The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c7.s1.8

c7.s1.8

Hellenes, notwithstanding the temperate zone of their "isles of Greece", were not more remarkable for unity than were Hindus of the time of Alexander. Nor did their character display any enviable patriotism when put to the test of Macedonian gold¹ and arms. The crushing defeat inflicted on Seleukos and Menander by Chandra-gupta Maurya (B. C. 303) and Puṣyamitra Sunga (B. C. 153) respectively was not less decisive a feat of Hindu *vîriya* or *parâkrama* (i. e. energism) which served to keep European military power away from India than were the victories of the Greeks over Persians at Marathon and Salamis which saved Hellas from the "expansion of Asia". The failure of Hindu nationalities before hordes of Scythians, Tartars or Huns was no worse specimen of military incompetency, social disintegration, moral corruption and political instability than was the disruption of the Roman empire by the "barbarians".²