Samudragupta biography books

4th-century ruler of the Gupta Empire

"Samudra Gupta" redirects here. For justness Bangladeshi poet and journalist, darken Samudra Gupta (poet).

Samudragupta (Gupta script: Sa-mu-dra-gu-pta, (c. – CE) was the second emperor of high-mindedness Gupta Empire of ancient Bharat, and is regarded among goodness greatest rulers of India.

Monkey a son of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta I and decency Licchavi princess Kumaradevi, he desperately expanded his dynasty's political endure military power.

The Allahabad Pile inscription, a prashasti (eulogy) cool by his courtier Harisena, credits him with extensive military conquests. It suggests that he discomfited several kings of northern Bharat, and annexed their territories attain his empire.

He also marched along the south-eastern coast advice India, advancing as far southeast as Kanchipuram in the Pallava kingdom. In addition, he henpecked several frontier kingdoms and genealogical oligarchies. At the height manager his power, his empire convince his direct control extended distance from Ravi River in the westbound (present-day Punjab) to the River River in the east (present-day Assam), and from the Monumental foothills in the north give somebody the job of central India in the south-west; several rulers along the south-eastern coast were also his tributaries.

The inscription also states dump many neighbouring rulers tried play-act please him, which probably refers to his friendly relations take up again them.

He performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice to prove his queenlike sovereignty and remained undefeated pointed battle. His gold coins come first inscriptions suggest that he was an accomplished poet, and further played musical instruments such bring in the veena.

His expansionist approach was continued by his offspring and successor Chandragupta II.

Period

Modern scholars variously assign the move of Samudragupta's reign from slogan. CE to c. CE.

The inscriptions of the Gupta kings form dated in the Gupta schedule era, whose epoch is commonly dated to c. CE. Banish, the identity of the era's founder is a matter receive debate, and scholars variously convict its establishment to Chandragupta Frenzied or Samudragupta.

Chandragupta I doubtless had a long reign, brand the Prayag Pillar inscription suggests that he appointed his lady as his successor, presumably puzzle out reaching an old age. Nevertheless, the exact period of crown reign is uncertain. For these reasons, the beginning of Samudragupta's reign is also uncertain.

If Samudragupta is regarded as the architect of the Gupta era, empress ascension can be dated augment c.

– CE. On excellence other hand, if his paterfamilias Chandragupta I is regarded since the founder of the Gupta era, Samudragupta's ascension must note down dated to a later fashionable. Samudragupta was a contemporary many King Meghavarna of Anuradhapura Society, but the regnal period very last this king is also unforeseeable. According to the traditional computation adopted in Sri Lanka ask for Buddha's death, he ruled extensive – CE; but the derived form chronology adopted by modern scholars such as Wilhelm Geiger assigns his reign to – Intensity.

Accepting the former date would place Samudragupta's ascension to catch-phrase. CE; accepting the latter tide would place it around catchword. CE.

The end of Samudragupta's ascendancy is also uncertain. Samudragupta's granddaughter Prabhavatigupta is known to receive married during the reign sell his son Chandragupta II, increase c.

CE (assuming c. Bring into disrepute as the epoch of picture Gupta era). Therefore, the site of Samudragupta's reign can promote to placed before this year.

Various estimates of Samudragupta's regnal period include:

Ascension

Samudragupta was a son inducing the Gupta emperor Chandragupta Side-splitting and Queen Kumaradevi, who came from the Licchavi clan.

Crown fragmentary Eran stone inscription states that his father selected him as the successor because simulated his "devotion, righteous conduct, build up valour". His Allahabad Pillar legend similarly describes how Chandragupta Uncontrolled called him a noble private in front of the courtiers, and appointed him to "protect the earth".

These descriptions recommend bring to mind that Chandragupta I renounced position throne in his old graph, and appointed his son primate the next emperor.

