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{{Infobox character
| name = Rakshasa
| occupation = Prime Minister
| title = Amatya
| first_major = [[Mudrarakshasa]]
| creator = [[Vishakhadatta]]
}}

'''Rakshasa''' is a character in the ancient Indian [[Sanskrit]]-language play ''[[Mudrarakshasa]]''. In the play, he holds the post of ''[[Amatya]]'' (prime minister) in the [[Nanda Empire|Nanda]] and [[Maurya Empire|Maurya]] courts of [[Magadha]]. Originally a minister of the Nanda king, he escapes during [[Chandragupta Maurya]]'s conquest of the Nanda empire. He then makes several attempts to overthrow Chandragupta, but each time, he is outsmarted by Chandragupta's advisor [[Chanakya]]. Finally, he agrees to give up the resistance, and accepts the post of ''amatya'' in the Maurya court.{{sfn|Varadpande|2005|pp=227-231}}{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|pp=37-40 }}

== ''Mudrarakshasa'' biography ==

Rakshasa appears in [[Vishakhadatta]]'s play [[Mudrarakshasa]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Mudra Rakshasa, Or The Signet Of The Minister, A Drama, In Seven Acts|publisher=Visakhadata|year=1831|pages=154}}</ref>

In the ''Mudrarakshasa'', [[Chanakya]] feels insulted by the [[Nanda Empire|Nanda]] king, and overthrows him with help of his protege [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]] and another powerful king Parvateshvara (or Parvata).{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|pp=36–37}} Nanda's prime minister Rakshasa escapes the royal capital [[Pataliputra]], and makes several attempts to overthrow Chandragupta. For example, he sends a [[vishakanya]] (poison girl) to assassinate Chandragupta. Chanakya makes this girl assassinate Parvata instead, with the blame going to Rakshasa. Parvata's son Malayaketu learns the truth about his father's death, and allies with Rakshasa.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=37}} On another occasion, Rakshasa arranges for assassins to be transported to Chandragupta's bedroom via a tunnel. Chanakya notices a trail of ants carrying the leftovers of their food, and has them burned to death.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=38}}

=== Absconding from Magadha ===
For the task of getting Chandragupta Maurya killed, Amatya Rakshasa made an alliance with some of Chandragupta's enemies.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Śāstrī|first=Haridatta|title=Saṃskr̥ta-kāvyakāra|year=1962|pages=211}}</ref>

Rakshasa failed several times in his plan to get Chandragupta killed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Caudharī|first=Vimalā|title=Prācīna Bhārata meṃ guptacara-vyavasthā|year=1993|pages=111, 114, 115}}</ref> He tried having some kings attack [[Pataliputra]], the Maurya capital, but the plan failed due to Chanakya's intelligent tactics.

Meanwhile, Chanakya knew that it was dangerous for a clever leader like Amatya Rakshasa to hold a grudge against the king.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Prasad|first=Jaishankar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QpqGKzou7-wC|title=Prasad Ke Sampoorn Natak Evam Ekanki|year=2008|isbn=9788180313455|pages=64}}</ref> Soon, Chanakya made plans to capture Amatya Rakshasa by luring him to return to Magadha. Chanakya spread rumors among certain people in Magadha, thanks to which he arrested one of Amatya Rakshas's associates. Chanakya knew that Amatya Rakshasa would come searching for his associate, or try to free him.<ref name="Prakāśana 1969 129, 207, 369">{{Cite book|last=Prakāśana|first=Viśvavidyālaya|title=Mahākaviviśākhadattapraṇitaṃ Mudrārākṣasam: Ramānāmnyā Saṃskr̥taṭīkayā, rāshṭrabhāshānuvādena, ṭippaṇyā,bhāvasaṃvalitayā vistr̥tabhūmikayā ca sanāthīkr̥tam|publisher=Viśākhadatta|year=1969|pages=129, 207, 369}}</ref>

