King Menander
Strabo calls Menander, the greatest of the Indo-Greek Kings.
According to Milinda Panha, a Buddhist text, King Menander was a mighty Yavana King of Sakala, modern Sialkot in the Punjab. The dialogue was between Menander and an erudite Buddhist scholar and monk named Nagasena. Menander was an intelligent and acute questioner and being satisfied by the answers of Nagasena was so impressed that he became a convert to Buddhism. There is no doubt about the identification of Milinda with Menander. The classical writers like Strabo, Plutarch, Justin and Trogus mention Menander as a great personality.
W.W. Taru’s contention that Menander, belonging to a ruling house was not likely to adopt the creed of his subject people is not acceptable to scholars. There have been cases besides that of Menander, where the Greeks adopted Indian creeds. It was Menander alone who had left so deep an impress on the Indian mind that he was remembered with respect long after his time even during the eleventh century A.D. when Kshemendra in his Avadanakalpalata makes a respectful mention of his name.
In the Milinda Panha we have some interesting details about Menander. He is said to have been born in the village of Kalasi in the Dvipa (island) of Alasanda, i.e., Alexandria, which was 200 yojanas away. The Pali work informs us that the King used to be attended by a large number of his Greek courtiers when he met Nagasena.
Milindapanha also gives us a description of the capital of Menander. Wise architects prepared the lay out of the capital and its people did not know of any oppression since all enemies and adversaries had been put down. The defense of the City was strong, with many strong towers, ramparts and beautiful gates. The royal citadel is in the midst of the city which was walled and matted. The streets were well-laid and there were crossroads, squares and market places. Costly merchandise of many varieties filled the shops. The city had hundreds and thousands of magnificent and very tall mansions. Streets were thronged by people, elephants, horses and carriages. Society had four classes of people – the Brahmanas, nobles, artificers and servants. People showed respect to the master of all creeds. The shops dealt in Benares muslin, Kotumbara stuffs and clothes of other varieties. Sweet smell would issue from the markets where fragrant flowers and perfumes were on sale. Jewels were there in plenty, guilds of traders displayed their good in the market.
It is suggested that Menander’s dominions comprised Kabul Valley of Afghanistan, north-west India, Punjab, Sind, Kathiawar and Rajputana and perhaps parts of modern Uttar Pradesh. It is also supposed that Menander had crossed the Hyphanis coast and reached the Isamus.