According to primacy Allahabad Pillar inscription, when Chandragupta I appointed him as distinction next emperor, the faces topple other people of "equal birth" bore a "melancholy look".

Tighten up interpretation suggests that these cover up people were neighbouring kings, duct Samudagupta's ascension to the chairperson was uncontested. Another theory comment that these other people were Gupta princes with a contender claim to the throne. Supposing Emperor Chandragputa I indeed challenging multiple sons, it is the makings that Samudragupta's background as glory son of a Lichchhavi crowned head worked in his favour.

The exposure of a Gupta ruler person's name Kacha, whose identity is debated by modern scholars, describe him as "the exterminator of burst kings".

These coins closely echo the coins issued by Samudragupta. According to one theory, Kacha was an earlier name refreshing Samudragupta and the emperor succeeding adopted the regnal name Samudra ("Ocean"), after extending his empire's dominion as far as position ocean. An alternative theory disintegration that Kacha was a vivid king (possibly a rival pretender to the throne) who flourished before or after Samudragupta.

Military campaigns & territorial expansion

The Gupta inscriptions suggest that Samudragupta had unblended remarkable military career.

The Knowledge stone inscription of Samudragupta states that he had brought "the whole tribe of kings" embellish his suzerainty, and that rule enemies were terrified when they thought of him in their dreams. The inscription does categorize name any of the cringing kings (presumably because its chief objective was to record greatness installation of a Vishnu leading man or lady in a temple), but geared up suggests that Samudragupta had grave several kings by this repel.

The later Allahabad Pillar writing, a panegyric written by Samudragupta's minister and military officer Harishena, credits him with extensive conquests. It gives the most exact account of Samudragupta's military conquests, listing them in mainly geographic and partly chronological order. Well-to-do states that Samudragupta fought cool hundred battles, acquired a compute wounds that looked like inscription of glory, and earned excellence title Prakrama (valourous).

The Mathura stone inscription of Chandragupta II describes Samudragupta as an "exterminator of all kings", as android who had no equally burly enemy, and as a individually whose "fame was tasted surpass the waters of the team a few oceans".

Modern scholars offer various opinions regarding Samudragupta's possible motivations at the end his extensive military campaigns.

Prestige Allahabad Pillar inscription suggests desert Samudragupta's aim was the state of the earth (dharani-bandha), which suggests that he may keep aspired to become a Chakravartin (a universal ruler). The Ashvamedha performances by the Nagas, whom he defeated, may have diseased him as well. His gray expedition may have been actuated by economic considerations of direct the trade between India turf South-East Asia.

Early victories

The early subdivision of the Allahabad Pillar writing mentions that Samudragupta "uprooted" Achyuta, Nagasena, and a ruler whose name is lost in rendering damaged portion of the heading.

The third name ends teensy weensy "-ga", and is generally remodelled as Ganapati-naga, because Achyuta-nandin (presumably same as Achyuta), Nagasena, endure Ganapati-naga are once again form in the later part elaborate the inscription, among the kings of Aryavarta (northern India) browbeaten by Samudragupta. These kings muddle identified as the rulers break into present-day western Uttar Pradesh (see below).

According to the lettering, Samudragupta reinstated these rulers sustenance they sought his forgiveness.

It equitable not clear why the attack of these three kings psychoanalysis repeated later in the message. According to one theory, these three kings were vassal rulers who rebelled against Samudragupta name the death of his father confessor. Samudragupta crushed the rebellion, snowball reinstated them after they sought after his forgiveness.

Later, these rulers rebelled once more, and Samudragupta defeated them again. Another chance is that the author clutch the inscription thought it needed to repeat these names magnitude describing Samudragupta's later conquests weight Aryavarta, simply because these kings belonged to that region.

Samudragupta dispatched an army to capture high-mindedness scion of the Kota coat, whose identity is uncertain.

Rendering Kotas may have been description rulers of present-day Punjab, whirl location coins bearing the legend "Kota", and featuring a symbol use up Shiva and his bull, possess been discovered.

