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Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c14.s2.t1: Foreign Relations

Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c14.s2.t1

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English

Foreign Relations

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In his relations with the Hellenistic powers Bindusāra pursued a pacific policy. We learn from the classical writers¹ that the king of Syria despatched to his court an ambassador named Deïmachos. Pliny² tells us that (Ptolemy II) Philadelphos King of Egypt (B. C. 285-247), sent an envoy named Dionysios. Dr. Smith points out that it is uncertain whether Dionysios presented his credentials to Bindusāra or to his son and successor, Aśoka. It is, however, significant that while Greek and Latin writers refer to Chandragupta and Amitraghāta they do not mention Aśoka. This is rather inexplicable if an envoy whose writings were utilized by later authors, really visited the third of the great Mauryas. Patrokles,³ an officer who served under both Seleukos and his son, sailed in the Indian seas and collected much geographical information which Strabo and Pliny were glad to utilize. Athenaios tells an anecdote of private friendly correspondence between Antiochos (I, Soter), king of Syria, and Bindusāra which indicates that the Indian monarch communicated with his Hellenistic contemporaries on terms of equality and friendliness. We are told on the authority of Hegesander that Amitrochates (Bindusāra), the king of the Indians, wrote to Antiochos asking that king to buy and send him sweet wine, dried figs, and a sophist, and Antiochos replied: We shall send you the figs and the wine, but in Greece the laws forbid a sophist to be sold.⁴ In connection with the demand for. a Greek sophist it is interesting to recall the statement of Diodoros that one Iamboulos was carried to the king of Palibothra (Pāṭaliputra) who *had a great love for the Graecians*. Dion Chrysostom asserts that the poetry of Homer is sung by the Indians who had translated it into their own language and modes of expression.¹ Garga and Varāhamihira in a later age testify to the honour that was paid to Greeks for their knowledge of astronomy.²

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¹ *e. g.*, Strabo.

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² McCrindle, *Ancient India as described in Classical Literature*, p. 108.

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³ Smith, *Aśoka*, third edition, p. 19.

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⁴ McCrindle, *Inv. Alex.*, p. 409. Hultzsch, *Aśoka*, p. xxxv. Bindusāra's interest in philosophy is also proved by his association with Ājīva-parivrājakas, (*Divyāvadāna*, 370 ff), Cf., also the first lines of Pillar Edict VII.

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¹ McCrindle, *Ancient India*, p. 177. Cf. Grote, XII. p. 169, possible re-presentation of a Greek drama on the Hydaspes.

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² *Bṛihat Saṁhitā*, II, 14. Aristoxenus and Eusebius refer to the presence in Athens, as early as the fourth century B. C., of Indians who discussed philosophy with Socrates. (A note by Rawlinson quoted in the *Amrita Bazar Patrika*, 22-11-36, p. 17).

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