Porus

King Porus

King Porus (पौरुष), the Greek version of the Indian names Puru, Pururava, or Parvata, was the ruler of a Kingdom in Punjab located between the Jhelum and the Chenab (in Greek, the Hydaspes and the Acesines) rivers in the Punjab. Its capital may have been near the current city of Lahore .

History

Ram Sarup Joon writes....According to the Purans and Mahabharat, King Yayati chose his second son Puru as heir to the throne. This branch, therefore, continued to stay in the same area and ruled Hardwar, Hastinapur and Delhi. King Hasti made Hastinapur and Pandavas Indraprastha as their capital. Porus who fought Alexander belonged to this branch, Poruswal, Phalaswal,Mirhan, Mudgil, Gill and a number of other Jat gotras are of the Puru branch.

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Ram Sarup Joon writes that ....Alexander invaded India in 326 BC and came upto the River Beas. After crossing the River Indus at Attock, he had to fight with a series of Jat Kingdoms. Alexander's historian Arrian writes that Jats were the bravest people he had to contest with in India.

Alexander's first encounter was with Porus who was defeated. Alexander was impressed with his dignified behavior even after defeat and reinstated him on the throne.

According to Arrian, Alexander had to fight with two Porus-es, the other one on his return journey. This is because Porus was not a name but a title as both belonged to Puru dynasty.

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Porus had 600 small republics under him, which were ruled by Jats. Porus was most powerful of them.

Unlike his neighbour, Ambhi (in Greek: 'Omphius), the King of Taxila, Porus chose to fight Alexander the Greek invader in order to defend his kingdom and honour of the people.

Porus fought the battle of the Hydaspes River with Alexander in 326 BC. After he was defeated by Alexander, in a famous meeting with Porus - who had suffered many arrow wounds in the battle and had lost his sons, who all chose death in battle rather than surrender - Alexander reportedly asked him, "how he should treat him". Porus replied, "the way one king treats another". Alexander the Great was so impressed by the brave response of King Porus that he restored his captured Kingdom back to him and gave addition lands of a neighbouring area whose ruler had fled

Porus was said to be "5 cubits tall", either the implausible 7½ ft (2.3 m) assuming an 18-inch cubit, or the more likely 6 ft (1.8 m) if a 14-inch Macedonian cubit was meant.

Ch.8: March from the Indus to the Hydaspes (Jhelum)

THIS has been the method of constructing bridges, practised by the Romans from olden times; but how Alexander laid a bridge over the river Indus I cannot say, because those who served in his army have said nothing about it. But I should think that the bridge was made as near as possible as I have described, or if it were effected by some other contrivance so let it be. When Alexander had crossed to the other side of the river Indus, he again offered sacrifice there, according to his custom¹. Then starting from the Indus, he arrived at Taxila, a large and prosperous city, in fact the largest of those situated between the rivers Indus and Hydaspes. He was received in a friendly manner by Taxiles, the governor of the city, and by the Indians of that place; and he added to their territory as much of the adjacent Country as they asked for. Thither also came to him envoys from Abisares, king of the mountaineer Indians, the embassy including the brother of Abisares as well as the other most notable men. Other envoys also came from Doxareus, the chief of the province, bringing gifts with them. Here again at Taxila Alexander offered the sacrifices which were customary for him to offer, and celebrated a gymnastic and equestrian contest. Having appointed Philip, son of Machatas, viceroy of the Indians of that district, he left a garrison in Taxila, as well as the soldiers who were invalided by sickness, and then marched towards the river Hydaspes.

For he was informed that Porus², with the whole of his army, was on the other side of that river, having determined either to prevent him from making the passage, or to attack him while crossing. When Alexander ascertained this, he sent Coenus, son of Polemocrates, back to the river Indus, with instructions to cut in pieces all the vessels which he had repared for the passage of that river, and to bring them to the river Hydaspes. Coenus cut the vessels in pieces and conveyed them thither, the smaller ones being cut into two parts, and the thirty-oared galleys into three. The sections were conveyed upon waggons, as far as the bank of the Hydaspes; and there the vessels were fixed together again, and seen as a fleet upon that river. Alexander took the forces which he had when lie arrived at Taxila, and the 5,000 Indians under the command of Taxiles and the chiefs of that district, and marched towards the same river.