=== Becoming the Amatya of the Maurya Empire ===
Rakshasa was tracked and captured finally by Chanakya, as per his plan.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=RP|first=Jain|title=Chanakya Neeti|year=2013|pages=16}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name="Prakāśana 1969 129, 207, 369"/> Chanakya told Rakshasa about his plan to make him the prime minister of Chandragupta's empire as Rakshasa had diligence and patriotism towards [[Magadha]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Parashar|first=Dr. Ashwini|title=Mahamatya Chankaya|pages=117}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=September 18, 2014|title=After Altered Changed the Scene Itself|work=Amarujala|url=https://www.amarujala.com/spirituality/metaphysical-parasychology/after-altered-changed-the-scene-itself-hindi}}</ref> Chanakya knew very well about Rakshas' efficient administrative skills and diplomatic tactics. Chanakya asked Rakshasa to become the Principal Amatya (Maha Amatya) of the Mauryan empire and to serve the kingdom with the same diligence and faithfulness he showed during the Nanda rule.<ref name=":1" /> Rakshasa was initially reluctant to do so. Chanakya convinced Rakshasa to become the Maha Amatya as he would be an extraordinary royal advisor.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Śukla|first=Rāmacandra|title=Mudrārākṣasa-nāṭakam|publisher=Viśākhadatta|year=1970|pages=502}}</ref> Finally, Amatya Rakshasa agreed to Chanakya for the benefit of Magadha.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mo. Ga.|first=Tapasvi|title=Rashtraya Namah|year=2001}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Śarmā|first=Hemanta|title=Bharatendu samagra: Bharatendu gramthavali. Sabhi khanda aura aneka alabhya samagri jilda mem}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Guptā|first=Sureśacandra|title=Mudrārākshasa|publisher=Viśākhadatta|year=1963|pages=135}}</ref> Amatya Rakshasa then realized Chanakya's dignity and overcame his enmity with him.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Chanakya Prapanch|pages=10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Upadhyay|first=Bhagwatsharan|title=Bharat Ki Nadiyon Ki Kahani|pages=18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Ramvilas|title=Bhartendu Harishchandra Aur Hindi Navjagaran Ki Samasyayeen|year=1999|pages=118}}</ref>

== Film and television ==

* The 1991 TV series ''[[Chanakya (TV series)|Chanakya]]'' is an archetypal account of the life and times of Chanakya, based on the play ''[[Mudrarakshasa]]''. Amatya Rakshasa is played by [[Surendra Pal]].
* In ''[[Chandragupta Maurya (2011 TV series)|Chandragupta Maurya]]'', a 2011 TV series on [[NDTV Imagine]] produced by [[Sagar Arts]], Amatya Rakshasa is played by actor [[Tej Sapru]].
* ''[[Chandra Nandini]]'', a 2016 historical drama television series of Chandragupta Maurya.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 10, 2017|title=Chandra Nandini 10 July 2017 Written Update of Full Episode: Chanakya Asks Chandra Not To Kill Amatya Rakshas|work=india.com|url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/chandra-nandini-10-july-2017-written-update-of-full-episode-chanakya-asks-chandra-not-to-kill-amatya-rakshas-2309463/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=July 14, 2017|title=Chandra Nandini 14 July 2017, Written Update of Full Episode: Amatya Rakshasa tells Nandini that Malayketu wants to murder Bindusara|work=bollywoodlife.com|url=https://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/chandra-nandini-14-july-2017-written-update-of-full-episode-amatya-rakshas-tells-nandini-that-malayketu-wants-to-murder-bindusara-1019443/}}</ref>
* The 2015 [[Colors TV]] drama, ''[[Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat]]'', features Amatya Rakshasa during the reign of Chandragupta's son, Bindusara. Rakshasa is played by [[Amit Behl]].
* [[Nimai Bali]] played Amatya Rakshasa in the historical television series [[Porus (TV series)|''Porus'']] between 2017–2018.
* ''[[Chandragupta Maurya (2018 TV series)|Chandragupta Maurya]]'', a 2018 television show based on the life of Chandragupta Maurya. Amatya Rakshasa was played by actor [[Nimai Bali]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 26, 2018|title=Nimai Bali and other 65 crew members of Sony TV's Chandragupta Maurya go BALD! Here's why...|work=tellychakkar.com|url=https://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/nimai-bali-and-other-65-crew-members-of-sony-tv-s-chandragupta-maurya-go-bald-here-s-why}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Chanakya]]
* [[Dhana Nanda]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

* {{citation |first=Thomas R. |last=Trautmann |author-link=Thomas Trautmann |title=Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3iDAAAAMAAJ |year=1971 |publisher=Brill }}
* {{citation |first=Manohar Laxman |last=Varadpande |title=History of Indian Theatre |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fOZB7MbeMrAC&pg=PA223 |year=2005 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=978-81-7017-430-1 }}
* [[Vishakhadatta|Visakhadatta]] (1837), [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=-5xXAAAAcAAJ The Mudra Rakshasa, Or The Signet Of The Minister, A Drama, In Seven Acts].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rakshas, Amatya}}
[[Category:370s BC births]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian people]]

Rakshasa (amatya) - Revision history

imported>Zinnober9 at 05:18, 6 July 2021