• Dr. Subhajyoti Borgohain

The Mudrārākṣasa of Viśākhadatta is one of the great Sanskrit plays which have been able to occupy by virtue of its various qualities, a unique position in the world of dramatic literature. It is of seven Acts. It is a drama based on political intrigues of Cāṇakya, the minister of the Maurya king Candragupta of Pāṭaliputra. This Cāṇakya had destroyed the Nanda dynasty and placed Candragupta on the throne as the first Maurya emperor. To make Candragupta secure, Cāṇakya presses Rākṣasa, the former minister of the Nandas into the service of their Maurya successor as a minister. The reconciliation of Rākṣasa was not an easy task as he still professed loyalty to his former patron. But the task was accomplished through a certain ‘signet ring’. Rākṣasa being won by a signet ring is the principal theme of the play. In this drama, the dramatist shows the social and political conditions of that age and his aim is to depict the picture of the skilful application of the political ways in proper time and proper place. He has discussed different aspects of politics- administration, tackling the enemies and applies suitable tricks in proper place etc. In this play, there is no bloodshed, no fighting, no clash of battlefield, yet the enemy is perturbed and defeated and proper application of very sharp intelligence and policy which accomplish the enemy to surrender to the victor. The historical method has been adopted along with the textual to address the objective cited above.

Keywords: Marriage, Caste system, Food and drink, Religious sacraments, Teacher and the taught, Family relation etc.

"Social aspects in the Mudrārākṣasa of Viśākhadatta", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no.451-460, May-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905469.pdf

"Social aspects in the Mudrārākṣasa of Viśākhadatta", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no. pp451-460, May-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905469.pdf