all in it the aperture was suddenly closed, and they
were left there to starve and die. One day's portion of food and drink for
each was however found-left, we may suppose, in mockery. Maurya and the
brothers select Chandragupta, the youngest of all as their avenger, and—
andabandoning to him their portion of food—die one by one of hunger. After many
days, a certain king sends the nine Nandas a lion in a cage, challenging them
to let out the lion without opening the cage. Chandragupta is thought of as
the only man to solve this enigma, and they open the cave to see if by any
