________________
272 POLITICAL HISTORY OF ANCIENT INDIA
strength being increased by this success, subdued the Bactrians. He next made an expedition into India. Appianus says that he crossed the Indus and waged war on Chandragupta, king of the Indians, who dwelt about it, until he made friends and entered into relations of marriage ? with him. Justin also observes that after making a league with Chandragupta, and settling his affairs in the east, Seleukos proceeded to join in the war against Antigonos (301 B. C.). Plutarch supplies us with the information that Chandragupta presented 500 elephants to Seleukos. More important details are given by Strabo who says :3
"The Indians occupy (in part) some of the countries situated along the Indus, which formerly belonged to the Persians : Alexander deprived the Ariani of them, and established there settlements (or provinces) of his own. But Seleucus Nicator gave them to Sandrocottus in consequence of a marriage contract, and received in turn 500 elephants.” “The Indians occupied a larger portion of Ariana, which they had received from the Macedonians.”*
It will be seen that the classical writers do not give us any detailed record of the actual conflict between Seleukos and Chandragupta. They merely speak of the results. There can be no doubt that the invader could not make much headway, and concluded an alliance which was cemented by a marriage contract. In his Asoka: Dr. Smith observes that the current notion that the Syrian
1 Syr. 55; Ind. Ant., Vol VI. p. 114, Hultzsch, xxxiv.
2 Appianus uses the clear term kedos (connection by marriage), and Strabo (XV) only an epigamia. The cession of territory in consequence of the marriage contract clearly suggests that the wedding did take place.
3 H. & F., III, p. 125. 4 Ibid, p. 78. Tarn, Greeks in Bactria and India 100, 5 Third Ed., p. 15.
