A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SPYING IN MUDRĀRĀKṢASA

Abstract

The Mahābhārata and the Arthaśāstra of Kautiliya are the two most important works on Indian polity. Some of our great poets, Bhāsa, Kālidāsa, Bhāravi, Māgha and Viśākhadtta have also delineated political themes in their works. From all these sources we can gather a fair idea regarding various political institutions in ancient India and know that one of these important political institutions was the institution of SPYING. Spying is intuitive in man, and it is therefore as old as the human race. Curiosity and urge for self-protection are inborn in man. These two were at the root of the habit of Spying. From the very primitive age mankind adopted the art of spying and practised it consciously or unconsciously. Our Epics, the Rāmāyaṇa and the Mahābhārata and some of the purāṇas presented a remarkable form of well-devised and well-established political thoughts along with proper references to the art of spying. Thereafter, Bhāravi and Viśākhadtta have started their works, Kirātārjunīyam and Mudrārākṣasam, respectively with the episode of spying.