6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

1ST GLORIOUS EPOCH
iis unsatiable lust for conquests brutal wars were unavoid­
able. Because of this bitter war with the Malava-Shudrak
•conabined forces, the Greek discontent reached the climax and
there were rebellious whispers openly flouting Alexander's
•commands.
52-A 'When the Macedonian soldiers found that they
iad still on hand a fresh war which the most war-like
nations (lujjjS) would be their antagonists, they were struck
with unexpected terror and began again to upbraid the King
in the language of sedition. (Curtius Bk. IX Ch. IV as quoted
in 'Hindu Polity') {Mc Crindle I. L. by, Alexander P. 234).
53. Still in the end Alexander promulgated his command
to his soldiers to climb up the ladders and leap straight into
the enemy stronghold which valiantly defied the Greek siege.
Seeing that his Greek soldiers hesitated to undertake the
'daring feat, that exceptionally valiant commander of the
'Greeks, the mighty Alexander, himself began to climb one of
the ladders put up against the ramparts of the stronghold. At
this the whole Macedonian army was suddenly inspired to do
the great deed, and all began to climb instantaneously. Once
at the top of the ramparts Alexander straightaway jumped
down in the midst of the enemy and there ensued a hand-to-
hand fight between the Indian and the Greek forces.
And suddenly—
54. And suddenly an Indian warrior took out an en­
venomed arrow from his sheath and applied it to his bow­
string and let it fly with an unmistakable aim at the place
where Alexander stood edging on his warriors, and shining in
his golden helmet**.
65. It was not an arrow, ii; was in fact Indian revenge
incarnate. To use the lines of poet Moropant (with a slight
variation, of course) we can say—
(with apologies to Moropant !rRfm'^cr-^?Tf