Chandragupta Maurya: A Gem of Indian History

A Ksatriya hero of little-known antecedents, Chandragupta Maurya was unmistakably a born leader of men, within twenty-four years of his reign: 317 BC-293, established a gigantic empire by not unifying the countless fragments of a distracted India but annexing some of the erstwhile Persian dominions as well. Professor Bhargava here profiles this “first historical emperor of India”, in all essential detail.

Based on diverse original sources, notably, Brahmanical, Buddhist, Jaina, and Greek, the book sets out a fascinating, well-knit narrative delineating Chandragupta Maurya: the man, his times, and his meteoric rise to political supremacy – with a contextual focus on the state of polity, administrative mechanisms, religion, society, economy, literature, and arts during his rule. The author also tries to apply correctives to the myths woven around Chandragupta in legend, literature, and chronicles.

Acclaimed alike by historians and Indological journals of repute, Dr. Bhargava’s book is now in its second: enlarged and thoroughly revised against the backdrop of the latest research finding.

About the Author:

Dr. P.L. Bhargava is an eminent Indologist, who retired as Professor and Head of the Sanskrit Department, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. A historian of equal renown too, he had been at the McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, for about two years: 1974-76, as a Visiting Professor of Religion. His Ph.D. thesis, entitled: India in the Vedic Age was hailed as “the most original work of our times” (U.N. Ghoshal), “a distinct advance over Pargiter’s work” (A.S. Altekar), and “a brilliant sorting out of the very complexion data into the clear and logical pattern” (A.L. Basham).

A recipient of many academic honors – the latest among which being the 1994-94 President’s Award for “Eminent Sanskritists”, Professor Bhargava has already published eight books and over 60 papers.

 

CONTENTS

	Preface to the second edition	vii
	Preface to the first edition	ix
	Map of India in 300 BC.	xiii
1.	Chronology and Sources	1
2.	Rise and Growth of the Kingdom of Magadha	15
3.	Career of Chandragupta	33
4.	Administration of the Empire	49
5.	Religious, Social and Economic Conditions	71
6.	Literature and Art	99
7.	Achievements of Chandragupta	113
8.	Legends of Chandragupta	117
	Appendix	129
	Bibliography	133
	Index	141