Across the Jhelum river lay Kaikya land of Puru that fell on the conquest course of Alexander. Greek army needed to take it and its ally king Ambhi had been pressing Emperor Alexander to move against Puru as soon as possible because monsoon season was closing in. The rains would cause flooding of the rivers and crossing them would be impossible. Alexander’s War Committee was holding sessions and drawing battle plans. The lower ranks were busy surveying the river along the bank to determine suitable crossing point. Infact, the Greeks were trying to fool Puru and his commanders by overtly appearing to look for a point where the river flowed widest and the shallowest for the cavalry and foot soldiers to get across easily. They even marked a spot 20 miles upstream. Puru had stationed a large part of his army there to meet the Greek challange.
The actual plan was to cross the river in a large number of boats parked on the sand where the river was deep. Greeks were all set to spring a surprise on the Kaikyan army of King Puru.
Meanwhile, Ambhi kept poisoning the ears of Alexander against King Puru who he pictured as a mean, treacherous and untrustworthy man. He told Greek Emperor how Puru had conspired to corrupt his kingdom with spies and prostitutes. That part of his story was largely true. Ambhi tried to prove how cowardly king Puru was to employ such lowly tactics and why such character deserved no mercy.
Alexander appeared to agree with him.
Then, clouds began to appear in the sky indicating the arrival of rainy season as the summer ended. The time to strike had come. The situation brooked no delays.
One moonless night Greek army crossed Jhelum in boats while Puru’s soldiers waited 20 miles upstream for the reception of Greek soldiers. The units chosen for the action against Kaikya were safely across. In the morning when observers of Puru saw Greek army on their shore they ran to the king to tell him how the enemy had tricked them. The enemy stood at Puru’s door while a large part of his army was stationed 20 miles upstream expecting the Greeks to cross the river from there which was never going to happen. Puru sent urgent message to his commanders to rush downstream where the enemy stood ready to strike. Puru himself put on his armour to face the enemy.
Inspite of getting outwitted by enemy King Puru and his commanders did not lose courage. The Greeks were vastly superior battle planners and strategists. Alexander’s war campaigns had given them valuable experience. Their soldiers had better weapons, equipment and training. In battle craft too Greeks were far ahead of the natives. The native forces employed the same old strategies every time. Kaikyan army tried to put up a great wall of elephants numbering one thousand infront of Greek army to stonewall it.
King Puru himself battled from atop of a great elephant. The Greeks were using spears with deadly effect and killing Kaikyan soldiers in large numbers. To protect their soldiers from the massacre the wall of the elephants was being used by Kaikyans. Now the Puru’s soldiers were attacking the enemy from the cover and flanks of elephants.
It seemed working as the Greeks had gone on the backfoot. They were finding it difficult to target Kaikyan soldiers who had elephant cover. The native soldiers battled fiercely and made the Greek army fall back. Alexander ordered his commanders to quickly find answer to the problem of elephant wall their soldiers faced.
Then, the army units of Ambhi jumped into the fray and came to the rescue of Greeks. His soldiers were experienced in dealing with elephants in battles. They advised Greeks to target the elephants with spears.
This move changed the tide of the battle. The injured elephants turned back in pain and ran back trampling upon and crushing the soldiers of Puru. In the melee Kaikyan army suffered a great loss. A large number of its soldiers lay dead, maimed or squashed to pulp.
Ambhi’s soldiers pounced upon the tiring soldiers of Puru. They being fresh in the battle were wreaking havoc on the opponents. Now the Greeks were also fighting with renewed vigour as the enemy was falling exhausted. Kaikyan soldiers were now in total disarry. Some were fleeing.
King Puru himself was in peril. His elephant was surrounded by Greek soldiers, cavalry and the Gandhar soldiers. Under attack Puru and his elephant were from all sides. Then the elephant collapsed fatally injured by long spears of Greeks. King Puru was taken prisoner by the Greek soldiers. Ambhi astride his horse savoured the moment. He had taken his revenge. The smile was back on his face.
Now Ambhi wanted to see Alexander ordering the execution of imprisoned Puru. It will be the happiest day of his life.
At last the Greek soldiers produced Puru in shackles before Emperor Alexander for deciding the fate of the vanquished king. Alexander sized up the royal prisoner. To his surprise he found Puru standing proud and cocky inspite of the shackles. He was not cowering or begging for mercy.
It pleased Greek Emperor.
In his battling life Alexander had learnt to respect the worthy opponents and brave ones. He had seen Puru battle bravely sitting atop his elephant and now he stood courageously facing him as prisoner. In his heart Alexander admired Puru.
Infact, Alexander was a true warrior.
He stared at Puru and remarked, “Till yesterday you were king of this land but today you stand here as a prisoner in shackles.”
“Yes Greek Emperor,” King Puru said nodding his head cockily and added, “Had the battle gone in my favour you would have been my prisoner like I am now.”
Alexander smiled.
Ambhi and Greek soldiers drew out their swords to teach the prisoner a lesson if he did not behave respectfully to the victor.
But Alexander said, “I admire your courage. Tell me what treatment should I mete you?”
“Same as…,” king Puru said bravely, “one victor king metes out to the vanquished king.”
“Your reply pleases me,” Alexander spoke happily.
“I will prefer to treat you as my brave friend. You are a true warrior. If you don’t object I will put the responsibility of ruling Abhisara and Ursa kingdoms besides your Kaikya on you on our behalf. What do you say?”
“I salute the greatness of the victorious Emperor of Greece and accept the offer. It would be my privilege to serve under such true warrior. Of course, I will obey all your orders.”
It came as a shock to Ambhi who was hoping to see Puru sworded to death. Instead of humiliation Puru was being treated with honour and rewarded.
But the acceptance of subordination to Alexander by King Puru did not go down well with his minister Indradutta and the army commander. They wanted to keep up the opposition to Greek Emperor alive but that was not possible now.
After dealing justice to Puru and appointing him as his Satrap Alexander crossed Chenab river along with his force to reach the east bank of Ravi river. There was a republic of Katha people. Sankel was the beautiful capital of Katha Republic.
The men and women of the republic were famous for their valour and courage all over Vaheek (Punjab) region. A great reputation they held. They were also known for philosophy, knowledge and spiritualism. The scholar council of this republic had created a significant chapter of the Hindu theosophical literature called ‘Kathopnishada’.
Alexander had heard the saga of Katha people, about their daredevilry and battling spirit. He could not afford to give them a chance or try with them. It could have proved costly. So, the Greek Emperor invaded the republic with a large force. The Katha people put up a fierce resistence.
Sankel came under the siege of Greek army. The defenders were a small force compared to the mammoth invasive force of Greeks. Outnumbered they were vanquished. But the battle was fierce and lasted for quite sometime. Even Katha women took up arms and fought against Greeks and took a heavy toll on the aggressor. Alexander did win the republic but at a heavy cost. So bravely and ferociously Katha folk fought that the morale of Greek soldiers was shaken. They lost hunger for battle.
The kingdoms beyond were still bigger and full of warrior races. The prospect was daunting. Greek soldiers suddenly felt homesick. For years they had been away battling. They were now tired, bruished, maimed and sick. A large number of Greek soldiers had died.
They decided to abandon the world conquest mission. Alexander pondered over the mental state of his soldiers and realised it was about time they returned home. He could not afford to continue his bloody campaign. So, Alexander decided to return from Vyasa river.
