Chandragupta Maurya

The Story

Tradition says Chandragupta was of humble origin, orphaned young, and sold to a hunter — until the teacher Chanakya saw the boy playing king among his friends and recognised a future emperor. Chanakya trained him at Takshashila, and together they raised an army that defeated the Nandas and crowned Chandragupta master of Magadha.

He expanded the empire westward, defeating the Greek satraps left by Alexander, and his court at Pataliputra became the wonder of the ancient world. The Greek ambassador Megasthenes described a capital of wooden palaces, gardens, and a state of meticulous administration — a portrait of governance that amazed of Bhārat the West.

According to tradition, Chandragupta was drawn to the Jain faith in his later years, abdicated his throne, and ended his life in the south as an ascetic, fasting at Shravanabelagola. He passed the empire to his son Bindusara — and his line, culminating in Ashoka, ruled Bhārat's greatest ancient kingdom.