various collections of Nīti verses ascribed to Cāṇakya are known under different names. O.
Kressler made a study of these texts and fixed the number of Cāṇakya compendia to 17 versions.
(Indica, 4, Leipzig 1907). L. Sternbach has re-examined the problem and shown that these texts
can be divided into six versions: I. Vṛddha-Cāṇakya--Larger version II.
Vṛddha-Cāṇakya--Shorter version III. Cāṇakyanītiśāstra IV. Cāṇakyasārasaṅgraha V.
Laghu-Cāṇakya VI. Cāṇakyarājanītiśāstra. These versions and the Ur-Text have been
reconstructed and edited by L. Sternbach in Vishveshvaranand Indological Series.
Cāṇakyasaptati in seventy verses may perhaps be another version. See edn. by K. V. Sarma,
VVRI. Hoshiarpur. Mss. of these versions are given below. In the case of some of the mss.
details are not known and are included in the different versions on the basis of the titles.

I. Vṛddha-Cāṇakya-Longer version; also known as Cāṇakyanītidarpaṇa; in 17 chs.
containing about 342 verses. Beg. praNamya zirasA viSNuM…

Allahabad 141. BORI. 48 of 1866-68. 418 of 1899-1915. BORI. D. XIII. ii. 714. 716. NS. Press 208.
PUL. II. p. 278 (inc.).

For a ms. in University Library, Leiden, see Indo-Iranian Journal II. pp. 284 ff.

Ptd. (1) Dharmādhiratna Press, Bombay, 1847. (2) with Marathi transl. Jagaddhitecchu Press,
Poona, 1870. (3) N. S. Press, Bombay, 1874. (3) with Bhāṣā ṭīkā and dohā. Benares, 1947.
[Page005-a] (4) text reconstructed, L. Sternbach, Cāṇakyanīti Text Tradition I. i. pp.
1-104.

Transls.: English: (1) The Maxims of Cāṇakya by Raghunathji, Bombay, 1890. (2) by Sohanlal,
Addison Press, Lahore.

German: (1) O. Kressler, Ubersetzung einer Vṛddha Cāṇakya--Sammlung nach der Ausgabe,
Bombay, 1858. (2) in Sanskrit alphabetical order, by O. Böhtlingk in Indische Spruche. St.
Petersburg.

II. Vṛddha Cāṇakya--Shorter version. in 8 chs. containing from 109 to 173 verses.

Adyar D. V. 1227. AK. 564. America 2159 (1st part). (See Poona Ori. XXIV. p. 28). Baroda
6427. Bd. 514. 518. Bharatpur XI. 7-9 (in 8 chs.). Bikaner 3748. 3749 (inc. with Hindi C.). 3750
(inc. with Rajasthani C.). 3751 (with Rajasthani transl.). 3752-53 (with Rajasthani transl.). 3754
(inc.) (with Hindi transl.) 3755. Bikaner Rajasthani p. 138. BISM. vi. 306/7. 496/7. Bomb. Uni.
2243. 2244 (in 127 stanzas). BORI. 117 of 1881-82. 649 of 1883-84. 834 of 1886-92. 514, 518 of
1887-91. 424 of 1895-1902 (inc.). BORI. D. XIII. ii. 695 (fol. 5a-10a). 696 (fol. 4b-10b). 697 (fol.
7a-16a). 698 (fol. 1b-11a). 715. 717 (inc.). BP. p. 303. Bühler 554. CPB. 5316. Cs. II. p. 515. GB.
64 (8 chs.). IO. 3989 (inc.). 3991. Jodhpur 629. 630 (with vernacular C.). 631 (with vernacular C.).
Lz. 445 (157 verses). 446 (140 verses). Mandlik Sup. 255 (ii). Mithilā. MT. 2757 (b). Mysore I. p.
291. Nasik II. 410. Nepal [Page005-b] II. p. 105 (6 chs.). Oxf. 131b. P. 23. Peters. IV. p. 31 (no.
834). PUL. II. p. 278 (2 mss.). RASB. VII. 5480 (II. B). 5481. 5482. 5483. Skt. Coll. Ben.
1897-1901, pp. 140 (no. 567). 162 (no. 681) (inc.). Śṛṅgerī 302 (inc.). Stein 89 (2 mss.). TCD.
1154 (8 chs.). Trav. Uni. 1355A (chs. 1-7). 5408B. Triv. Cur. VII. 146. Udaipur II. 178. 4-5; 9. Wai
73. Weber 1590 (173 verses) (8 chs.).

