Tulsi Prajna 1992 04

SR No.: 524570
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Parmeshwar Solanki
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1992
Total Pages: 130
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India
File Size: 6 MB

Page 105

Vol. XVIII, No. 1
for PORUS and questioned him of as to their accuracy. Porus assured him of the correctness of the information, but added that the king of the GAND ARIDAE was a man of quite worthless character, and held in no respect, as he was thought to be the son of a barber. This man-the king's father--was of a comely person, and of him the queen had become deeply enamoured. The old king having been treacherously murderd by his wife, the succession had devolved on him who now reigned."8
And QUINTUS CURTIUS RUFUS reports the following:
"Beyond the river (Hypasis) lay extensive deserts which it would take eleven days to traverse. Next came the Ganges, the largest river in all India, the farthest bank of which was inhabited by two nations, the GANGARIDAE and PRASII, whose king AGRAMMES kept in the field for guarding the approaches to his country 20,000 cavalry and 200,000 infantry, besides 2,000 four horsed chariots and what was the most formidable force of all, a troop of elephants which he said, ran up to the number of 3000.
All this seemed to the king to be incredible, and he therefore asked PORUS, who happened to be in attendance, whether the account was true. He assured Alexander in reply that, as far as the strength of the nation and the kingdom was concerned, there was no exaggeration in the reports, but that the present king was not merely a man of originally of no distinction, but even of the very meanest condition. His father was indeed a barber, scarcely starving off hunger by his daily earnings, but who, from his being not uncomely in person, had gained the affections of the queen, and was by her influence advanced to too near a place in the confidence of the reigning monarch. Afterwards, however, he treacherously murdered his sovereign; and having put the young princes to death begot the present king, who was detested and held cheap by his subjects, as he rather took after his father and than conducted as the occupant of a throne" (Book IX Chap. II).9
Plutarch differs a little from both :
19
"This river (Ganges) they heard, had a breadth of two and thirty Stadia, and a depth of 100 fathoms, while its farther banks were covered all over with armed men, horses and elephants. For the kings of the GANDARITAI and the PRASIAI were reported to be waiting for him with an army of 80,000 horse. 200,000 foot, 8,000 war chariots and 6,000 fighting elephants. Nor was this any exaggeation for not long afterwards ANDKOCOTTUS, who had by that time mounted the throne, presented SELEUCUS with 500 elephants,