Αλεξανδρου αναβασις 6.15.1

6.15.1

ἐνταῦθα ἐπὶ ταῖς ξυμβολαῖς τοῦ Ἀκεσίνου καὶ Ἰνδοῦ προσέμενεν ἔστε ἀφίκετο αὐτῷ ξὺν τῇ στρατιᾷ Περδίκκας καταστρεψάμενος ἐν παρόδῳ τὸ Ἀβαστανῶν ἔθνος αὐτόνομον. ἐν τούτῳ δὲ ἄλλαι τε προσγίγνονται Ἀλεξάνδρῳ τριακόντοροι καὶ πλοῖα στρογγύλα ἄλλα, ἃ δὴ ἐν Ξάθροις ἐναυπηγήθη αὐτῷ, καὶ Σόγδοι ἄλλο ἔθνος Ἰνδῶν αὐτόνομον προσεχώρησαν. καὶ παρὰ Ὀσσαδίων, καὶ τούτου γένους αὐτονόμου Ἰνδικοῦ, πρέσβεις ἧκον, ἐνδιδόντες καὶ οὗτοι τοὺς Ὀσσαδίους.

There at the confluence of the Akesines and Indus he waited until Perdikkas arrived with his forces. This general in the course of his march had subjugated the Abastanoi, one of the independent tribes. Meanwhile There arrived at the camp other thirty-oared galleys and transport vessels which had been built for him among the Xathroi, another independent tribe of Indians whose submission he had received. From the Ossadioi also ... confluence of the ... boundary of the satrapy of Philippos, and left with him all the Thracians ... seemed sufficient for the defence of his province. Then he ordered a city to be founded there at the very confluence of the rivers, hoping ... dockyards ... Oxyartes, the father of Alexander's wife Roxana, arrived, and on him he bestowed the satrapy of the Parapamisadai after dismissing the previous satrap Tyriaspes, who had been reported guilty of irregularities in the exercise of his authority. Then he transported Krateros, with the bulk of the army and the elephants, to the left side of the river Indus, because the route along that bank of the river seemed easier for an army heavily accoutred, and because the tribes inhabiting those parts were not quite friendly. He sailed himself down to the capital of the Sogdoi, where he fortified another city, constructed other dockyards, and repaired his damaged vessels.

He then appointed Oxyartes and Peithon satraps of the country which extended from the confluence of the Indus and Akesines to the sea, together with the whole sea-board of India.

Krateros he again despatched with the army [through the country of the Arachotians and Drangians]; while he sailed down himself to the realm of Mousikanos, which was reported to be the most opulent in India, because that sovereign had neither come to surrender himself and his country, nor sent envoys to seek his friendship. He had not even sent presents to show the respect due to a mighty king, nor had he asked any favour from Alexander. But the king sailed down the river so rapidly that he reached the borders of the country of Mousikanos before that chief had even heard that Alexander had started to invade him. Mousikanos, dismayed by his sudden arrival, hastened to meet him, taking the choicest presents India could offer and all his elephants with him. He offered to surrender both his nation and himself, and acknowledged his error, which was the most effective way of obtaining what one wanted from Alexander. Alexander therefore granted Mousikanos a full pardon on account of his submission and repentance, expressed admiration of his capital and his realm, and confirmed him in his sovereignty. Krateros was then ordered to fortify the citadel which protected the capital, and the work was executed while Alexander was still on the spot. A garrison was placed in the fortress, which he thought suitable for keeping the surrounding tribes in subjection.

Alexander then, taking with him the archers and the Agrianians and the cavalry which was sailing with him, marched against the ruler of the country adjacent to that of Mousikanos, whose name was Oxykanos, because he neither came himself nor sent envoys to surrender himself and his country. At the first assault he took by storm the two largest cities under the rule of Oxykanos, in the second of which that chief himself was taken prisoner. The booty he gave to the army, but the elephants he led away and reserved for himself. The other cities in the same country surrendered without attempting resistance wherever he advanced; so much were the minds of all the Indians paralysed with abject terror by Alexander and the success of his arms.

He then advanced against Sambos, whom he had appointed satrap of the Indian mountaineers, and who was reported to have fled on hearing that Mousikanos had been pardoned by Alexander, and was ruling his own land, for he and Mousikanos were on hostile terms. But when Alexander approached the city called Sindimana, which formed the metropolis of the country of Sambos, the gates were thrown open on his arrival, and the members of the household of Sambos with his treasure (of which they had reckoned up the amount) and his elephants went forth to meet him. Sambos, these men informed him, had fled, not from hostility to Alexander, but from fears to which the pardon of Mousikanos had given rise. He captured besides another city, which had at this time revolted, and he put to death all those Brachmans who had instigated the revolt. These Brachmans are the philosophers of the Indians, and of their philosophy, if so it may be called, I shall give an account in my work which describes India.