Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c9.s4.8

c9.s4.8

When Alexander reached the bridge at Ohind, at the end of sixteen marches, he gave his army a rest of thirty days, entertaining them with games and contests. Here he was met by an embassy from Āmbhi of Takshaśilā who had recently succeeded to his father's throne, but was awaiting the arrival of Alexander to assume sovereignty. The embassy brought presents consisting of 200 talents of silver, 3,000 fat oxen, 10,000 sheep or more and 30 elephants; a force of 700 horsemen also came to the assistance of Alexander from the same prince and brought word that Āmbhi surrendered into Alexander's hands his capital Takshaśilā, 'the greatest of all the cities between the river Indus and Hydaspes'. Alexander then offered sacrifice to the gods on a magnificent scale and found the signs favourable for his crossing into India proper, the first European to set his foot on Indian soil.