Arthasastra says
Ravana unwilling under the influence of vanity to restore a stranger's wife, as well as Duryodhana to part with a portion of his kingdom: Dambhodbhava as well as Arjuna of Haihaya dynasty being so haughty as to despise all people; Vatapi in his attempt under the influence of overjoy to attack Agastya, as well as the corporation of the Vrishnis in their attempt against Dvaipayana.
- Chapter 6, book 1, Arthasastra.
The cases of Ravana, Duryodhana, Kartavirya, Vatapi etc would be familiar to most readers. But the one curious reference is that Vrishnis were destroyed because they attacked Vyasa (Krishna Dvaipayana).
This reference is not found in the present Mahabharata and Vyasa is not mentioned among the sages who cursed Samba
One day, those brave ones, Sarana and the others, saw Visvamitra, Kanva and Narada, store of austerities, when they came to Dvaraka."
- 2, Mausala parva, Mahabharata.
Bhagavatam mentions a long list of sages who cursed Samba but still does not mention Vyasa
Sages such as Visvamitra, Asita, Kanva, Durvaasa, Bhrigu, Angiras, Kashyapa, Vamadeva, Atri, Vashistha, Narada and others took leave of him and went to the (holy place) Pindaraka.
- Chapter 1, 11th Skandha, Srimad Bhagavatam.
The closest reference to what Chanakya is referring to here can be found in Buddhist and Jain traditions.
The Ghata Jataka says that it was Krishna Dvaipayana who was tested by the Yadava Princes. Vyasa predicted that the boy will give birth to acacia wood. The Vrishni youth in anger then killed Vyasa
After the lapse of a long time, during which he ruled his kingdom, the sons of the ten brethren thought: “They say that Kanhadipayana is possest of divine insight. Let us put him to the test.” So they procured a young lad, and drest him up, and by binding a pillow about his belly, made it appear as though he were with child. Then they brought him into his presence, and asked him, “When, Sir, will this woman be delivered?” The ascetic perceived that the time was come for the destruction of the ten royal brothers; then, looking to see what the term of his own life should be, he perceived that he must die that very day. Then he said, “Young sirs, what is this man to you?” “Answer us,” they replied persistently. He answered, “This man on the seventh day from now will bring forth a knot of acacia wood. With that he will destroy the line of Vasudeva, even though ye should take the piece of wood and burn it, and cast the ashes into the river.” “Ah, false ascetic!” said they, “a man can never bring forth a child!” and they did the rope and string business, and killed him at once. The kings sent for the young men, and asked them why they had killed the ascetic. When they heard all, they were frightened. They set a guard upon the man; and when on the seventh day he voided from his belly a knot of acacia wood, they burnt it, and cast the ashes into the river. The ashes floated down the river, and stuck on one side by a postern gate; from thence sprung an eraka plant.
- Ghata Jataka.
Vyasa outright destroying the Vrishnis is actually narrated in Jain traditions
The Blessed One said: “In a hermitage outside Sauryapura there was a well known leading ascetic, named Parasara. He went to an island in the Yamuna and enjoyed a girl of low family; and a son was born to them named Dvaipayana. A mendicant, a celibate, self-controlled, living there from friendship for the Yadus, he will be attacked by Samba and others blind from wine. Angry, he will burn the city Dvaraka with the Yadus. Your death will take place at the hand of your brother, Jarakumara.”
- Part 1, Chapter 11, Neminathacharita.
Chanakya seems to have been very familiar with the tradition of Dvaipayana being the cause of the destruction of Vrishnis.
