2nd Glorious epoch of India

In this chapter Savarkar gives a total different perspective of Ashoka and Buddhist religion and their effect on India. And then mentions about Pushyamitra, an unsung hero. 

When Ashoka gave up his weapons for Buddhism, it had multiple side effects. Mauryan empire was built on military might, based on Chandragupta and Chankaya's war principles. The empire reached its peak till Ashoka's turning to Buddhism. 

He spread the Buddhist message of peace and non-violence across the country. He built stupas and Buddha statues, established monasteries on the state money. This state though was not built on these principles, but was built on Vedic principles followed by his ancestors. Slowly he imposed Buddhism on everyone. To fight and have military strength was heavily discouraged. Even killing wild animals was not allowed. Wild animals would kill people, but nothing could be done. 

Adopting this policy, heavily weakened the empire's strength. The old enemy, the Greeks (Yavana) which were left (now Asian Greeks), started attacking again, they thought they will complete the incomplete task of Alexander. 

After Ashoka's death, his son's were completely devoted to Buddhism, this made them and their kingdom really weak. The Greek's invasion went unchecked and they entered till Magadha. 

This is where the left over Vedic followers under Brihadrath Mourya and his journal Pushyamitra Shunga made the resistance. In a turn of events Pushyamitra overthrew Brihadrath and made himself king. All neaby states accepted him as the leader. And they together drove back the Greeks from a large part of Bharat territory. 

Saavarakar defined this act of throwing back the foreign attackers of Pushyamitra Sunga as the second glorious epoch. 

A lot odd Greeks merged in Indian population and took the Indian practices either Vedic or Buddhist. 

Buddhism played a huge negative role in the nation building. Before Ashoka's preaching it was a small religion. But after his role, it spread across and it became over  national strength. Leaving ones role in the society and nation and becoming a bhikshu, is not fruitful for family, society and nation. It's ok for a small number of people to do so, but if everyone does that, it becomes a huge problem. 

Learning from this part of history is that for a nation to be strong, it's important to be strong in arms and ammunition. Peace is a good thing, but there is always s price of peace and a country should be ready and must have the ability to pay.