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1. The place where Alexander crossed the Indus was probably at its junction with the Cophen or Cabul river, near Attock. Before he crossed he gave his army a rest of thirty days, as we learn from Diodorus, xvii. 86. From the same passage we learn that a certain king named Aphrices with an army of 20,000 men and 15 elephants, was killed by his own men and his army joined Alexander.

2. The kingdom of Porus lay between the Hydaspes and Acesines, the district now called Bari-doab with Lahore as capital. It was conquered by Lords Hardinge and Gongh in 1849.

p.279-280

Chapter xv. Arrangements of porus.

Arrian Anabasis Book/5a writes....Ptolemy also says that Alexander in the first place sent the horse-archers against these, and led the cavalry himself, thinking that Porus was approaching with all his forces, and that this body of cavalry was marching in front of the rest of his army, being drawn up by him as the vanguard. But as soon as he had ascertained with accuracy the number of the Indians, he immediately made a rapid charge upon them with the cavalry around him. When they perceived that Alexander himself and the body of cavalry around him had made the assault, not in line of battle regularly formed, but by squadrons, they gave way; and 400 of their cavalry, including the son of Porus, fell in the contest. The chariots also were captured, horses and all, being heavy and slow in the retreat, and useless in the action itself on account of the clayey ground. When the horsemen who had escaped from this rout brought news to Porus that Alexander himself had crossed the river with the strongest part of his army, and that his son had been slain in the battle, he nevertheless could not make up his mind what course to take, because the men who had been left behind under Craterus were seen to be attempting to cross the river from the great camp which was directly opposite his position. However, at last he preferred to march against Alexander himself with all his army, and to come into a decisive conflict with the strongest division of the Macedonians, commanded by the king in person. But nevertheless he left a few of the elephants together with a small army there at the camp to frighten the cavalry under Craterus from the bank of the river. He then took all his cavalry to the number of 4,000 men, all his chariots to the number of 300, with 200 of his elephants and all the infantry available to the number of 30,000,’ and marched against Alexander. When he found a place where he saw there was no clay, but that on account of the sand the ground was all level and hard, and thus fit for the advance and retreat of horses, he there drew up his army.² First he placed the elephants in the front, each animal being not less than a plethrum’ apart, so that they might be extended in the front before the whole of the phalanx of infantry, and produce terror everywhere among Alexander’s cavalry. Besides he thought that none of the enemy would have the audacity to push themselves into the spaces between the elephants, the cavalry being deterred by the fright of their horses; and st~less would the infantry do so, it being likely they would be kept off in front by the heavy-armed soldiers falling upon them, and trampled down by the elephants wheeling round against them. Near these he had posted the infantry, not occupying a line on a level with the beasts, but in a second line behind them, only so far behind that the companies of foot might be thrown forward a short distance into the spaces between them. He had also bodies of infantry standing beyond the elephants on the wings; and on both sides of the infantry he had posted the cavalry, in front of which were placed the chariots on both wings of his army.

Chapter xvi. Alexander's tactics.

Arrian Anabasis Book/5b writes....Such was the arrangement which Porus made of his forces. As soon as Alexander observed that the Indians were drawn up in order of battle, he stopped his cavalry from advancing farther, so that he might take up the infantry as it kept on arriving; and even when the phalanx in quick march had effected a junction with the cavalry, he did not at once draw it out and lead it to the attack, not wishing to hand over his men exhausted with fatigue and out of breath, to the barbarians who were fresh and untired. On the contrary, he caused his infantry to rest until their strength was recruited, riding along round the lines to inspect them. When he had surveyed the arrangement of the Indians, he resolved not to advance against the centre, in front of which the elephants had been posted, and in the gaps between them a dense phalanx of men arranged; for he was alarmed at the very arrangements which Porus had made here with that express design. But as he was superior in the number of his cavalry, he took the greater part of that force, and marched along against the left wing of the enemy for the purpose of making an attack in this direction. Against the right wing he sent Coenus with his own regiment of cavalry and that of Demetrius, with instructions to keep close behind the barbarians when they, seeing the dense mass of cavalry opposed to them, should ride out to fight them. Seleucus, Antigenes, and Tauron were ordered to lead the phalanx of infantry, but not to engage in the action until they observed’ the enemy’s cavalry and phalanx of infantry thrown into disorder by the cavalry under his own command. But when they came within range of missiles, he launched the horse-archers, 1,000 in number, against the left wing of the Indians, in order to throw those of the enemy who were posted there into confusion by the incessant storm of arrows and by the charge of the horses. He himself with the Companion cavalry marched along rapidly against the left wing of the barbarians, being eager to attack them in ftank while sti ll in a state of disorder, before their cavalry could he deployed in line.

