পাতা:ভারতীয় প্রাচীন চিত্রকলা.pdf/৭৯

৬৬

ভারতীয় প্রাচীন চিত্রকলা

জয়লিপ্সায় যশোলিপ্সায় ধনলিপ্সায় তৃষ্ণাকুল হইয়া ফিরিতেছে তখন ভারতবর্ষের চিত্ত অন্তর্লোকের অমর্ত্ত্য সম্পদের স্পর্শে মর্ত্ত্যলোককে তুচ্ছ করিতে শিখিয়াছে। এই প্রসঙ্গে Lawrence Binyon তাঁহার “Spirit of Man in Asian Art” গ্রন্থে Arrian বর্ণিত একটি উপাখ্যান দিয়াছেন তাহা বিশেষ উল্লেখযোগ্য—"When Alexander invaded India, the naked ascetics, numerous then as now, excited his curiosity and he questioned them through interpreters. They told him roundly that he was a nuisance to the world with his silly conquests; he had come all his way from home only to plague himself and every one else, and all of the earth that he would really possess would be what sufficed for a grave to cover his bones. “Alexander", says Arrian, “praised what they had said but continued to act in opposition to their advice.” He could not, however, get them out of his thoughts; he wanted to understand them. And when he came to Taxila he conceived a great desire that one of them should live with him, because he admired so much their singular patience and fortitude. The most vener-