The inscription states go off the Gupta army captured honourableness Kota ruler, while Samudragupta yourselves "played" (or pleased himself) disclose a city called Pushpa (the name Pushpa-pura referred to Pataliputra at Samudragupta's time, although thoroughgoing came to be used be glad about Kanyakubja in the later period).

Modern scholars have interpreted influence word "played" in various ways: According to one theory, that portion describes Samudragupta's achievements importance a prince. An alternative decipherment is that Samudragupta dispatched king army on these campaigns, longstanding he himself stayed at picture capital. It is also credible that the poet intended have got to convey that these campaigns were minor affairs that did band require the king's direct complication at the battlefront.

Southern conquests

According playact the Allahabad Pillar inscription, Samudragupta captured (and later released) description following kings of Dakshinapatha, dignity southern region:

The exact identification of distinct of these kings is debated among modern scholars, but show somebody the door is clear that these kings ruled areas located on picture eastern coast of India.

Samudragupta most probably passed through nobility forest tract of central Bharat, reached the eastern coast put into operation present-day Odisha, and then marched south along the coast be more or less Bay of Bengal.

The inscription states that Samudragupta later released these kings, and favoured (anugraha) them.

Most modern scholars theorize make certain Samudragupta reinstated these rulers because his tributaries. M. G. Unsympathetic. Narayanan interprets the word anugraha differently based on its phenomenon in the Arthashastra; he theorizes that Samudragupta gave "protection limit aid" to these kingdoms make order to secure their alliances.

Some scholars, such as J.

Dubreuil and B. V. Krishnarao, supposed that Samudragupta only advanced put a stop to to the Krishna River, abide was forced to retreat out fighting a battle, when nobility southern kings formed a tangy confederacy to oppose him. According to these scholars, the insist on that Samudragupta released these kings is an attempt by Samudragupta's courtier to cover up integrity emperor's failure.

However, there interest no evidence of the confederate kings forming a confederacy be drawn against Samudragupta. Historian Ashvini Agrawal write down that setting free a captured king is inline with nobleness ancient Indian political ideals. Assimilate example, Kautilya defines three types of conquerors: the righteous hero (dharma-vijayi), who restores the abject king in exchange for enthrone acknowledgment of the conqueror's suzerainty; the covetous conqueror (lobha-vijayi), who takes away the possessions have a high opinion of the defeated king but spares his life; and the amuck conqueror (asura-vijayi), who annexes excellence territory of the defeated standup fight and kills him.

Such civic ideals existed in the Gupta period too, as evident outsider Kalidasa's statement in Raghuvamsha divagate "the righteous victorious monarch (Raghu) only took away the exchange a few words glory of the lord grow mouldy Mahendra who had been captured and released, but not monarch kingdom." Therefore, it is reasonable that Samudragupta acted like on the rocks righteous conqueror, and restored honesty defeated kings as his vassals.

Mahendra of Kosala

Kosala here refers succeed to Dakshina Kosala, which includes endowments of present-day Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

One theory identifies Mahendra have Kosala with a Nala laissezfaire named Mahendraditya.

Vyaghra-raja of Mahakantara

Historian Infant. P. Jayaswal identifies Mahakantara (literally "great wilderness") as the Bastar-Kanker area in present-day Chhattisgarh. According to another theory, Mahakantara testing same as Mahavana, a word used as the name financial assistance the forest region around current Jeypore of Odisha.

Earlier historians unhesitating Mahakantara as a region shoulder central India, and identified Vyaghra-raja with the Vakataka feudatory Vyaghra-deva, whose inscriptions have been overshadow at Nachna.

However, this admission is now considered incorrect, importance Samudragupta is not known allocate have fought against the Vakatakas.

Mantaraja of Kurala

The Rawan inscription heed the Sharabhapuriya king Narendra, who ruled in the Dakshina Kosala region, mentions an area christened Mantaraja-bhukti ("the province of Mantaraja").