Chapter xvii. Defeat of Porus.

Arrian Anabasis Book/5a writes....Meantime the Indians had collected their cavalry from all parts, and were riding along, advancing out of their position to meet Alexander’s charge. Coenus also appeared with his men in their rear, according to his instructions. The Indians, observing this, were compelled to make the line of their cavalry face both ways;’ the largest and best part against Alexander, while the rest wheeled round against Coenus and his forces. This therefore at once threw the ranks as well as the decisions of the Indians into confusion. Alexander, seeing his opportunity, at the very moment the cavalry was wheeling round in the other direction, made an attack on those opposed to him with such vigour that the Indians could not sustain the charge of his cavalry, but were scattered and driven to the elephants, as to a friendly wall, for refuge. Upon this, the drivers of the elephants urged forward the beasts against the cavalry but now the phalanx itself of the Macedonians was advancing against the elephants, the men casting darts at the riders and also striking the beasts themselves, standing round them on all sides. The action was unlike any of the previous contests; for wherever the beasts could wheel round, they rushed forth against the ranks of infantry and demolished the phalanx of the Macedonians, dense as it was. The Indian cavalry also, seeing that the infantry were engaged in the action, rallied again and advanced against the Macedonian cavalry. But when Alexander’s men, who far excelled both in strength and military discipline, got the mastery over them the second time, they were again repulsed towards the elephants and cooped up among them. By this time the whole of Alexander’s cavalry had collected into one squadron, not by any command of his, but having settled into this arrangement by the mere effect of the struggle itself; and wherever it fell upon the ranks of the Indians they were broken lip with great slaughter. The beasts being now cooped up into a narrow space, their friends were no less injured by them than their foes, being trampled down in their wheeling and pushing about. Accordingly there ensued a great slaughter of the cavalry, cooped tip as it was in a narrow space around the elephants. Most of the keepers of the elephants had been killed by the javelins, and some of the elephants themselves had been wounded, while others no longer kept apart in the battle on account of their sufferings or from being destitute of keepers. But, as if frantic with pain, rushing forward at friends and foes alike, they pushed about, trampled down and killed them in every kind of way. However, the Macedonians inasmuch as they were attacking the beasts in an open space and in accordance with their own plan, got out of their way whenever they rushed at them; and when they wheeled round to return, followed them closely and hurled javelins at them; whereas the Indians retreating among them were now receiving greater injury from them. But when the beasts were tired out, and were no longer able to charge with any vigour, they began to retire slowly, facing the foe like ships backing water,’ merely uttering a shrill piping sound. Alexander himself surrounded the whole line with his cavalry, and gave the signal that the infantry should link their shields together so as to form a very densely closed body, and thus advance in phalanx. By this means the Indian cavalry, with the exception of a few men, was quite cut up in the action; as was also the infantry, since the Macedonians were now pressing upon them from all sides. Upon this, all who could do so turned to flight through the spaces which intervened between the parts of Alexander’s cavalry.

Chapter xviii. Porus surrenders.

