Which Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta dramatizes Chandragupta Maurya's rise?

Mudrarakshasa is the Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta that dramatizes Chandragupta Maurya’s rise to power. Its title is often translated as “The Signet Ring of Rakshasa,” referring to the royal minister Rakshasa, a central figure in the plot.

The drama focuses on the political struggle surrounding the fall of the Nanda dynasty and Chandragupta’s consolidation of power. Chanakya, Chandragupta’s strategist, works to win over Rakshasa, the capable minister who remains loyal to the defeated Nanda ruler. Intrigue, diplomacy, espionage, and shifting alliances drive the story.

The play is set around Pataliputra and features historical figures alongside dramatic invention. It is not a straightforward chronicle: Vishakhadatta reshaped earlier political traditions into classical Sanskrit theatre. Scholars date the work variously, from approximately the late fourth century to later centuries CE.

The other options are different Sanskrit dramas. Malavikagnimitram is associated with Kalidasa, Ratnavali with King Harsha, and Mrichchhakatika is commonly translated as The Little Clay Cart.