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

म्लेंच्छ हृदंतरि घुसिला वल्मीका माजि नागनायकसा ॥
(with apologies to Moropant आर्याभारत-कर्णपर्व)
Alexander Rolled into a pool of Blood
56. The shaft of the Indian warrior unmistakably pierced the heart of
Alexander, and suddenly the emperor rolled down unconscious. A Greek
soldier immediately covered him with his shield. There was a sudden hue
and cry in the Greek ranks that Alexander had been wounded, that he had
fallen unconscious. With exceptional daring, the Greeks lifted him from the
pool of blood and carried him safely to his camp. There, with great
difficulty that terrible shaft of the Indian warrior was extricated. The Greeks
heaved a sigh of relief when after a long time of patient nursing, Alexander
gradually regained consciousness. It took several days for the wound to heal
up. During all this time, Alexander was confined to bed.
57. But everywhere in Babylon and Greece the news that was received,
reported that Alexander was killed in the war by an Indian arrow.
Consequently, there were some uprisings in Gandhar and Persia. But later
on, when it was known that Alexander was only severely wounded and was
now recovering, the situation came
to normalcy.
58. No wonder whatsoever, if the news of Alexander’s having fainted by a
bowshot was greeted cheerfully throughout the Malava-Shudrak republic.
Alexander was so much puffed up with pride when King Pourav (Poros)
was wounded in the battle, that he circulated a new coin with a picture
showing his fall stamped on it. The coin is still to be seen as a mark of his
vanity. That insult inflicted on India was fully avenged by the Indian arrow,
which sent the Greek emperor rolling down on the battlefield in pools of
blood. The Ionian Emperor, Alexander, who unjustifiably shed Indian
blood, was made to atone for it personally by the shedding of his blood.
59. The Malava-Shudrak republic too should have stamped on some golden
coin the picture of Alexander, fallen in a pool of blood with an arrow deeply
thrust into his chest. Possibly they did.
60. According to his cruel military code, he had been cruelly rushing
down the states, which had opposed him. But whenever there appeared any
foe, who was equally strong and who retaliated furiously, Alexander had the
cunning to dissemble nobility and frankness of heart. When he recovered
from his wound, he began to make overtures of peace to the commanders of