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Does this description of India's fertility not corroborate Bankimchandra's statement ?
History, as gathered from the ancient monuments found at Muttra, Shravasti, Rajgraha, Soparaka, Sarnath, Taxilla, Madhyamika, Amaravati, Sthambhatirtha, Bhinnamal, Kaushambi, Vaishali, Anahillavad, Pratisthan, Kashi, Ayodhya, Girinagar, Broach, Chandravati and Nepal, bears an authoritative witness to the fact that the great Hindu and Jain kings of India like Chandragupta, Ashoka, Samprati, Vikramaditya, Toramana, Shri Harsha, Shrenika, Konika. Chandra Pradyota, Allata, Ama, Shiladilya, Kakkuka Pratihar, Vanaraj, Siddharaj and Kumarpala had not only preserved the prosperity of India but had also spread its fame in all the ten quarters outside India. They had enabled the Indian Nation to preserve and respect their different religions and thus to bind them with the common tie of love.
People had no anxiety about the security of their life and property. They were free from all kinds of addictions. Their trade relations were based on mutual confidence. This testifies to their honesty and sense of justice. Foreign travellers have freely praised this excellent quality of Indian People.
Al-Idrasi-Abdullah Muhammad, who flourished in the 11th century A. D., writes in his "Nujhatul Mushtakfi ikhtirakul afak":
"Indian people are by nature just, and therefore they are never backward in their works. Their confiding nature, honesty, and veracity are quite well known. In fact they are so famous for these qualities that people from all quarters are drawn to this country. Therefore this country is very prosperous."
Kings were ready to win over the love of their peoples. Kings refrained from killing animals and they forced the people to do so. Most of the kings had forbidden hunting, animal-killing and such other violences. King Ashoka had issued an order prohibiting all from criticising one another's religion. Who is unaware of the all-round prosperity of India in Vikramaditya's times ? Literature, Arts and Science spread in this king's days. The world-famous authors like Siddhasena Divakar and Kalidas flourished in his reign. Painting and Architecture as also Music, Mathematics and Astrology spread far and wide in his days.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