Ptd. (1) with Hindi C. Agra, 1865. (2) Jnanasagara Press, Bombay, 1875. (3). L. Sternbach,
Cāṇakyanīti Text Tradition I. i. pp. 106-156.

--C. in Pkt. Mandlik Sup. 255 (ii).

III. Cāṇakya-nīti-śāstra version, called differently as Cāṇakyanīti, ºnītiśataka,
ºnītisārasaṅgraha, ºrājanīti, ºśataka, ºśloka, ºsāra, ºsārasaṅgraha; containing about
108 verses.

Adyar. Allahabad 70. 70. 70. 141. 141. America 2159 (II). 3501 (180 verses). Ānandāśrama 7093.
Ani. AS. p. 63 (2 mss.). Assam Kāvyas 14. B. II. 84. Bd. 400. 498. Bhk. 26. Bikaner Rajasthani p.
138 (2 mss.). p. 150. BORI. 316 of Ā881-82. 74 of 1883-84 (Bhojarāja). 355 of 1885-87. 833 of
1886-92. 400, 498 of 1887-91. 347, 348 of 1892-95 (Bhojarāja). BP. p. 262. Burnell 141b (7 mss.).
Cabaton I. 684 (I) (110 verses). Chani 373. CPB. 1656-60. 1662. 2665. Dacca 407. B (inc.). 437. A.
(124 verses). 437. B. 437. C (inc.). 874. G (inc.). 1284. 2074. H (inc.). 2081. D. 2131. C. 3150.
3570. 3775 (198 verses) (inc.). Damodar. Fl. 93. Gov. Or. Libr. Madras 27 (4 mss.). 43. H. 81. IL.
288 (II). IM. [Page006-a] 9395 (inc.). IO. 3990 (352 verses). 7204. JBhP. I. 828-30. Jey. Pal.
Orissa 13. Jhalrapatan p. 48. Jodiya II. 79. K. 78. Kāṭm. 6. Lucknow Mus. Lz. 447. MD. 3874.
12054. Mithilā. Müller Fund 41. MT. 488 (c) (of Telugu part) (inc.). NP. IIb. 120. Oppert II. 8211.
Oudh 1877, 64. XVII. 114. Pannalal Bombay II. p. 60. IV. p. 25. Paris (B 241 II). Peters. III. p.
395 (no. 338). IV. p. 31 (no. 833). PUL. II. p. 278 (3 mss.; 1 inc.). Radh. 21. RASB. VII. 5478.
5479 (67 verses). 5484 (81 verses, inc.). 5485 (2). 5486. 5487 (108 verses). Rgb. 355 (ºsāra). Skt.
Coll. Ben. 1904, p. 24 (no. 1410). SSPC. II. C. 52 (inc.). Taylor II. 369. Tb. 182 (d). TD. 18730-36
(inc.). Trav. Uni. 2010. Udaipur I. B. 124, 7. 209, 23. Vaṅgīya p. 196. Varendra 359. 1308.
1896.

For different editions see L. Sternbach, Cāṇakyanīti Text Tradition I. i. pp.
cxxi-cxxviii. and for reconstructed text see ibid. pp. 159-206.

IV. Cāṇakyasārasaṅgraha in 3 śatakas; found in Nepal.

For German transl. of most of the verses here see Böhtlingk, Indische Spruche 2nd edn.; on
the Weber mss. of this version, their Latin transl. and edn. see Johann Klatt, De Trecentis
Cāṇakyae poetae Indici sententis, Halis Saxonum, 1873.

