भारतीय इतिहास के ६ स्वर्णिम पृष्ठ (वीर सावरकर - विदेशी आक्रान्ताओं पर विजय गाथा)

fighting till the end against the enemy of his nation. In fact, तावत कालम् प्रतिक्षेताम् (Bide the time!) is a valuable tenet in political science. Knowing that the submission of King Porus was only time serving, the Indian populace also did not take it amiss. It will be shown later, how at the opportune time, King Porus (now Satrap Porus) turned the tables against Alexander himself. 27. After the end of the war with Porus, Alexander set himself up to the task of stabilising the newly conquered neighbouring states, and began a careful study of the life of the people there and in the yonder regions. Besides, to replenish his army that was depleted in numbers and energy because of the incessant wars from the Hindukush to the Panchanad, Alexander ordered fresh regiments of forces from his Satraps in Babylon and Greece, and sent back those of his fighting forces, who were wounded and rendered invalid and also those who were shirkers. Inquiry of the Indian Ascetics 28. The scouts, whom Alexander had sent round to survey the local condition of the people in the subjugated as well as non-subjugated provinces, brought, among other reports, detailed descriptions of the penance-groves in the forests, and of the ascetics, anchorites, recluses, freed from all worldly bonds, wandering about all alone in search of knowledge and also of those sages, who were deeply engrossed in philosophical thought. Alexander himself was fond of learning and philosophical discussions, for he called himself the disciple of the great philosopher, Aristotle. He had already heard much in Greece itself of such ascetics and of austere Brahmins. So, he earnestly desired to see personally at least some of these austere Brahmins in India, who the Greeks called ‘Gymnosophists’ and have talks with them. So, he sent for some of such hermits from their forest abodes and some he saw in their secluded cells. The Greek writers themselves had given some interesting tales about such occasions. I would like to cite a tale or two from among those in words of the Greek writers themselves, so as to throw some light on the thoughts and feelings of the Greeks and their leader, Alexander. 29. “This philosopher (Kalanos), we are told, showed Alexander a symbol of his empire. He threw down on the ground a dry and shrivelled hide and planted his foot on the edge of it. But when it was trodden down in one place, it started up everywhere else. He then walked all round it and showed