Arrian Anabasis Book/5a writes....At the same time Craterus and the other officers of Alexander’s army who had been left behind on the bank of the Hydaspes crossed the river, when they perceived that Alexander was winning a brilliant victory. These men, being fresh, followed up the pursuit instead of Alexander’s exhausted troops, and made no less a slaughter of the Indians in their retreat. Of the Indians little short of 20,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry were killed in this battle.’ All their chariots were broken to pieces; and two sons of Porus were slain, as were also Spitaces, the governor of the Indians of that district, the managers of the elephants and of the chariots, and all the cavalry officers and generals of Porus’s army. All the elephants which were not killed there, were captured. Of Alexander’s forces, about 80 of the 6,000 foot-soldiers who were engaged in the first attack were killed,; 10 of the horse-archers, who were also the first to engage in the action; about 20 of the Companion cavalry, and about 200 of the other horsemen fell. When Porus, who exhibited great talent in the battle, performing the deeds not only of a general but also of a valiant soldier, observed the slaughter of his cavalry, and some of his elephants lying dead, others destitute of keepers straying about in a forlorn condition, while most of his infantry had perished, he did not depart as Darius the Great King did, setting an example of flight to his men; but as long as any body of Indians remained compact in the battle, he kept up the struggle. But at last, having received a wound on the right shoulder, which part of his body alone was unprotected during the battle, he wheeled round. His coat of mail warded off the missiles from the rest of his body, being extraordinary both for its strength and the close fitting of its joints, as it was afterwards possible for those who saw him to observe. Then indeed he turned his elephant round and began to retire. Alexander, having seen that he was a great man and valiant in the battle, was very desirous of saving his life. He accordingly sent first to him Taxiles the Indian ; who rode up as near to the elephant which was carrying Porus as seemed to him safe, and bade him stop the beast, assuring him that it was no longer possible for him to flee, and bidding him listen to Alexander’s message. But when he saw his old foe Taxiles, he wheeled round and was preparing to strike him with a javelin; and perhaps he would have killed him, if he had not quickly driven his horse forward out of the reach of Porus before he could strike him. But not even on this account was Alexander angry with Porus; but he kept on sending others in succession; and last of all Meroës an Indian, because he ascertained that he was an old friend of Porus. As soon as the latter heard the message brought to him by Meroës, being at the same time overcome by thirst, he stopped his elephant and dismounted from it. After he had drunk some water and felt refreshed, he ordered Meroës to lead him without delay to Alexander; and Meroës led him thither.

Chapter xix: Alliance with Porus.

Arrian Anabasis Book/5a writes....When Alexander heard that Meroës was bringing Porus to him, he rode in front of the line with a few of the Companions to meet Porus; and stopping his horse, he admired his handsome figure and his stature, which reached somewhat above five cubits. He was also surprised that he did not seem to be cowed in spirit,² but advanced to meet him as one brave man would meet another brave man, after having gallantly struggled in defence of his own kingdom against another king. Then indeed Alexander was the first to speak, bidding him say what treatment he would like to receive. The story goes that Porus replied:

“Treat me, O Alexander, in a kingly way !“

Alexander being pleased at the expression, said :

“For my own sake, O Porus, thou shalt be thus treated; but for thy own sake do thou demand what is pleasing to thee!”

But Porus said that everything was included in that. Alexander, being still more pleased at this remark, not only granted him the rule over his own Indians, but also added another country to that which he had before, of larger extent than the former.’ Thus he treated the brave man in a kingly way, and from that time found him faithful in all things. Such was the result of Alexander’s battle with Porus and the Indians living beyond the river Hydaspes, which was fought in the archonship of Hegemon at Athens, in the month Munychion (15 April to 18 May, 326 B.c.).

Alexander founded two cities, one where the battle took place, and the other on the spot whence he started to cross the river Hydaspes; the former he named Nicaea,’ after his victory over the Indians, and the latter Bucephala in memory of his horse Bucephalas, which died there, not from having been wounded by any one, but from the effects of toil and old age; for he was about thirty years old, and quite worn out with toil. This Bucephalas had shared many hardships and incurred many dangers with Alexander during many years, being ridden by none but the king, because he rejected all other riders. He was both of unusual size and generous in mettle. The head of an ox had been engraved upon him as a distinguishing mark, and according to some this was the reason why he bore that name; but others say, that though he was black he had a white mark upon his head which bore a great resemblance to the head of an ox. In the land of the Uxians this horse vanished from Alexander, who thereupon sent a proclamation throughout the country that he would kill all the inhabitants unless they brought the horse back to him. As a result of this proclamation it was immediately brought back. So great was Alexander’s attachment to the horse, and so groat was the fear of Alexander entertained by the barbarians. Let so much honour be paid by me to this Bucephalas for the sake of his master.