AS. p. 246. Br. Mus. 245 (in 3 śatakas). 246 (in 3 śatakas) (with Nepalese gloss). Cabaton I.
551 (IV) (3 śatakas). CU. Add. 1346 (with Newari transl.). 1604 (with C.). 1659 (fr.). IO. 7205
(fr.). 7206 (in 3 śatakas with Nepalese gloss) [Page006-b] (Beg. praNamya zirasA buddhaM
trailokyAdhipatiM prabhum |). Nepal I. p. 60 (unspecified). Weber 1591 (with C. in Nepali).
1592.

On some Cāṇakya mss. in the Bir Library, Kathmandu, see L. Sternbach, Adyar Library
Bulletin XXV. pts. 1-4. pp. 49-54.

Ptd. (1) with Eng. and Bengali transl. Calcutta, 1888. (2) Text reconstructed, L. Sternbach,
Cāṇakyanīti Text Tradition, I. i. pp. 219-335.

V. Laghucāṇākya in 8 chs. containing 83-97 verses. AK. 564. Alwar 1319. America 2159 (I)
(See Poona Ori. XXIV. p. 28). Bd. 513. 514. Bikaner 3745 (with Hindi notes). 3746-47 (with Hindi
notes, inc.). 3749 (with Hindi C. inc.). 3750 (with Rajasthani C.) (inc.). 3751-53 (with Rajasthani
transl.). 3754 (with Hindi transl.) (inc.). 3755 (inc.). Bikaner Rajasthani pp. 127. 128 (inc.).
138. Bomb. Uni. 2242. 2243. BORI. 117 of 1881-82. 649 of 1883-84. 403 of 1884-87. 834 of 1886-92.
513, 514 of 1887-91. 419 of 1895-1902. BORI. D. XIII. ii. 622-98. CPB. 4903. Cs. II. pp. 513. 515.
X. C. 67(3) (fr.). Fl. 94. IO. 3989. 3991. Jodhpur 625. 626. 627 (4 chs.). 628 (with Vernacular C.).
Kavīndrācārya 2042. Kotah 83. Lz. 445. 446. Mandlik Sup. 214. 255 (i). (with C. in Pkt.). MT.
2757 (a). Nepal II. p. 105. Oppert I. 7390. P. 23. Ranbir 6218 (with Hindi). RASB. VII. 5480 (II-A).
5483. Rgb. 403. Skt. Coll. Ben. 1909, p. 12 (no. 1851). 1912-13, p. 5 (no. 2175) (with Bhāṣā C.).
1918-30, p. 116 (no. 923). Stein 89. TCD. 1153 (8 chs.). Trav. Uni. 5408A. Triv. Cur. 145.
[Page007-a]

Ptd. (1) Dēmētrion Galanon Athenaiou Indikōn metaphraseōn prodromos, periechōn... ēthologias,
gnomologias kai allēgorias…Sanakea synopsin gnōmikōn kai ēthikōn kai Zagannātha Panditarāza
allēgorika... Athens, 1845. (2) with Bhāṣā dohā ṭīkā, Brahma Press and Agra Press, Agra, 1865.
(3) with Hindi C., Jnanasagara Press, Bombay, 1875. (4) Laghucāṇakyam Sentenze pubblicate da E.
Teza, in Annali dalle Universita Toscane Tomo XVI. Pisa, 1879, pp. 352-404. (5) Un secondo
codice florentino inedito di Cāṇakya by E. Bartoli, in Rivista Indo-Greco-italica in 3. fasc.
3 & 4. pp. 151-56; 4. fasc. 3 & 4. pp. 129-33; 5. fasc. 3 & 4. pp. 115-9 under the title
Il codice napoletano di Cāṇakya. (6) text reconstructed, L. Sternbach, Cāṇakyanīti Text
Tradition I. ii. pp. 3-46.

Transl.: French: by Bezont, Paris, 1826.

Greek: Synopsin gnōmikōn kai e1thikōn by Demetrios Galanos, Athens, 1845; published
earlier by Kephalas in his own name. Rome, 1825.

--C. in Pkt. Mandlik Sup. 255 (i).

