Hathigumpha Inscription of Kharavela and Bhabru Edict of Asoka

SR No.: 006726
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shashi Kant
Publisher: D K Print World
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 196
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 80

54 The Häthigumpha Inscription and the Bhabru Edict first mentions the storming of Gorathagiri, near Rājagặha. It seems to indicate that to the north the boundaries of Kalinga were nearly contiguous with those of Magadha. Gorathagiri was a hill fortress, serving as a defence for Rājagyha, the ancient capital of Magadha, and it lay in the Barabar Hills, some six miles to the west of Vaibhar Hill in Rajgir in the Nalanda district of south Bihar. Its situation in the southern part of Magadha suggests the contiguity of the southern boundaries of Magadha and the northern boundaries of Kalinga. Khāravela did not go further into Magadha and seems to have turned westward to Mathura. The storming of this fortress was merely a strategic measure to secure his communications in the rear in his onward march.
Since he claims to have reached the Yamuna river after liberating the city of Mathura, he appears to have marched through the tract lying below the Ganga and Yamuna. It was not intractable. A battle appears to have been fought near Mathura. It is suggested by vipamuñcitu (having liberated). But the name of the adversary, who appears to have been an aggressor, is not mentioned. It has been sought to read Yavanarāja Dimita and to identify him with Demetrius. In the note on the text it has already been indicated that this reading is highly doubtful and the reading more appropriately appears to be Yamanā-nadim. The event took place in c. 178 BC and if Justin is to be believed. Demetrius should have come at least seven years later. It may be that there was some depredation from the north or from any of the neighbouring kingdoms and Mathura was temporarily occupied by the aggressor, and Khāravela drove out the aggressor and restored Mathura to its legitimate ruler. It was a mere act of chivalry. Mathura was not annexed, and therefore on liberation it should have been
1.
If the Yuga-Purāna tradition carries any historical background, there is a strong suggesion that the Greek mercenaries who followed in the train of the confederate armies of Mathura and Ahicchatră to Pataliputra, turned hostile and on their way back, seized Mathura itself either to claim their dues or to satiate their greed for plunder or both. In all probability, Khāravela had liberated Mathura from these Greek mercenaries turned hostile.