Alexander Cunningham on Porus

Alexander Cunningham writes that - [p.155]:The modern town of Bhira, or Bheda, is situated on the left, or eastern bank, of the Jhelam ; but on the opposite bank of the river, near Ahmedabad, there is a very extensive mound of ruins, called Old Bhira, or Jobnathnagar, the city of Raja Jobnath, or Chobnath. At this point the two great routes of the salt caravans diverge to Lahor and Multan ; and here, accordingly, was the capital of the country in ancient times ; and here also, as I believe, was the capital of Sophites, or Sopeithes, the contemporary of Alexander the Great. According to Arrian, the capital of Sopeithes was fixed by Alexander as the point where the camps of Kraterus and Hephsestion were to be pitched on opposite banks of the river, there to await the arrival of the fleet of boats under his own command, and of the main body of the army under Philip.¹ As Alexander reached the appointed place on the third day, we know that the capital of Sophites was on the Hydaspes, at three days' sail from Nikaea for laden boats. Now Bhira is just three days' boat distance from Mong, which, as I will presently show, was almost certainly the position of Nikaea, where Alexander defeated Porus. Bhira also, until it was supplanted by Pind Dadan Khan, has always been the principal city in this part of the country. At Bhira ² the Chinese pilgrim, Fa-Hian, crossed the Jhelam in A.D. 400 ; and against Bhira, eleven centuries later, the enterprising Baber conducted his first Indian expedition.

The classical notices of the country over which

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1 ' Anabasis,' vi. 3. 2 Beal's translation, chap. xv. ; Fa-Hian calls it Pi-cha or Bhi-ḍa — the Chinese ch being the usual representative of the cerebral ḍ.

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[p.156]: Sophites ruled are very conflicting. Thus Strabo¹ records : —

" Some writers place Kathaea and the country of Sopeithes, one of the monarchs, in the tract between the rivers (Hydaspes and Akesines) ; some on the other side of the Akesines and of the Hyarotes, on the confines of the territory of the other Porus, — the nephew of Porus, who was taken prisoner by Alexander, and call the country subject to him Gandaris".

This name may, I believe, be identified with the present district of Gundalbar, or Gundar-bar. Bar is a term applied only to the central portion of each Doab, comprising the high lands beyond the reach of irrigation from the two including rivers. Thus Sandal, or Sandar-bar, is the name of the central tract of the Doab between the Jhelam and the Chenab. The upper portion of the Gundal Bar Doab, which now forms the district of Gujrat, belonged to the famous Porus, the antagonist of Alexander, and the upper part of the Sandar-Bar Doab belonged to his nephew, the other Porus, who is said to have sought refuge among the Gandaridae.

पुरु-पौरव का इतिहास

दलीप सिंह अहलावत लिखते हैं कि सम्राट् ययाति के आज्ञाकारी उत्तराधिकारी लघुपुत्र पुरु से ही इस जाटवंश का प्रचलन हुआ। महाभारत आदिपर्व, अध्याय 85वां, श्लोक 35, के लेख अनुसार -

पूरोस्तु पौरवो वंशो यत्र जातोसि पार्थिव ।

इदं वर्षसहस्राणि राज्यं कारयितुं वशी ॥35॥

पुरु से पौरववंश चला है। इस चन्द्रवंशी पुरुवंश में बड़े-बड़े महान् शक्तिशाली सम्राट् हुए जैसे - वीरभद्र, दुष्यन्त, चक्रवर्ती भरत (सम्राट चक्रवर्ती भरत के नाम पर आर्यावर्त देश का नाम भारतवर्ष पड़ा), हस्ती (जिसने हस्तिनापुर नगर बसाया), कुरु (जिसने धर्मक्षेत्र कुरुक्षेत्र स्थापित किया), शान्तनु, भीष्म, कौरव पाण्डव आदि। इसी पुरुवंश की राजधानी हरद्वार, हस्तिनापुर, इन्द्रप्रस्थ तथा देहली रही।