VI. Cāṇakyarājanītiśāstra in 8 chs. contains upto 658 verses. A great number of
stanzas correspond to the Bṛhaspatisam3hitā of Garuḍapurāṇa. For a comparative study with
Bṛhaspatisam3hitā of Garuḍapurāṇa see L. Sternbach, ABORI. XXXVII. pp. 58-110 and on an
unknown Cāṇakya ms. and Garuḍapurāṇa see Indo-Iranian Journal I. iii. pp. 186-200 and also
A New Abridged Version of the Bṛhaspatisam3hitā [Page007-b] of the Garuḍapurāṇa, Purana
Dept., All-India Kashiraja Trust, Varanasi, 1966. On a ms. of this version in America see Poona
Ori. XXIV. pp. 22-25. For a comparison of Tibetan text of Cāṇakyarājanītiśāstra
(Viśvabhāratī Annals, VIII) with other versions of Cāṇakyarājanīti see L. Sternbach,
ABORI. XLII. (1962) pp. 99-122.

America 3502. BORI. 74 of 1883-84. 347, 348 of 1892-95. Cs. II. p. 515 (no. 4). CU. Add. 1040.
Oxf. II. 1271 (ascribed to Bhojarāja). Peters. V. p. 254 (nos. 347. 348). See also L. Sternbach, A
new Cāṇakyarājanītiśāstra ms., Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay, 1958; and IndoIranian
Journal I. pp. 181-200.

Ptd. (1) Cal. Ori. Ser. 2. 1st edn. 1919; 2nd edn. 1926. (2) translation into Skt. from
Tibetan Tanjur, Visvabhāratī Annals VIII (1958). (3) Text reconstructed, L. Sternbach,
Cāṇakyanīti Text Tradition, I. ii. pp. 49-228.

Trnasl.: Italian: 4th and 5th adhys. Oscar Botto, Dal Trattato di cienza politica di
Cāṇakya. Un testo politico Indiano; in Rivista di Filosofia 41. ser. 3. 5. Firenze (1950) pp.
293-313.

VII. Cāṇakysaptati or Nītiśāstrasamuccaya in 70 verses; claimed to have been taught to
prince Candragupta by Cāṇakya.

Gov. Or. Libr. Madras 43. Hz. 993. p. 85. MD. 12054-57. 12058-60 (inc.). 12061. MT. 3790 (b)
(inc.). Paliyam 130 (b). Trav. Uni. L. 1332A.

Ed. by K. V. Sarma, VVRI. Hoshiarpur, 1965. [Page008-a]

On the sources of the Cāṇakyanīti verses see L. Sternbach, “Mahābhārata verses in
Cāṇakya's Compendia”, JAOS. 83. 1, pp. 30-67 (142 common verses); “Rāmāyaṇa verses in
Cāṇakya's Compendia”, Kaviraja Abhinandana Grantha, Lucknow, 1967; “Mānavadharma Śāstra
verses in Cāṇakya's Compendia”, JAOS. 79. 4, pp. 233-54; “Cāṇakya Aphorisms in the
Hitopadeśa” (AOS Reprint Series, 28); “The Cāṇakyarājanītiśāstra and the
Bṛhaspatisam3hitā of the Garuḍapurāṇa”, ABORI. XXXVII. pp. 58-110; also Indo-Iranian
Journal I. iii. pp. 181-200; The Subhāṣita-Saṅgrahas as Treasuries of Cāṇakya's sayings.
VVRI. Hoshiarpur, 1966. On the Cāṇakyanītiśāstra and the Tantrī Javanese) see A.
Venkatasubbiah, IHQ. XIII. pp. 506-513.

(Svapnādhyāya). Allahabad 180 (13).

by Mathureśa Bhaṭṭācārya. (collected ?). Allahabad 141.

Allahabad 141. Gov. Or. Libr. Madras 27 (3 mss.).

See Cāṇakyanīti, version I; Vṛddha Cāṇakya--longer version.

by Gajānana. CPB. 1661.

See Cāṇakyanīti, version III.

maxims on Rājanīti compiled from various collections of maxims attributed to Cāṇakya. Ed. L.
Sternbach. Adyar Library Series 92. 1963.

Gough p. 141.

Ani. Cr. Cranganore II. 108. CU. Add. 1539. Mithilā. Varendra 359.

