“Tell us, King Alexander,” they cried, “have you found some way for us to defeat the elephants and animals that the King of India has sent against us?”
“Indeed I have,” replied Alexander, “and we shall go about our plans right away.”
Alexander then ordered his men to make many forms of human beings from copper and to place in their hollow interiors burning coals and torches. They propped them up over the entire length and breadth of the battlefield and then retreated to see what would happen.
The next morning, the Indian army approached, leading their animals. As they came near, the animals bolted forward toward the forms that looked, in the early dawn, like Greek soldiers.
As the beasts leaped on the forms, they screamed in terrible pain as they were burned by the coals and fire. Turning tail, they fled in panic. At this point the Greeks leaped from their hiding places and charged the Indian army that was stunned by the sudden turn of events.
Alexander’s Horse Falls
Just as it appeared that the Greeks were about to rout the Indian army, Alexander’s horse was hit and fell dead, throwing the Greek leader to the ground. The army, seeing Alexander fall, took it as an evil omen and their arms grew weak.
The Indian army began to slowly push the Greeks back. The Greeks turned to each other and said: “Let us turn Alexander over to the Indian king, Purus. Hopefully he will allow the rest of us to survive.”
Alexander, hearing this, grew bitter and realized that he would have to think of something quickly if he hoped to come out of the battle alive.
The Challenge
Sending a messenger to Purus, he offered the following challenge to the Indian king: “Why should our armies fight and so many men die? Let us fight amongst ourselves and if you win, my people will be your slaves, while if I win, your people will serve me.”
When Purus heard this, he said to himself: “What a fool Alexander is! I am a giant of a man and one possessing mighty strength. I will defeat him with the greatest of ease.”
When the Indian army saw that its king was going to do battle with Alexander, they were very happy, as they knew that no man had ever defeated their leader. They didn’t know Alexander, however, who through his great knowledge of the skills of fighting killed the wicked Purus and placed his entire nation under his dominion.