Chandra Guptha Maurya

The present state of Bihar of India was once upon a time known as Magadha. Its capital was Pataliputhra (present day Patna). This country was once ruled by a tyrant called Maha Nanda. He had a cousin called Mura who was a great warrior. Maha Nanda had nine very cruel sons called Upanandas. They felt that existence of Mura and his family posed a great danger for them. So they invited all the one hundred family members of Mura for a feast .Once all the guests took their seats for the feast, Upanandas, vanished from the place and securely locked the hall of feast. Mura understood what happened and wanted to take revenge. He clearly understood that all of them will die. So the youngest and the wisest of the Muras called Chandra Guptha Maurya was chosen to live He was made to promise that he would avenge the treachery and their deaths. All the others in the hall did not touch their food and died. This Chandra Guptha Maurya had food for one hundred days and eating frugally he lived on. After about two months, the Upanandas out of their curiosity opened the hall and surprised to find Chandra Guptha alive. Chandra Guptha saluted them and told “Sir All my relations committed suicide because they did not like you. But I liked you all and thought that by mistake the hall was closed.” Upanandas told Chandra Guptha, “Cousin, you are very right. It was bad that your relatives died like this. From now onwards, we would take care of you.” Please be the head of our dining hall and arrange to feed our guests.”

Chandra Guptha Maurya agreed for this and stated looking after their guest house. One day, while he was standing on the terrace of his guest house, he saw a strange sight. A poor lean and energetic Brahmin was walking towards the guest house. While walking he fell down because of an overgrown grass, which caught his feet. That Brahmin became very angry. He uprooted the entire grass plant and burnt it. Then he took the ashes, mixed in a tumbler of water and drank it. Chandra Guptha Maurya was impressed. He ran out received the Brahmin and invited him for lunch in the guest house. Once he entered the dining hall, that Brahmin wanted to take food in the golden plate which was reserved for the Upanandas. Chandra Guptha Maurya told that Brahmin, “Sir, these are the golden plates reserved for the kings. They would become angry, if I serve food in their plates to you. “That Brahmin said, “Young lad, do you know that I am Vishnu Sharman also called as Chanakya and Kautiliya. I am the king of knowledge of this great country.”

Chandra Guptha served food for Chanakya in that golden plate. At that time, Upanandas walked in to the hall. They were angry at Chandra Guptha and asked their servants to throw out Chanakya. Chanakya was enraged. He swore, “You do not know what you have done. I swear by the Gods, that I would put an end to you and all your family and make this boy the king of Magadha. Till that time I would not tie my hair.”

He did exactly that by his diplomacy and wit. Chandra Guptha Maurya became the king of Magadha became a great king of not only Magadha but also India.” (Please read Mudhra Rakshasa to know how Chanakya kept his promise)