CHAPTER XVIII
TAXILA —II
WHEN THE WORLD CONQUEROR MET HIS MATCH
Reluctantly GandhijI took leave of the pageant of
India's glorious past that lay spread out before Mm. Re-
flections crowded upon the mind thick and fast as
the train hurried the party away from the scene.
Twenty centuries have rolled by ; the wheel has corne full
circle and humanity Is once again faced with the question
of questions which, like the riddle of the Sphinx, it must
-answer to Itself or perish. Is there a power that can be
matched against the power of armaments ? What must
prevail in the end — temporal might or the spirit of man ?
It would be interesting to recall the answer to this poser
that was furnished by Indian sannyasis three hundred
years before the Christian era.
The story of the Greek invasion of India under Alex-
ander the Great provides many an Interesting footnote to
Indian history. But nothing Is perhaps of more absorbing
interest today, owing to its symbolical value, than the
story of the encounter between the Macedonian and the
Indian sages in the valley of Taxila that has been faith-
fully and minutely recorded by various Greek historians.
The fighting gave occasion for much heroism on both
sides, of which there was frank and mutual recognition.
ICing Paurava (called by the Greek Poms), worsted In
fight, more than regained what he had lost on the battle-
field by his cool courage and fortitude In defeat. Being
asked as to how he thought the victor should treat him,
lie replied, " With the lesson which this day teaches, a
<day on which you have witnessed how readily prosperity
can be blasted." This spirited reply was appreciated by
Alexander more, observes the historian, than an entreaty
-would have been.
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