134 erik seldeslachts
Buddhism with several other systems.^9 One may conclude that there is
an Indian, but probably no Buddhist reality behind this case.
- Seleucids and Mauryas
In the time of Alexander the Great the foundations were laid for many
later developments. Politically, the Macedonian conquest was indirectly
and even directly responsible for the rise of the mighty Mauryan Empire
in India, which would in general be as bene cial to Buddhism as it
was favourably disposed to the Greeks. To explain this, we need a short
historical digression. In 311 BC, the eastern part of Alexander’s empire
passed into the hands of Seleucus I Nicator, but the Indian areas of that
empire came into the hold of Candragupta, who as the rst ruler of the
Maurya dynasty would unify much of India. There may have been a
military stand-off between Seleucus and Candragupta, but sooner rather
than later they came to an understanding. This understanding may have
had its ground in their common past as of cers serving under Alexander.
For Candragupta such a past is not commonly acknowledged as a fact,
but I consider as correct the bold old hypothesis of H. C. Seth accord-
ing to which Candragupta is identical with Sisíkottos, a young political
refugee from India who joined Alexander.^10 This identi cation ts with
what is known from Indian sources about the young Candragupta. It
also gives sense to the information of the Greek historian Plutarch (ca.
AD 46–120) that Sandrókottos (Candragupta) as a young man had met
with Alexander, and that later, as a king, he still cherished a great wor-
ship for him.^11 Finally, it is in my opinion supported by the fact that in
a Jaina Prkrit source Candragupta is referred to as Sasigutta, a form
which like Sanskrit Candragupta, Prkrit Cadagutta means “protected by
the moon”.^12 Now, Sasigutta, or a closely related form, must lie at the
basis of Greek Sisíkottos.
However it be, Seleucus and Candragupta concluded a treaty,
which included a marriage deal and gave Candragupta, in exchange
for 500 elephants, the control over immense areas in Arachosia and
Gedrosia, in what is now Afghanistan and Baluchistan.^13 Usually, this
(^9) Flintoff 1980, pp. 93–99; Sedlar 1980, pp. 77–78.
(^10) Seth 1937a; 1937b, p. 653.
(^11) Plutarchus, Vita Alexandri 62.9; De se ipsum citra invidiam laudando 542 D.
(^12) Vyavahrastra Bhya 3.342; cf. Malvania 1970–72, vol. 2, p. 796, s.v. Sasigutta.
(^13) Plutarchus, Vita Alexandri 62.4; Appianus, Historia Romana 11.55; Justinus, Epitome