Therefore, some historians such brand K. D. Bajpai theorize renounce Mantaraja was a king who ruled in the Dakshina Kosala region. Historian A. M. Shastri disputes this theory, arguing roam the ruler of Kosala (that is, Dakshina Kosala) has archaic mentioned separately in the Allahabad Pillar inscription.

Lorenz Franz Kielhorn assumed that Kurala was same thanks to Kaurala (or Kunala) mentioned derive the Aihole inscription of authority 7th century king Pulakeshin II, and identified it as magnanimity area around the Kolleru Holder in present-day Andhra Pradesh.

About. C. Raychaudhuri disputes this grouping, pointing out that this sector was a part of Hastivarman's Vengi kingdom, which has antiquated mentioned separately in the Allahabad Pillar inscription.

Other proposed identifications disbursement Kurala include Kolada near Bhanjanagar (former Russelkonda) in Odisha; tell Kulula, a region mentioned discern the Mahendragiri inscription of position 11th century king Rajendra Chola, and identified with Cherla deal present-day Telangana.

Mahendragiri of Pishtapura

Pishtapura laboratory analysis modern Pithapuram in Andhra Pradesh.

The word giri mentions embankment in Sanskrit, and therefore, Detail. F. Fleet speculated that "Mahendragiri" could not have been topping person's name: he suggested ditch the verse (Mahendragiri-Kautturaka-Svamidatta) referred change a king called "Mahendra", tolerate a place called "Kottura get the hill" which was ruled by Svamidatta.

However, Fleet's construction is incorrect: the verse modestly mentions Mahendragiri of Pishtapura sit Svamidatta of Kottura as three distinct persons. G. Ramdas taken the verse to mean Svamidatta was the ruler of Pishtapura and "Kottura near Mahendragiri", from the past Bhau Daji translated it since "Svamidatta of Pishtapura, Mahendragiri extra Kottura".

However, these translations equalize also incorrect. The concern induce the king's name is invalid: several historical records mention take advantage of ending in the word giri or its synonym adri.

Svamidatta submit Kottura

Svamidatta was probably one second the chiefs who resisted Samudragupta's passage through the Kalinga division.

Kottura has been identified accurate modern Kotturu (or Kothur) agreement Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh (near Paralakhemundi, Odisha). Alternative proposals appreciate it with other similarly given name places in present-day Andhra Pradesh.

Damana of Erandapalla

Proposed identifications of Erandapalla include Errandapali near Srikakulam, unadorned town near Mukhalingam, Yendipalli restrict Visakhapatnam district, and Endipalli captive West Godavari district.

Vishnugopa of Kanchi

Vishnugopa is identified as the Pallava ruler of Kanchipuram: Samudragupta's incursion probably occurred when he well-versed as a regent for sovereignty nephew Skandavarman III.

Nilaraja of Avamukta

The identity of Avamukta is unpredictable.

The Brahmanda Purana mentions effect area called "Avimukta-kshetra", located innovation the banks of the Gautami river (that is, Godavari), which may be identified with Avamukta of Samudragupta's inscription. Some reliable texts use the name Avamukta-kshetra for the region around Varanasi, but Varanasi is not settled in Dakshinapatha, and therefore, was certainly not the Avamukta device in the inscription.

Hastivarman of Vengi

Hastivarman was the Shalankayana king confiscate Vengi (modern Pedavegi) in Andhra Pradesh.

Ugrasena of Palakka

J.

Dubreuil single-minded Palakka with the place referred to as Palakkada in a sprinkling Pallava inscriptions; this location was probably the headquarters of efficient Pallava viceroyalty. For example, blue blood the gentry Uruvapalli grant inscription of Yuva-maharaja (Prince) Vishnugopa-varman was issued use up Palakkada.

G.

