There is no clear mention of Chanakya's death anywhere. Legend is available in Jain literature. It is said that Chanakya fasted to death in the forest. Actually, according to that legend Chanakya was murdered! Its origin is uncertain. The story goes like this- Chanakya had an enemy named Subandhu. He told Chandragupta Maurya's son Bindusara how his mother had died. Chanakya killed Bindusara's mother. Meaning, that Chanakya killed Bindusara's mother to save him. It also has a story.

Chanakya used to poison Chandragupta Maurya every day. As Chanakya suspected that Chandragupta would be poisoned by his enemies, he secretly gave Chandragupta a drop of poison in his food every day because no poison should kill Chandragupta as if the body was getting used to the poison. It is said that one day when Chandragupta's wife was heavily pregnant, Chandragupta fed his wife food mixed with a drop of poison. The poison was so strong that Chandragupta's wife was bedridden and almost died.

If Chanakya, who rushed to know that matter, leaves like this, Chandragupta Maurya will have no successor. Chandragupta's child to save the Mauryan empire he thought of protecting homes. Then the pregnant woman's stomach is full and the child is taken out. Then Chandragupta's wife dies. Bindusara is the one born like that. He is called Bindusara because he was born due to a drop of poison. He grew up playing with Chanakya. He does not know the story of his birth.

One day Subandhu twists this thing to Bindusara and tells him to take revenge on Chanakya who killed your mother. This matter somehow reaches the ears of Chanakya. He goes to the forest and fasts. After a few days, Bindusara comes to know the truth. It turns out that Chanakya killed his mother by accident. Then Chanakya asks Subandhu to stop his fast. Subandhu never made it to Chanakya. Instead, he made a pyre and threw Chanakya alive into it. Thus the story is popular that Chanakya was cremated alive. "