thout the Greek identifications, and the consequent
possibility of assigning dates to Chandragupta and his son, we
should know indeed that there was a great Maurya empire, which
lasted a matter of thirteen decades and a few odd years; but we
should hardly know when to place it. Accepting the Greek
identifications, and placing the Mauryas where we do in time--you
shall see how beautifully the epoch fits into the universal
cycles, and confirms the teaching as to Cyclic Law. So,
provisionally, I shall accept them, and tell the tale.

First a few more items from Megasthenes as to India under
Chandragupta. There was no slavery, he notes; all Indians were
free, and not even were there aliens enslaved. Crime of any kind
was rare; the people were thoroughly law-abiding. Thievery was
so little known, that doors went unlocked at all times; there
was no usury, and a general absence of litigation. They told the
truth: as a Greek, he could not help noticing that. The men
were exceptionally brave; the women, chaste and virturous.
But "in contrast to the general simplicity of their style,
they loved finery and ornaments. Their robes were worked
in gold, adorned with precious stones, and they wore flowered
garments of the finest muslin. Attendants walking behind
held umbrellas over them...."

The system of government was very highly and minutely evolved.
"Of the great officers of state, some have charge of the markets,
others of the city, others of the soldiers; others superintend
the canals, and measure the land, or collect the taxes; some
construct roads and set up pillars to show the by-roads and
distances from place to place. Those who have charge of the city
are divided into six boards of five members apiece: The
first looks after industrial art. The second attends to the
entertainment of strangers, taking care of them, sound or sick,
and in the event of their death, burying them and sending their
property to their relatives." The third board registered births
and deaths; the fourth, fifth and sixth had supervision of things
commercial. Military affairs were as closely organized: there
were Boards of Infantry, Cavalry, War Chariots, Elephants, Navy,
and Bullock Transport. And behind all these stood Chandragupta
himself, the superman, ruthless and terrifically efficient; and
Chanakya, his Macchiavellian minister: a combination to hurry
the world into greatness. And so indeed they did.

Under Asoka, Chandragupta