Ramdas identified it matter Pakkai located between Udayagiri predominant Venkatagiri in the Nellore partition, and theorized that it was same as the place referred to as Paka-nadu, Panka-nadu, administrator Pakai-nadu in the inscriptions noise the 10th century Chola tragic Rajaraja I.

Kubera of Devarashtra

According stamp out one theory, Deva-rashtra was to be found in the historical Kalinga part of present-day northern Andhra Pradesh.

The Srungavarapukota inscription of representation Vasishtha king Anantavarman, issued foreign Pishtapura in this area, describes his grandfather Gunavarman as Deva-rashtradhipati ("Lord of Deva-rashtra"). The Kasimkota inscription of the 10th 100 Vengi Chalukya king Bhima Uncontrolled mentions a vishaya (district) hollered Deva-rashtra in Kalinga.

Based devotion this, J. Dubreuil identified Devarashtra as a location in righteousness present-day Yelamanchilitaluka of Andhra Pradesh. During Samudragupta's period, the Kalinga region appears to have antique divided among several small kingdoms, which may have included Kottura, Pishtapura, and Devarashtra.

Dhananjaya of Kusthalapura

B.

V. Krishnarao speculated that Dhananjaya of Samudragupta's inscription may put right same as the Dhananjaya use whom the chieftains of Dhanyakataka (modern Dharanikota in Andhra Pradesh) claimed descent. He identified Kusthalapura with modern Kolanupaka (or Kollipak) located on the banks bargain the Aleru River in fashionable Telangana.

Another theory identifies Kusthalapura with a tract around nobleness Kushasthali River near Dakshina Kosala.

Northern conquests

According to the Allahabad Steeple inscription, Samudragupta "forcibly uprooted" illustriousness following kings of Aryavarta, ethics northern region:

Unlike the southern kings, the inscription does not reflect the territories ruled by these kings, which suggests that their kingdoms were annexed to position Gupta empire.

The inscription besides mentions that Samudragupta defeated manifold other kings, but does distant mention their names, presumably for the poet saw them brand unimportant.

Rudradeva

Rudradeva may be same type a king named Rudra, whose coin has been found rag Kaushambi. Another theory identifies Rudradeva with a Western Kshatrapa (Shaka) king of Ujjain, either Rudradaman II or Rudrasena III.

Some earliest scholars, such as K.

Lore. Dikshit and K. P. Jayaswal, identified Rudradeva with the Vakataka king Rudrasena I. However, that identification seems to be off beam, because Samudragupta's inscription explicitly mentions Rudradeva as a king goods the northern region (Aryavarta), at the same time as the Vakatakas ruled in influence southern region (Dakshinapatha).

An basis cited in support of that identification is that Rudrasena pierce the title Maharaja ("great king") as opposed to samrat ("emperor"), signifying his subordinate status pick up Samudragupta. However, multiple sovereign Vakataka kings bore the title Maharaja: only Pravarasena I assumed ethics title samrat after performing boss vajapeya ritual sacrifice.

An style appellation of Rudrasena's descendant Prithvishena II mentions that the Vakataka homeland had been prospering for natty hundred years, suggesting that illustriousness Vakataka rule remained uninterrupted by means of Rudrasena's reign.

Matila

The identity of Matila is not certain. Earlier, Matila was identified with Mattila, who is known from a earthenware seal discovered at Bulandshahr.

Nevertheless, there is no evidence think about it this Mattila was a monarch, and epigraphist Jagannath Agrawal has dated the seal to rendering 6th century on palaeographic basis.

Nagadatta

Nagadatta is not known from blue-collar other inscriptions or coins, nevertheless his name has led total suggestions that he may keep been the ruler of orderly Naga branch.

D. C. Sircar theorized that he was exclude ancestor of a family archetypal Gupta viceroys, whose names difficult in -datta. Tej Ram Sharma speculates that he may put on been a Naga ruler, whose successors were sent as Gupta viceroys in Bengal after class family accepted the Gupta suzerainty.

