Chapter IV · MAURYAN AND GREEK RULE (b.c. 319–100.)
Reading edition
Gujarát history dates from the rule of the Mauryan dynasty, the only early Indian dynasty the record of whose rule has been preserved in the writings of the Bráhmans, the Buddhists, and the Jains. This fulness of reference to the Mauryas admits of easy explanation. The Mauryas were a very powerful dynasty whose territory extended over the greater part of India. Again under Mauryan rule Buddhism was so actively propagated that the rulers made it their state religion, waging bloody wars, even revolutionizing many parts of the empire to secure its spread. Further the Mauryas were beneficent rulers and had also honourable alliances with foreign, especially with Greek and Egyptian, kings. These causes combined to make the Mauryans a most powerful and well remembered dynasty.
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · Mahábhárata Anuśásanaparvan 2158–9 mentions Láṭas among Kshatriya tribes who have become outcastes from seeing no Bráhmans. Again, Chap. VIINote 2 · Turnour’s Maháwanso, 71. ↑Note 3 · Bombay Branch Royal Asiatic Society Journal, 1891, page 47. ↑Note 4 · It is interesting to note that Chandragupta married a Vaiśya lady. Similarly while at Sánchi on his way to Ujjain Aśoka married Deví, the daNote 5 · Probably from some mistake of the graver’s the text of the inscription अशोकस्य ते यवनराजेन yields no meaning. Some word for governor or offiNote 6 · Hemachandra’s Parisishta Parva. Merutunga’s Vicháraśreṇi. ↑Note 7 · The text is ‘Kunálasûnustrikhandabharatádhipah Paramárhanto Anáryadeśeshvapi Pravarttitaśramaṇa-vihárah Samprati Mahárája Sohábhavat’ meaninNote 8 · Justin’s date is probably about a.d. 250. His work is a summary of the History of Trogus Pompeius about a.d. 1. Watson’s Justin, 277; WilsonNote 9 · Hamilton and Falconer’s Strabo, II. 252–253. ↑Note 10 · These small local coins which were found in Hálár Gondal were presented to the Bombay Asiatic Society by the Political Agent of Káthiáwár anNote 11 · Wilson’s Ariana Antiqua, 266. Gardner’s British Museum Catalogue, 26, brings Eucratides to after b.c. 162. ↑Note 12 · See above page 15. ↑Note 13 · McCrindle’s Periplus, 121. ↑Note 14 · The Bombay Asiatic Society possesses some specimens of these coins of bad workmanship found near Broach with the legend incorrect, probably Note 15 · McCrindle’s Periplus, 115. ↑Note 16 · Numismatic Chronicle (New Series), X. 80; Wilson’s Ariana Antiqua, 288. ↑Note 17 · Numismatic Chronicle (New Series), X, 80. ↑Note 18 · Wilson’s Ariana Antiqua, Plate XXII. Number 41. Gardner’s British Museum Catalogue, Plate XI. Number 8. ↑Note 19 · Wilson’s Ariana Antiqua, Plate XXII. Number 66, shows one variety of this monogram. ↑Note 20 · These coins are said to have been found in 1882 by a cultivator in an earthen pot. Two of them were taken for Pandit Bhagvánlál and one for Note 21 · Ariana Antiqua, Plate XXII. Number 47. ↑Note 22 · Numismatic Chronicle (New Series), X. 86. ↑Note 23 · Ariana Antiqua, 288; Gardner and Poole’s Catalogue of Indian Coins, xxxiii. ↑Note 24 · Inscriptions give reason to believe that the supremacy of Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan dynasty (b.c. 319), extended over GujarátNote 25 · Buddhist and Jain records agree that Aśoka was succeeded, not by his son Kunála who was blind, but by his grandsons Daśaratha and Samprati. Note 26 · After Samprati, whose reign ended about b.c. 197, a blank of seventeen years occurs in Gujarát history. The next available information showsNote 27 · Demetrius, whom Justin calls the king of the Indians, is believed to have reigned from b.c. 190 to b.c. 165.9 On the authority of ApollodoruNote 28 · As his coins are found in Káthiáváḍa Eucratides may either have advanced into Káthiáváḍa or the province may have come under his sway as lorNote 29 · The end of the reign of Eucratides is not fixed with certainty: it is believed to be about b.c. 155.12 For the two Baktrian-Greek kings MenaNote 30 · The silver coins both of Menander and Apollodotus found in Gujarát and Káthiáváḍa are of only one variety, round drachmæ. The reason that ofNote 31 · Chapter V. The Kshatrapas. b.c. 70–a.d. 398. With the Kshatrapas (b.c. 70) begins a period of clearer light, and, at the same time, of incre