Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c5.44

c5.44

The *Āśvakāyanas* gave battle to Alexander with an army of 30,000 cavalry, 38,000 infantry, and 30 elephants, aided by 7,000 mercenaries from the plains, all garrisoned in their fortified capital called Massaga [Sanskrit *Maśaka*, which stood on the banks of the river called *Maśakāvatī* in the *Kāśikā* comment on Pāṇini (IV. 2, 85; VI, 3, 119)], led by their heroic Queen Cleophis (=Sanskrit *Kṛipā*?), “resolved to defend their country to the last extremity.” Even their women took part in the defence along with the Queen. Even their mercenaries, at first vacillating, caught their spirit and preferred “a glorious death to a life with dishonour” [McCrindle’s *Invasion*, pp. 194 (Curtius), 270 (Diodorus)]. Their spirit infected the neighbouring hill-country called Abhisāra, which also joined them in their defence.