6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

2ND GLORIOUS EPOCH 81
imposed by Asoka on the religious freedom of the Vedic
Hindus were withdrawn.
198. Emperor Pushyamitra's grandson, Vasumitra, was
also a spirited young prince, as his father, Pushyamitra's son,
Agnimitra was a veteran army-leader and an efficient royal
administrator. When Samrat Pushyamitra let his sacrificial
horse loose on its triumphal march throughout the land, the
task of protecting that horse with a strong army was entrus­
ted to this brave young grandson. General Vasumitra. The
horse was not obstructed in his free ramble right up to the
banks of the Indus. But on the banks of the Indus he was
opposed by a certain Yavan King which, according to the
conventions of the time, meant that the sovereignty of
Pushyamitra was challenged. So the young General Vasu­
mitra fought with the 'Yavan' enemy and after defeating him
completely, got released the ceremonial horse. The bound­
less joy that was universally felt in the capital, when after a
year the invincible and unconquered General Vasumitra
triumphantly marched into the city, can very well be seen in the
formal invitation sent by Pushyamitra to his son, Agnimitra,
which is still available to us in almost the very same words
of the Emperor*®". Kalidas has practically reproduced it
verbatim et litteratim in his aforesaid play,'Malavikagnimitra'.
That letter in the drama is so interesting that everybody
might read it with pleasure. It is a living document of the
thoughts of Samrat Pushyamitra and the common feelings of
the people of those triumphant days.
A NATIONAL FESTIVAL
199. The festive occasion of the horse-ceremony was
graced with the presence of the great sages and ascetics of
India, Brahmins well-versed in all the Vedic lore, the high­
born Kshatriya Kings and princes, the prominent officers
and administrators of the empire, eminent citizens and
leaders in towns. Patanjali who was renowned as the greatest
of the scholars and who has now cotne to be listed, with
universal approval, among the world's greatest scholars—