जाट राजा पोरस

इसी पुरुवंश में 326 ईस्वी पूर्व जाट राजा पोरस अत्यधिक प्रसिद्ध सम्राट् हुआ। इनका राज्य जेहलम और चनाव नदियों के बीच के क्षेत्र पर था। “परन्तु इनके अधीन अन्य 600 राज्य थे तथा इन्होंने अपना राजदूत कई वर्ष ईस्वी पूर्व रोम (इटली) के राजा अगस्तटस (Augustus) के पास भेजा था।” (यूनानी प्रसिद्ध ऐतिहासिक स्ट्रेबो का यह लेख है। । स्ट्रेबो का यह लेख ठीक ही प्रतीत होता है क्योंकि सम्राट् पोरस के समय भारत व आज के अरब देशों पर एक सम्राट् न था। परन्तु छोटे-छोटे क्षेत्रों पर अलग-अलग राजा राज करते थे। इनमें अधिकतर जाट राज्य थे, जिनका उचित स्थान पर वर्णन किया जायेगा। सम्राट् पोरस उन राजाओं से अधिक शक्तिशाली था।

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1. आधार पुस्तक; जाटों का उत्कर्ष पृ० 297-299 लेखक योगेन्द्रपाल शास्त्री।

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जाट वीरों का इतिहास: दलीप सिंह अहलावत, पृष्ठान्त-192

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यूनानी शक्तिशाली सम्राट सिकन्दर ने 326 ई० पूर्व भारतवर्ष पर आक्रमण किया। सिकन्दर की सेना ने रात्रि में जेहलम नदी पार कर ली। जब पोरस को यह समाचार मिला तो अपनी सेना से यूनानी सेना के साथ युद्ध शुरु कर दिया। दोनों के बीच घोर युद्ध हुआ। सिकन्दर के साथ यूनानी सेना तथा कई हजार जाट सैनिक थे, जिनको अपने साथ सीथिया तथा सोग्डियाना से लाया था, जहां पर इन जाटों का राज्य था। पोरस की जाट सेना ने सिकन्दर की सेना के दांत खट्टे कर दिए।

पोरस की हार लिखने वालों का खण्डन करते हुए “एनेबेसिस् ऑफ अलेक्जेण्डर” पुस्तक का लेखक, पांचवें खण्ड के 18वें अध्याय में लिखता है कि “इस युद्ध में पूरी विजय किसी की नहीं हुई। सिकन्दर थककर विश्राम करने चला गया। उसने पोरस को बुलाने के लिए एक दूत भेजा। पोरस निर्भय होकर सिकन्दर के स्थान पर ही मिला और सम्मानपूर्वक संधि हो गई।” सिकन्दर अत्यन्त उच्चाकांक्षी था सही किन्तु इस साढे-छः फुट ऊँचे पोरस जैसा कर्मठ और शूरवीर न था। सिकन्दर उसकी इस विशेषता से परिचित था, उसी से प्रेरित होकर उसने भिम्बर व राजौरी (कश्मीर में) पोरस को देकर अपनी मैत्री स्थिर कर ली। पोरस का अपना राज्य तो स्वाधीन था ही। अतः पोरस की पराजय की घटना नितांत कल्पित और अत्युक्ति मात्र है।

