DDK HistoryF.p65 - CSIR

7.2] ALEXANDER AT TAXILA 189
Fig. 31. 5 obverse and reverse punch-marks
on late southern “ Mauryan” silver coins from the
Bodenayakanur hoard.
No empire comparable to the Mauryan appeared till the Gupta
period, say A. D. 320, though the Kusanas and Satava-hanas
showed a bright patch of prosperity in the dark interval.
The rise and decay of a great empire, not succeeded by any
other, indicate profound changes of the basis. This idea must be
developed, to show the advantage given by our present approach.
7.2. Plutarch’s Alexander 4 may be taken as a sample text upon
which our method casts a somewhat different light. “ The extent of
King Taxile’s dominions in India was thought to be as large as Egypt,
abounding in good pastures, and producing beautiful fruits “. The
size is ridiculously magnified ; Taxiles had so tiny a domain that he
could not hold out against Poros. The special mention of pasturage is
noteworthy ; the Greek booty before Taxila consisted mostly of vast
herds of cattle, the measure of wealth since vedic times. There is nothing
said of Taxilan agriculture. The king spoke thus to Alexander : “ To
what purpose should we make war upon one another, if the design
of your coming into these parts be not to rob us of our water or
necessary food...”. The water is not a mere figure of speech, as Aryans
had fought over it since the Rgveda. If Alexander had no intention of
diverting the water, there would be nothing to fight for. Alexander’s
generosity towards the Taxilan king was not a personal matter but the
settled policy towards all trade centres of no military value.
“ But the best soldiers of the Indians now entering into the pay of several of the
cities (near Taxila), undertook to defend them, and did it so bravely that they put
Alexander to a great deal of trouble, till at last, after a capitulation, upon surrender of
the place, he fell upon them as they were marching away, and put them all to the
sword. This one breach of his word remains as a blemisfc upon his achievements in
war”.