भारतीय इतिहास के ६ स्वर्णिम पृष्ठ (वीर सावरकर - विदेशी आक्रान्ताओं पर विजय गाथा)

fighting till the end against the enemy of his nation. In fact, तावत कालम्
प्रतिक्षेताम् (Bide the time!) is a valuable tenet in political science.
Knowing that the submission of King Porus was only time serving, the
Indian populace also did not take it amiss. It will be shown later, how at the
opportune time, King Porus (now Satrap Porus) turned the tables against
Alexander himself.
27. After the end of the war with Porus, Alexander set himself up to the
task of stabilising the newly conquered neighbouring states, and began a
careful study of the life of the people there and in the yonder regions.
Besides, to replenish his army that was depleted in numbers and energy
because of the incessant wars from the Hindukush to the Panchanad,
Alexander ordered fresh regiments of forces from his Satraps in Babylon
and Greece, and sent back those of his fighting forces, who were wounded
and rendered invalid and also those who were shirkers.
Inquiry of the Indian Ascetics
28. The scouts, whom Alexander had sent round to survey the local
condition of the people in the subjugated as well as non-subjugated
provinces, brought, among other reports, detailed descriptions of the
penance-groves in the forests, and of the ascetics, anchorites, recluses, freed
from all worldly bonds, wandering about all alone in search of knowledge
and also of those sages, who were deeply engrossed in philosophical
thought. Alexander himself was fond of learning and philosophical
discussions, for he called himself the disciple of the great philosopher,
Aristotle. He had already heard much in Greece itself of such ascetics and
of austere Brahmins. So, he earnestly desired to see personally at least some
of these austere Brahmins in India, who the Greeks called ‘Gymnosophists’
and have talks with them. So, he sent for some of such hermits from their
forest abodes and some he saw in their secluded cells. The Greek writers
themselves had given some interesting tales about such occasions. I would
like to cite a tale or two from among those in words of the Greek writers
themselves, so as to throw some light on the thoughts and feelings of the
Greeks and their leader, Alexander.
29. “This philosopher (Kalanos), we are told, showed Alexander a symbol
of his empire. He threw down on the ground a dry and shrivelled hide and
planted his foot on the edge of it. But when it was trodden down in one
place, it started up everywhere else. He then walked all round it and showed