सिकन्दर चनाब नदी पार के छोटे पुरु राज्य में पहुंचा। यह बड़े पुरु का (पोरस का) रिश्तेदार था। इसके अतिरिक्त रावी के साथ एक लड़ाका जाति अगलासाई के नाम से प्रसिद्ध थी, इनको सिकन्दर ने जीत लिया। छोटे पुरु का राज्य भी सिकन्दर ने बड़े पुरु को दे दिया। रावी व व्यास के नीचे वाले क्षेत्र में कठ गोत्र के जाटों का अधिकार था। इनका यूनानी सेना से युद्ध हुआ। इन जाट वीरों ने यूनानी सेना को मुंहतोड़ जवाब दिया और आगे बढ़ने से रोक दिया। सिकन्दर ने पोरस से 5000 सैनिक मंगवाये। तब बड़ी कठिनाई के व्यास नदी तक पहुंचा। इससे आगे यूनानी सेना ने बढने से इन्कार कर दिया। इसका बड़ा कारण यह था - व्यास के आगे यौधेय गोत्र के जाटों का राज्य था। उनका शक्तिशाली यौधेय गणराज्य एक विशाल प्रदेश पर था। पूर्व में सहारनपुर से लेकर पश्चिम में बहावलपुर तक और उत्तर-पश्चिम में लुधियाना से लेकर दक्षिण-पूर्व में दिल्ली-आगरा तक उनका राज्य फैला हुआ था। ये लोग अत्यन्त वीर और युद्धप्रिय थे। इनकी वीरता और साधनों के विषय में सुनकर ही यूनानी सैनिकों की हिम्मत टूट गई और उन्होंने आगे बढ़ने से इन्कार कर दिया। ऐसी परिस्थिति में सिकन्दर को व्यास नदी से ही वापिस लौटना पड़ा। वापसी में सिकन्दर की सेना का मद्र, मालव, क्षुद्रक और शिव गोत्र के जाटों ने बड़ी वीरता से मुकाबला किया और सिकन्दर को घायल कर दिया। 323 ई० पू० सिकन्दर बिलोचिस्तान होता हुआ बैबीलोन पहुंचा, जहां पर 33 वर्ष की आयु में उसका देहान्त हो गया

सिकन्दर की सेना का यूनान से चलकर भारतवर्ष पर आक्रमण और उसकी वापसी तक, जहां-जहां जाट वीरों ने उससे युद्ध तथा साथ दिया, का विस्तार से वर्णन अगले अध्याय में किया जाएगा।

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जाट वीरों का इतिहास: दलीप सिंह अहलावत, पृष्ठान्त-193

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सम्राट् पुरु (पोरस) के राजवंश का शासन 140 वर्ष तक रहा। मसूदी की लिखित पुस्तक ‘गोल्डन मीडोज’, का संकेत देकर, बी० एस० दहिया ने जाट्स दी एन्शन्ट रूलर्स पृ० 315 में लिखा है। धौलपुर जाट राजवंश भी पुरुवंशज था। राजा वीरभद्र पुरुवंशज थे। उनके पुत्र-पौत्रों से कई जाट गोत्र चले। (देखो वंशावली प्रथम अध्याय)। इस पुरुवंश के जाट पुरुवाल, पोरसवाल, फ़लसवाल पौडिया भी कहलाते हैं। पुरु-पोरव-पोरस जाट गोत्र एक ही है। पुरुगोत्र (वंश) के जाट आजकल उत्तरप्रदेश, हरयाणा, पंजाब तथा देहली में हैं परन्तु इनकी संख्या कम है। फलसवाल जाट गांव भदानी जिला रोहतक और पहाड़ीधीरज देहली में हैं।

पोरव वंश के शाखा गोत्र - 1. पंवार 2. जगदेव पंवार 3. लोहचब पंवार।

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राजा पुरु-पोरस

राजा पोरस जाट जाति का था जिसका गोत्र पुरु-पौरव था। इसका राज्य जेहलम तथा चिनाब नदियों के बीच के क्षेत्र पर था। यह उस समय के पंजाब और सिन्ध नदी पार के सब राजाओं से अधिक शक्तिशाली था। सिकन्दर ने राजा पोरस को अपनी प्रभुता स्वीकार कराने हेतु संदेश भेजा जिसको पोरस ने बड़ी निडरता से अस्वीकार कर दिया और युद्ध के लिए तैयार

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जाट वीरों का इतिहास: दलीप सिंह अहलावत, पृष्ठान्त-361

