Megasthenes' Indica is the Greek writer's account of Mauryan India.

Although the original

work is now lost, pieces of it have been found in later Greek and Latin writings. Diodorus Siculus,
Strabo (Geographica), Pliny, and Arrian (Indica) are among the first of these works.

Evidence of Indica through the writings of philosophers

 The Indica of Megasthenes can be rebuilt using pieces preserved by succeeding writers as
direct quotes or paraphrases.
 Parts of the original text can be distinguished from later works by comparable substance,
terminology, and phrasing, even when the content is not specifically credited to
Megasthenes.
 Indica is mentioned in the writings of later writers such as Arrian, Strabo, Diodorus, and
Pliny.
 Arrian holds the highest regard for Megasthenes, whereas Strabo and Pliny hold him in
lower regard.
 Strabo, a first-century Greek writer, labelled both Megasthenes and his successor,
Deimachus, liars, claiming that "no faith whatever" could be placed in their works.
 It paints modern India as an unconquerable area, stating that Dionysus was able to conquer
India because it was a primitive agricultural civilization prior to his invasion.
 India becomes a great, invincible nation as a result of Dionysus' urbanisation.
 According to Paul J. Kosmin, Megasthenes underlines that no foreign force has ever
conquered India (since Dionysus), and no Indians have ever attacked another nation.
 This portrayal of India as an isolated, invincible country is an attempt to vindicate Seleucus'
peace treaty with the Indian emperor, through which he abandoned territories he could
never secure, stabilised the East, and obtained elephants with which to turn his attention
against his great western rival, Antigonus Monophthalmus.

Indica - The book

 Megasthenes' Indica is a history of Mauryan India written by the Greek writer Megasthenes.
 The original work has since been lost, although pieces of it have survived in later Greek and
Latin works.
 Megasthenes' Indica, according to the text reconstructed by J. W. McCrindle, depicts India as
follows:

Geography

 India was a quadrilateral-shaped country bordered on the southern and eastern sides by the
ocean.
 As far as the ocean, the Indus river constitutes the country's western and north-western
borders.
 India's northern boundary reaches the Tauros' extremes. From Ariana to the Eastern Sea, it
is bounded by mountains known to Macedonians as the Kaukasos.
 Paropamisus, Hemodos, and Himaos (the Himalayas) are some of the local names for these
mountains.
 Scythia, inhabited by the Scythians known as Sakai, is beyond the Hemodos. Bactria and
Ariana, in addition to Scythia, border India.
History

 The Indians, like the Greeks, lived off of fruits and wore animal skin clothing in their early
days.
 Dionysus, according to the most renowned Indian academics, entered and conquered India.
 When his army became too tough to handle, he led them to the Meros Mountains for
recuperation, which gave rise to the Greek mythology of Dionysus being nurtured in his
father's thigh (meros in Greek).
 Dionysus taught the Indians how to produce plants, create wine, and worship among other
things. He built numerous significant cities, as well as laws and courts.
 The Indians viewed him as a divinity as a result of this. Before dying in old age, he ruled India
for 52 years.

Flora and fauna

 India features a number of mountains with various types of fruit trees and is home to a
diverse range of animal species.
 Because of the amount of food on Indian land, Indian elephants are significantly stronger
than Libyan elephants.
 Elephants are extensively tamed and trained for battle. Elephants have a gestation period of
16 to 18 months, and the oldest elephants can live up to 200 years.

Economy

 Indian soil is rich in gold, silver, copper, and iron.

 A variety of tools, weapons, decorations, and other things are made from tin and other
metals.
 India's plains are extremely fertile, and irrigation is commonly used.
 Rice, millet, a grain called bosporum, other cereals, pulses, and other food plants are the
principal crops.
 Because rain occurs in both summer and winter, there are two agricultural cycles every year.
 Rice, millet, bosporus, and sesamum are seeded around the summer solstice. Wheat is
seeded in the winter.
 There have never been any famines in India.

Food and Clothing

 When the Indians have supper, a table is set in front of each individual, similar to a tripod,
and the liquor is made from rice rather than barley.
 There are golden bowls on top of it, into which they first put rice, boiled like barley, and then
many delicacies prepared according to Indian recipes.
 They like finery and decoration, despite their style's fundamental simplicity.
 Their robes are gold-embroidered and embellished with costly stones, and they also wear
floral muslin outfits. Some have assistants strolling behind them holding umbrellas over
them since they value beauty and use every gadget at their disposal to improve their
appearance.

Society

 India is home to numerous different ethnicities, all of which are indigenous, due to its vast
size.
  India does not have any overseas colonies, and Indians do not have any colonies outside of
India.
 Because of the plentiful food, clean water, and clear air, the Indians are taller than the
typical person.
 They have a strong artistic background.
 Slavery is prohibited under a law enacted by ancient Indian sages.
 The law treats everyone equally, yet it permits the property to be dispersed unequally.
 India's population is split into seven endogamous and hereditary castes.
1. Philosophers
2. Farmers
3. Herders
4. Artisans
5. Military
6. Overseers
7. Councillors and Assessors

Philosophy

 Megasthenes divides thinkers into two groups, one of which he names the Brachmanes and
the other the Sarmanes.
 He tells us that the Hylobioi are the Sarmanes who are regarded in the highest regard.
 Physicians are next in line to be honoured after the Hylobioi because they research the
nature of man.
 In addition, there are sorcerers and diviners. Some of them are interested in philosophy, and
some of them are women.

Administration

 The foreigners are adequately taken care of.

 Special officials are assigned to guarantee that no foreigners are injured, and judges penalise
those who take advantage of foreigners unfairly.
 Foreigners who become ill are seen and cared for by doctors.
 In India, foreigners who die are buried, and their belongings are transferred to their families.

Conclusion

Megasthenes' Indica is a very important source of Indian history. Indica has importance in the
reconstruction of ancient India under the Mauryan Empire. It shows us the rich culture and economy
of India and also helps us to understand the administration, diverse culture, and philosophy of
Ancient Indian people.