The Mudrarakshasa (मुद्राराक्षस, IAST: Mudrārākṣasa, transl. 'The Signet of the Minister') is a Sanskrit-language play by Vishakhadatta that narrates the ascent of the king Chandragupta Maurya (r. c. 324 – c. 297 BCE) to power in India. The play is an example of creative writing, but not entirely fictional.[1] It is dated variously from the late 4th century[2] to the 8th century CE.[3]
There is a Tamil version based on the Sanskrit play[4] and Keshavlal Dhruv translated the original into Gujarati as Mel ni Mudrika (1889). There is a Kannada version of the play Mudramanjusha written by Kempunarayana.
The later episodes of the TV series Chanakya were based mostly on the Mudrarakshasa.
Feature film
A film in Sanskrit was made in 2006 by Dr Manish Mokshagundam, using the same plot as the play but in a modern setting.[5]
Antonio Marazzi (1871), Teatro scelto indiano tr. dal sanscrito (Italian translation), D. Salvi e c.
Kashinath Trimbak Telang (1884), Mudrarakshasa With the Commentary of Dhundiraja (written in 1713 CE) edited with Sanskrit text, critical and explanatory notes, introduction and various readings, Tukârâm Javajī. Second edition 1893, Fifth edition 1915. Sixth edition 1918, reprinted 1976 and by Motilal Banarsidass, 2000.
Ludwig Fritze (1886), Mudrarakschasa: oder, Des kanzlers siegelring (German translation), P. Reclam jun.
Victor Henry (1888), Le sceau de Râkchasa: (Moudrârâkchasa) drame sanscrit en sept actes et un prologue (French translation), Maisonneuve & C. Leclerc
Moreshvar Ramchandra Kāle (1900), The Mudrárákshasa: with the commentary of Dhundirája, son of Lakshmana (and a complete English translation)
Hillebrandt, Alfred (1912). Mudrarakshasa Part-i.
K. H. Dhruva (1923), (2 ed.), Poona Oriental Series (Volume 25), archived from the original on 23 June 2010, retrieved 21 May 2010. Reprint 2004, ISBN81-8220-009-1 First edition 1900
Vasudeva Abhyankar Shastri; Kashinath Vasudeva Abhyanker (1916), Mudraraksasam: a complete text; with exhaustive, critical grammatical and explanatory notes, complete translation, and introduction, Ahmedabad{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Ananta Paṇḍita (1945), Dasharatha Sharma (critical introduction) (ed.), Mudrarakshasapurvasamkathanaka of Anantasarman (with an anonymous prose narrative), Bikaner: Anup Sanskrit Library
P. Lal (1964), Great Sanskrit Plays, in Modern Translation, New Directions Publishing, ISBN978-0-8112-0079-0
J. A. B. van Buitenen (1968), Two plays of ancient India: The little clay cart, The minister's seal, Columbia University Press Review
Sri Nelaturi Ramadasayyangaar (1972), Mudra Rakshasam, Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy (In Telugu script, with Telugu introduction and commentary) Another version
Michael Coulson (2005), Rākṣasa's ring (translation), NYU Press, ISBN978-0-8147-1661-8. Originally published as part of Three Sanskrit plays (1981, Penguin Classics).
ReferencesEdit
CitationsEdit
^Romila Thapar (2013). The Past Before Us. Harvard University Press. p. 403. ISBN978-0-674-72652-9.
^Manohar Laxman Varadpande (1 September 2005). History Of Indian Theatre. Abhinav Publications. pp. 223–. ISBN978-81-7017-430-1. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
^Upinder Singh (1 September 2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson Education India. pp. 30–. ISBN978-81-317-1120-0. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
^Viśākhadatta; S. M. Natesa Sastri (1885), Mudrarakshasam: A tale in Tamil founded on the Sanskrit drama, Madras School Book and Vernacular Literature Society
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mudrarakshasa.
