Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata: Upayana Parva c5.79

c5.79

On the Indian side Aśoka (274—237—6 B.C.) as mentioned in the Thirteenth Rock Edict sent embassies to Antiochus II (261 B.C.), Ptolemy (Philadelphus of Egypt (285—247 B.C.), Antigonus (Gonatas of Macedon 278—239), Magas (of Cyrene, died 258) and Alexander (of Epirus 278—258?) probably in 258 B.C.⁵² Later on the contact was renewed when Antiochus III (221—187 B.C.) in 206 B.C. in his short campaign in India met the Mauryan Sophagasenus or Subhāgasena⁵³ who presented him elephants. Antiochus IV (175—163 B.C.), though his direct contact with India is not mentioned, was the moving spirit behind Eucratides who overthrew Demetrius.⁵⁴