Q. by Ujjvaladatta in his Vṛtti on Uṇādisūtras, p. 105, Calcutta edn. See Cāṇakyanīti,
version III. [Page008-b]

BP. p. 223b.

by Mathureśa Bhaṭṭācārya. IM. 553.

IL. 288 (II). Nepal I. p. 60. See Cāṇakyanīti.

See above Cāṇakyanīti, version VII.

See Cāṇakyanīti, version III.

571 nītisūtras by Cāṇakya. Ānandāśrama 3813. Brahmasva Maṭha 60. GD. 1305-1309
(nītisūtra). Granthappura p. 69, nos. 1305-1309. MD. 15476. 15732. 18724. MT. 1848 (a). 7442
(inc.). Mysore I. p. 291 (ºnītisūtra). Oppert I. 2826. 5971. Paliyam 112 (b). 910 (f). 913 (b).
PUL. II. p. 278 (2 mss.; one inc.). TCD. 1109 C. (Nayasūtravākya). 1144 B. 1466B. 1606B. Tra. Ad.
Rep. 1113, 11 (Nītisūtra). Trav. Uni. L. 101 E. C. 2085 B. C. 2369 B. C. 2537 B.

Probably later than Arthaśāstra. See Jolly, IHQ. III. pp. 669-76.

Ptd. (1) as app. to edn. of Arthaśāstra, Mysore Govt. Ori. Ser. 37/54. 1919. (2) ed. by
Isvarachandra Sarma Sastri, Calcutta, 1931. (3) with Hindi transl. and explanation, Svādhyāya
Maṇḍal, Pardi, 1959.

variant of Cāṇakya. See cANikyamANikya name of Cāṇakyanītiśāstra. See text no. VI.
above Oxf. II. 1271 ascribed to Bhoja. ‘cANikya-mANikyamidaM kaNThe’

Jain. by Devācārya Waranga 59 (k).

Jain. Chani 3908.

from Mahābhārata (XIII, 101). BORI. 156 of 1884-87. Rgb. 156.

PUL. II. App. p. 56. [Page009-a]

or Caṇḍūpaṇḍita son of Āligapaṇḍita and Gaurī; a Nāgara brahman of Dholkā
(Dhavalakkaka) near Ahmedabad; elder brother of Tālhaṇa (who restored and corrected his C. on
Naiṣadhīya partly burnt during the Muslim in vasion); student of Vaidyanātha; studied
Naiṣadhīya under Munideva and Mahābhārata under Narasim3ha; describes himself as a poet, priest,
philosopher and commentator on Ṛv. and as the second commentator on Naiṣadhīya, his single
predecessor being Vidyādhara, i. e., Cāritravardhana Muni. 15th Cent. A. D. See Ind. Ant. 4.
p. 315. Kane, HDS. I. 366-72. See Intro. pp. xxii-xviii, Naiṣadhīyacarita by K. K. Handiqui.
2nd edn. Poona, 1956.

--C. on Ṛgveda. ref. to in his C. on Naiṣadha. See NCC. II. p. 19b.

--C. on Naiṣadhīyacarita. BORI. D. XIII. i. 388. Composed in 1297 A. D. as mentioned by a. at
the end of his C. on Canto XXII. See Gode, J. Myth. Soc. 18. p.

For extrs. see Handiqui op. cit. p. 355 ff.

in 21 verses. an. Dacca 1186.

kāvya in 141 verses by Vāsudeva, a Brahmin of Tirumāndhānkunnu in Kerala who had taken
refuge in Travancore at the time of Tippu's invasion; the theme is a request for patronage from the
King of Travancore.

See JRAS. 1884, pp. 403. 449 and 451 and IHQ. III. p. 276. Also Contribution of Kerala
to Skt. Lit. p. 179.

an. Ani. Bikaner 3314 (2nd in a collection Subhāṣitāṣṭakasaṅgraha). [Page009-b] Dacca 202.
H. 3 (small tract). 394 O. Tüb. 9.

Ptd. Kāvyasaṅgraha, ed. by J. Haeberlin, pp. 237-239. Calcutta, 1847.