Indian Antiquary Vol 06

SR No.: 032498
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 458
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 21 MB

Page 395

NOVEMBER, 1877.]
THE INDIKA OF MEGASTHENES.
333
THE INDIKA OF MEGASTHENÊS. TRANSLATED BY J. W. MOCRINDLE, M.A., GOVT. COLLEGE, PÅTNA.
(Continued from p. 250).
DOUBTFUL FRAGMENTS. FRAGM. LII.
young to his home, where he reared it, and graÆlian, Hist. Anim. XII. 8.
dually made it quite tame and rode upon it. He of Elephants.
became much attached to the creature, which (Conf. Fragm. xxxvi. 10, xxvii. 10.)
loved him in return, and by its affection requited The elephant when feeding at large ordinarily him for its maintenance. Now the king of the drinks water, but when undergoing the fatigues Indians, having heard of this elephant, wanted to of war is allowed wine--not that sort, however, take it ; but the owner, jealous of the love it had which comes from the grape, but another which
for him, and grieving much, no doubt, to think is prepared from rice. The attendants even go that another should become its master, refused in advance of their elephants and gather them
to give it away, and made off at once to the flowers; for they are very fond of sweet per- desert mounted on his favourite. The king was fumes, and they are accordingly taken out to the
enraged at this, and sent men in pursuit, with meadows, there to be trained under the influence orders to seize the elephant, and at the same of the sweetest fragrance. The animal selects the time to bring back the Indian for punishment. flowers according to their smell, and throws Overtaking the fugitive they attempted to exethem as they are gathered into a basket which is cute their purpose, but he resisted and attacked held out by the trainer. This being filled, and his assailants from the back of the elephant, harvest-work, so to speak, completed, he then which in the affray fought on the side of its bathes, and enjoys his bath with all the zest of a injured master. Such was the state of matters at consummate voluptuary. On returning from bath- the first, but afterwards, when the Indian on being ing he is impatient to have his flowers, and if wounded slipped down to the ground, the ele. there is delay in bringing them he begins roaring, phant, true to his salt, bestrides him as soldiers and will not taste a morsel of food till all the in battle bestride a fallen comrade, whom they flowers he gathered are placed before him. This cover with their shields, kills many of the done, he takes the flowers out of the basket with assailants, and puts the rest to flight. Then his trunk and scatters them over the edge of his twining his trunk around his rearer he lifted manger, and makes by this device their fine scent him on to his back, and carried him home to the be, as it were, a relish to his food. He strewsstals and remained with him like a faithful friend also a good quantity of them as litter over his with his friend, and showed him every kind attenstall, for he loves to have his sleep made sweet tion. [O men! how base are ye! ever dancing and pleasant.
merrily when ye hear the music of the frying-pan, The Indian elephants were nine cubits in height ever revelling in the banquet, but traitors in the and five in breadth. The largest elephants in all hour of danger, and vainly and for nought sul. the land were those called the Praisian, and next lying the sacred name of friendship.] to these the Taxilan.
FRAGM. LIV. FRAGM. LIII.
Pseudo-Origen, Philosoph. 21, ed. Delarae, Paris,
1733, vol. I. p. 904. Ælian, Hist. Anim. III. 46.
Of the Brahmans and their Philosophy. Of a White Elephant.
(Cf. Fragm. xli., xliv., xlv.) (Cf. Fragm. xxxvi. 11, xxxvii. 11.)
Of the Brachlumans in India. An Indian elephant-trainer fell in with a white There is among the Brachhmans in India a sect elephant-calf, which he brought when still quite of philosophers who adopt an independent life,
- Called arak, (which, however, is also applied to tadi; Alexander, of the elephant of Poros:-"This elephant during rum is now-a-days the beverage given it.
the whole battle gave extraordinary proof's of his sagacity
and care of the king's person. As long as that prince was + This fragment is ascribed to Megasthenes both on
able to fight, he defended him with great courage, and reaccount of the matter of it, and because it was undoubtedly
pulsed all assailants; and when he perceived him ready to from Megasthenes that Alian borrowed the narrative pre
sink under the multitude of darts, and the wounds with ceding it (Fragm. xxxviii.) and that following it (Fragm.
which he was covered, to prevent his falling oil he kneeled XXXV.).-Schwanbeck.
down in the softest manner, and with his proboscis gently 1 Compare the account given in Plutarch's Life of drew.every dart out of his body."