Rakshasa was initially reluctant to do so. 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. Chanakya knew very well about Rakshas' efficient administrative skills and diplomatic tactics.

Chanakya told Rakshasa about his plan to make him the prime minister of Chandragupta's empire as Rakshasa had diligence and patriotism towards Magadha. Rakshasa was tracked and captured finally by Chanakya, as per his plan. Becoming the Amatya of the Maurya Empire Chanakya knew that Amatya Rakshasa would come searching for his associate, or try to free him. Chanakya spread rumors among certain people in Magadha, thanks to which he arrested one of Amatya Rakshas's associates. Soon, Chanakya made plans to capture Amatya Rakshasa by luring him to return to Magadha. Meanwhile, Chanakya knew that it was dangerous for a clever leader like Amatya Rakshasa to hold a grudge against the king. He tried having some kings attack Pataliputra, the Maurya capital, but the plan failed due to Chanakya's intelligent tactics. Rakshasa failed several times in his plan to get Chandragupta killed. Absconding from Magadha įor the task of getting Chandragupta Maurya killed, Amatya Rakshasa made an alliance with some of Chandragupta's enemies. Chanakya notices a trail of ants carrying the leftovers of their food, and has them burned to death. On another occasion, Rakshasa arranges for assassins to be transported to Chandragupta's bedroom via a tunnel. Parvata's son Malayaketu learns the truth about his father's death, and allies with Rakshasa. Chanakya makes this girl assassinate Parvata instead, with the blame going to Rakshasa. For example, he sends a vishakanya (poison girl) to assassinate Chandragupta.

Nanda's prime minister Rakshasa escapes the royal capital Pataliputra, and makes several attempts to overthrow Chandragupta.

In the Mudrarakshasa, Chanakya feels insulted by the Nanda king, and overthrows him with help of his protege Chandragupta and another powerful king Parvateshvara (or Parvata). Rakshasa appears in Vishakhadatta's play Mudrarakshasa. 1.2 Becoming the Amatya of the Maurya Empire.

Chanakya episode