August 30, 2023
mudrarakshasa, षस, iast, mudrārākṣasa, transl, signet, minister, sanskrit, language, play, vishakhadatta, that, narrates, ascent, king, chandragupta, maurya, power, india, play, example, creative, writing, entirely, fictional, dated, variously, from, late, cen. The Mudrarakshasa म द र र क षस IAST Mudrarakṣasa transl The Signet of the Minister is a Sanskrit language play by Vishakhadatta that narrates the ascent of the king Chandragupta Maurya r c 324 c 297 BCE to power in India The play is an example of creative writing but not entirely fictional 1 It is dated variously from the late 4th century 2 to the 8th century CE 3 MudrarakshasaWritten byVishakhadattaCharactersChandragupta Maurya Chanakya Rakshasa Malayketu son of Parvataka Parvatak Vaidhorak Durdhara Ambhi Kumar Helena Bhadraketu Chandandasa JeevsidhhiOriginal languageSanskritGenreIndian classical dramaSettingPataliputra 3rd century BCE Contents 1 Characters 2 Adaptations 3 Editions 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 SourcesCharacters EditChandragupta Maurya one of the protagonists Chanakya one of the protagonists Rakshasa the main antagonist Malayketu the son of Parvataka and one of the henchmen Parvatak a greedy king who firstly supported Chandragupta but later changed his preference to Dhana Nanda Vaidhorak Durdhara wife of Chandragupta Maurya Bhadraketu Chandandasa JeevsidhhiAdaptations EditThere is a Tamil version based on the Sanskrit play 4 and Keshavlal Dhruv translated the original into Gujarati as Mel ni Mudrika 1889 There is a Kannada version of the play Mudramanjusha written by Kempunarayana The later episodes of the TV series Chanakya were based mostly on the Mudrarakshasa Feature filmA film in Sanskrit was made in 2006 by Dr Manish Mokshagundam using the same plot as the play but in a modern setting 5 Editions EditFurther information List of Sanskrit plays in English translation Antonio Marazzi 1871 Teatro scelto indiano tr dal sanscrito Italian translation D Salvi e c Kashinath Trimbak Telang 1884 Mudrarakshasa With the Commentary of Dhundiraja written in 1713 CE edited with Sanskrit text critical and explanatory notes introduction and various readings Tukaram Javaji Second edition 1893 Fifth edition 1915 Sixth edition 1918 reprinted 1976 and by Motilal Banarsidass 2000 Ludwig Fritze 1886 Mudrarakschasa oder Des kanzlers siegelring German translation P Reclam jun Victor Henry 1888 Le sceau de Rakchasa Moudrarakchasa drame sanscrit en sept actes et un prologue French translation Maisonneuve amp C Leclerc Moreshvar Ramchandra Kale 1900 The Mudrarakshasa with the commentary of Dhundiraja son of Lakshmana and a complete English translation Hillebrandt Alfred 1912 Mudrarakshasa Part i K H Dhruva 1923 Mudrarakshasa or the signet ring a Sanskrit drama in seven acts by Visakhadatta with complete English translation 2 ed Poona Oriental Series Volume 25 archived from the original on 23 June 2010 retrieved 21 May 2010 Reprint 2004 ISBN 81 8220 009 1 First edition 1900 Vasudeva Abhyankar Shastri Kashinath Vasudeva Abhyanker 1916 Mudraraksasam a complete text with exhaustive critical grammatical and explanatory notes complete translation and introduction Ahmedabad a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Ananta Paṇḍita 1945 Dasharatha Sharma critical introduction ed Mudrarakshasapurvasamkathanaka of Anantasarman with an anonymous prose narrative Bikaner Anup Sanskrit Library P Lal 1964 Great Sanskrit Plays in Modern Translation New Directions Publishing ISBN 978 0 8112 0079 0 J A B van Buitenen 1968 Two plays of ancient India The little clay cart The minister s seal Columbia University Press Review Sri Nelaturi Ramadasayyangaar 1972 Mudra Rakshasam Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy In Telugu script with Telugu introduction and commentary Another version Michael Coulson 2005 Rakṣasa s ring translation NYU Press ISBN 978 0 8147 1661 8 Originally published as part of Three Sanskrit plays 1981 Penguin Classics References EditCitations Edit Romila Thapar 2013 The Past Before Us Harvard University Press p 403 ISBN 978 0 674 72652 9 Manohar Laxman Varadpande 1 September 2005 History Of Indian Theatre Abhinav Publications pp 223 ISBN 978 81 7017 430 1 Retrieved 6 June 2012 Upinder Singh 1 September 2008 A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India From the Stone Age to the 12th Century Pearson Education India pp 30 ISBN 978 81 317 1120 0 Retrieved 6 June 2012 Visakhadatta S M Natesa Sastri 1885 Mudrarakshasam A tale in Tamil founded on the Sanskrit drama Madras School Book and Vernacular Literature Society Film promo Sources Edit Mookerji Radha Kumud 1988 first published in 1966 Chandragupta Maurya and his times 4th ed Motilal Banarsidass ISBN 81 208 0433 3 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mudrarakshasa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mudrarakshasa amp oldid 1146754220 Malayaketu, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
