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CHAPTER IV. THE MAURYA EMPIRE :
THE ERA OF DIGVIJAYA
SECTION I. THE REIGN OF CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA.
Mlechchhairudvejyamānā bhujayugamadhunā
samśritā rājamūrtteh Sa Śrímadbandhubhịtyaśchiramavatu mahim
pārthivas-Chandraguptah.
-Mudrārākshasa.
In B.C. 326 the flood of Macedonian invasion had overwhelmed the Indian states of the Pañjāb, and was threatening to burst upon the Madhyadleśa. Aġrammes was confronted with a crisis not unlike that which Arminius had to face when Varus carried the Roman Eagle to the Teutoburg Forest, or which Charles Martel had to face when the Saracens carried the Crescent towards the field of Tours. The question whether India was, or was not, to be Hellenized awaited decision.
Agrammes was fortunate enough to escape the onslaught of Alexander. But it is doubtful whether he had the ability or perhaps the inclination to play the part of an Arminius or a Charles Martel, had the occasion arisen. But there was at this time another Indian who was made of different stuff. This was Chandragupta, the Sandrokoptos ( Sandrokottos etc. ) of the classical writers. The rise of Chandragupta is thus described by Justin :1
"India after the death of Alexander had shaken, as it were, the yoke of servitude from its neck and put his governors to death. The author of this liberation was
1 Watson's tr., p. 142 with slight emendations,
