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344
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1908.
Quintus Curtius Rufus and Diodorus Seculus of about the first century of the Christian Era, corroborate Plutarch as regards the wickedness and low origin of Nanda, the then reigning King of Magadha, who is variously called Agrammes, or Xandrames, or Nandrus.
Justin, probably of the 5th century A. D., but whose materials are drawn from Pompeius of the first century, says: "Seleucus Nicator after the partition of Alexander's Empire, took Babylon, passed over to India, which after Alexander's death, as if the yoke of servitude had been shaken off from its neck, had put his prefects to death. Sandrocottus was the leader who achieved this freedom; but after his victory, he forfeited by his tyranny all title to the name of liberator, for he oppressed with servitude the very people whom he had emancipated from foreign thraldom. He was born in humble life, but was prompted to aspire to royalty by an omen significant of an august destiny. For when by his insolent behaviour he had offended Nandrus and was ordered by that King to be put to death, he sought safety by a speedy flight... It was this prodigy (of a lion licking him) that first inspired him with the hope of winning the throne, and so having collected a band of robbers, he instigated the Indians to overthrow the existing government. When he was thereafter preparing to attack Alexander's prefects, a wild elephant approached him. . and receiving him on its back fought vigourously in front of the army. Sandracottas, having thus won the throne, was reigning over India, when Seleucus was laying the foundations of his future greatness."5
It has been the fashion to inter from the above extracts that Chandragupta ascended the throne of Magadha after Alexander's prefects were put to death, i. e., at about 321 B. C. according to certain recent scholars, or 315 B. C. according to the late Professor Max Müller. But neither of these dates, it is submitted, can legitimately be referred from the extracts given above. It is clear from the statement of Justin that Chandragupta prepared himself to attack Alexander's prefacts in the Panjab (who were put to death soon after Alexander's death in B. C. 328), only after the overthrow of the Nanda Dynasty. And this is only what ought to be expected under the circumstances. Banished from Magadha by the last King of the Nandas, Chandragupta sought refuge in the Panjab, where he met Alexander and his army in 326 B. C. He profited by the lessons of Alexander's intrepid marches and military tactics, and knowing that the then King of Magadha was hated on account of his wickedness and mean origin, and taking advantage of the confusion prevailing in Northern India by reason of Alexander's conquest, he secured the assistance of certain tribes, invaded Magadha and succeeded in setting himself up on the throne. This may be considered to have taken place soon after Alexander left the Panjab, or in 325 B. C. Having firmly established himself in the sovereignty of the realm and made himself secure against internal enemies, he turned his attention to the Panjab at the right moment when news was received of Alexander's death, and overpowering his prefects, added it to the dominions of Magadha. Consequently, Chandragupta was already ruling a great empire when Seleucus was but laying the foundations of a greatness, which was consummated by the establishment of the Seleucidian Era of 312 B. C.
In this opinion, we are also supported to some extent by the details of the Mudra Rakshasa a remarkable drama of Visakhadatta of the early part of the eighth century," and of the commentator's introduction thereto. We are therein informed that the "evil-hearted" sons of the old Nanda King became envious of Chandragupta, who was then in command of the army. Chandragupta consequently left Påtaliputra, the capital of Magadha, and under the advice of the Brahman Chanakya, sought the help of a Mlechcha General. By liberal promises this Mlechcha was induced to assist him in laying seige to Pâtaliputra. It was eventually taken; and the Nandas having been put to death, Chandragupta ascended the throne, no less by the craft of his wily minister than by the prowess of his arms.
For this and the previous extracts, see Invasion of India by Alexander the Great, by J. W. McCrindle. Telang's Introd, to Mudra Rakshasa, p. xxvi.
