Indian Antiquary Vol 47

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 262

246
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[OCTOBER, 1918
"he began by ordering an intrenchment to be formed round his camp...... in the mean
time he ordered the artificers in his train, many of whom he had taken from the different * cities on his march, to make hollow figures of brass ( nahas w i] representing horses * and men, caparisoned and equipped in a manner to give them the appearance of regular cavalry and to be filled with naphtha and sulphur, and placed in front of his line, intending that the combustible materials should at the very commencement of the battle be set on fire.. Four had placed his elephants in the front rank, which, advancing to meet the figures of brass which were simultaneously pushed on, no sooner touched them with their trunks, than, being rendered furious by the heat, they threw down those who were on their backs, and then suddenly turning round, took to flight, and trod under their feet and crushed all they met.'
Four and Alexander then engaged in mortal com bat. Alexander, taking advantage • of the moment when he was off his guard, struck him a blow, which made him fall from his
horse, and with a second laid him dead at his feet. The Indian army renewed the combat ....... but finding at length all resistance to be ineffective, they accepted the terms which the conqueror offered them.'
Another version of the story is given by Firdauss in the Shah nama. Mohl's abstract in French is reprinted by Dowson in Appendix A to vol. vi (p. 476, note 2) of The History of India as told by its own Historians. According to the poet the horses and riders, exceeding a thousand in number, were constructed of iron, the joints being soldered and rivetted with copper. Note 1 on the same page states that a similar tale was related concerning the mythical Prester John of Abyssinia, who adopted the expedient against the son of Chingiz Khin. It is not worthwhile to pursue the variations of the legend through other books.
It is impossible to doubt that Mr. Beveridge is right in maintaining that the story, as related in the Arabic and Persian works named, is that referred to by Akbar and Abu-I Fazl. Akbar showed his good sense in rejecting the fantastic legend.
NOTES ON KALIDASA. By Paoy. H. B. BHIDE, M.A., LL.B.; BHAVNAGAR.
(1) Early References. References to Kálidass may be direct or indirect. By direct reference I mean the mention of the name of Kalidasa or his work. By indirect reference I mean the mention or indication of, or the reference to, & story or the incidents in a 'story, or any other peculiar feature found in the works of Kalidas
Bana is the earliest writer who directly refers to Kalidasa. The following couplet from the Harshacharita is well-known:
निर्गतामु न वा कस्य कालिदासस्य सूक्तिषु ।
प्रीतिर्मधुरसान्द्रास मलरीविर जायते ॥ But it is not so well-known that the Harshacharita contains another, though indirect, reference to Kalidasa. On the death of Prabhakaravardhana, his elder son Rajyavardhana consoles Harsha in the following words amidst others :-लोकत्रयत्रासरि मान्धातरि मृते किं कृतं पुरुकुरसेन चलतादिष्टाष्टादशद्वीपे दिलीपे वा रघुणा, महासुरसमरमध्याध्यासितत्रिदशरथे दशरथे वा रामेण, गोप9 62
I (p. 179). In this passage all the referenoes except the first
1
* Do Sacy translates by bronze,' but' brass' seems to be correct,
The edition used is the Nirnayasagara edition.