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हो गया। सिकन्दर की सेना ने रात्रि में जेहलम नदी पार कर ली। पोरस की जाट वीर सेना ने उसका सामना किया। दोनों सेनाओं के बीच भयंकर युद्ध हुआ। दोनों ओर से जाट सैनिक बड़ी वीरता से लड़े। यह पिछले पृष्ठों पर लिखा गया है कि सिकन्दर के साथ यूनानी सैनिक तथा सीथिया व सोग्डियाना देश के दहिया आदि कई हजार जाट सैनिक आये थे।

पोरस की जाट सेना ने सिकन्दर की सेना के दांत खट्टे कर दिये। इस युद्ध में पूरी विजय किसी की नहीं हुई। सिकन्दर ने यह सोचकर कि पोरस हमको आगे बढ़ने में बड़ी रुकावट बन गया है, उसे अपने कैम्प में बुलाकर सन्धि कर ली। इस सन्धि के अनुसार सिकन्दर ने पोरस से मित्रता कर ली और उसे अपने जीते हुए भिम्बर व राजौरी (कश्मीर में) दे दिये। (अधिक जानकारी के लिए देखो तृतीय अध्याय, पुरु-पौरव प्रकरण)। जाट्स दी ऐनशन्ट रूलर्ज पृ 170 पर, बी० एस० दहिया ने लिखा है कि सम्राट् पोरस ने सम्राट् सिकन्दर से युद्ध किया और उससे हार नहीं मानी, अन्त में सिकन्दर ने इससे आदरणीय सन्धि की।

“लम्बा उज्जवल शरीर, योद्धा तथा शूरवीर, शत्रु पर तीव्र गति से भाला मारने वाले और युद्धक्षेत्र में भय पैदा करने वाले इस सम्राट् पुरु (पोरस) के 326 ई० पू० जेहलम के युद्ध में वीरता के अद्भुत कार्य, तांबे की प्लेटों पर नक्काशी करके तक्षशिला के मन्दिर की दीवारों पर लटकाए गए थे।” R.C. Majumdar Classical Accounts of India, P. 388; quoted SIH & C, P.69.)

छोटा पुरु तथा गलासाई जाति - सिकन्दर चनाब नदी पार करके छोटे पुरु के राज्य में प्रवेश कर गया। यह पुरु भी जाट राजा था जो कि बड़े पुरु का रिश्तेदार था। इसका राज्य चनाब और रावी नदियों के मध्य में था। सिकन्दर ने इसको जीत लिया और इसका राज्य भी बड़े पुरु को दे दिया। आगे बढ़ने पर उसका युद्ध एक लड़ाका अगलासाई^* जाति जो कि रावी नदी के साथ थी, से हुआ। सिकन्दर ने उन पर भी विजय प्राप्त कर ली।

Death

Indian sources record that Parvata was killed by mistake by the Indian ruler Rakshasa, who was trying to assassinate Chandragupta instead.

Greek tradition however records that he was assassinated, sometime between 321 and 315 BC, by the Thracian general Eudemus (general), who had remained in charge of the Macedonian armies in the Punjab:

"From India came Eudamus, with 500 horsemen, 300 footmen, and 120 elephants. These beasts he had secured after the death of Alexander, by treacherously slaying King Porus" Diodorus Siculus XIX-14

After his assassination, his son Malayketu ascended the throne with the help of Eudemus. However, Malayketu was killed in the Battle of Gabiene in 317 BC.

Jat Gotras from Porus

• Paraswal
• Poras
• Purwar
• Phour

References

• Arrian, The Campaigns of Alexander, book 5.
• History of Porus, Patiala, Dr Buddha Parkash.
• Lendring, Jona. Alexander de Grote - De ondergang van het Perzische rijk (Alexander the Great. The demise of the Persian empire),Amsterdam:Athenaeum - Polak & Van Gennep, 2004.
• Holt, Frank L. Alexander the Great and the Mystery of the Elephant Medallions, California: University of California Press, 2003, 217pgs. ISBN 0-520-24483-4

External links

• Porus at Livius, by Jona Lendering

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