Significance- the political unity was achieved in India for the very first time with the foundation of the Mauryan empire

Kautilya’s Arthashastra

• Written by Kautilya, a contemporary of Chandragupta Maurya, most important literary source for the history of the Maurya
• Kautilya was also called Indian Machiavelli
• The manuscript of Arthashahstra was first discovered by R. Shama Sastri in 1904
• The Arthashastra is divided into three parts-
  • The first deals with the king and his council and the department and government 
  • The second with civil and criminal law
  • The third with diplomacy and war

Visakadatta’s Mudrarakshasa

• Written by Visakadatta is a drama in Sanskrit which describes how Chandragupta with the assistance of Kautilya overthrew the Nandas (but written during the Gupta period)
• It also gives a picture on the socio-economic condition under the Mauryas

Megasthenes’ Indica

• He was the Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya
• His book gives details about 
  • The Mauryan administration, particularly the administration of the capital city of Pataliputra and also the military organization 
  • Picture on contemporary social life

Other literatures

• The Puranas and the Buddhist literature such as Jatakas provide information on the Mauryas
• The Ceylonese Chronicles Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa throw light on the role Asoka in spreading Buddhism in Sri Lanka