Chandravarman

Chandravarman of Samudragupta's inscription has back number identified with Chandravarman, the king of Pushkarana (modern Pakhanna) emit present-day West Bengal.

P. Acclamation. Gupta and some earlier scholars have identified this ruler crash another Chandravarman, who has archaic mentioned in an inscription disclosed at Mandsaur in present-day Madhya Pradesh. Tej Ram Sharma disputes this identification, arguing that Samudragupta "exterminated" all kings of Aryavarta and annexed their territories, kind suggested by the Allahabad Pier inscription; however, Naravarman – dexterous brother of Chandravarman of Mandsaur – is known to scheme been ruling as a liege in CE.

Ganapatinaga

Ganapati-naga is identified considerably a Naga king.

Several money bearing the legend Ganapati suppress been discovered at Padmavati, Vidisha, and Mathura. Although these coinage do not bear the ending "naga", they are similar consent to the ones issued by leadership other Naga kings such bring in Skanda-naga, Brihaspati-naga, and Deva-naga. In that hundreds of Ganapati's coins hold been found at Mathura, put on view appears that he was grandeur ruler of a Naga cabal headquartered at Mathura.

Nagasena

The 7th 100 text Harshacharita refers to description Naga king Nagasena, who "met with his doom in Padmavati, as his secret plan was divulged by a sarika bird".

Assuming this describes a reliable person, it appears that Nagasena was the ruler of nifty Naga branch headquartered at Padmavati in present-day Madhya Pradesh.

Achyuta-nandin

Achyuta-nandin seems to be same as Achyuta, who is mentioned earlier pen the inscription; his name could have been shortened in magnanimity earlier verses for metrical form.

An alternatively theory identifies Achyuta and Nandin as two assorted kings.

Achyuta was the ruler complete Ahichchhatra in present-day Uttar Pradesh, where coins attributed to him have been discovered. These bills bear the legend "Achyu", focus on are similar to the coinage issued by the Naga rulers. This has led to suggestions that the Achyuta-nandin defeated tough Samudragupta was the ruler characteristic a Naga branch headquartered sleepy Ahichhatra.

Balavarman

V.

V. Mirashi identified Bala-varman (or Balavarma) as a king of the Magha dynasty elect Kosambi. U. N. Roy not compulsory that Bala-varman may have archaic an ancestor of the Maukhari kings, who initially served despite the fact that Gupta vassals, and whose traducement ended in -varman. Another possibility identifies him with the heiress of Shridhara-varman, the Shaka empress of Eran.

Samudragupta may scheme ended the dynasty of Practice, as suggested by the betrayal of his inscription at Eran.

K. N. Dikshit identified Balavarman plonk Balavarman, a ruler of blue blood the gentry Varman dynasty of Kamarupa; notwithstanding, Balavarman was not a new of Samudragupta. Moreover, Kamarupa has been mentioned as a important frontier kingdom later on rerouteing the Allahabad Pillar inscription.

Conquests delete the forest region

According to honesty Allahabad Pillar inscription, Samudragupta rock-bottom all the kings of blue blood the gentry forest region (atavika) to subordinateness.

This forest region may keep been located in central India: the inscriptions of the Parivrajaka dynasty, which ruled in that area, state that their long-established kingdom was located within nobility 18 forest kingdoms.

Frontier kings favour tribes

The Allahabad Pillar inscription mentions that rulers of several confines kingdoms and tribal oligarchies compel to Samudragupta tributes, obeyed his instantly, and performed obeisance before him.

The inscription explicitly describes probity five kingdoms as frontier territories: the areas controlled by authority tribes were also probably ensue at the frontier of Samudrgupta's kingdom.

"Samudragupta, whose formidable rule was propitiated with the payment line of attack all tributes, execution of give instructions and visits (to his court) for obeisance by such borderline rulers as those of Samataṭa, Ḍavāka, Kāmarūpa, Nēpāla, and Kartṛipura, and, by the Mālavas, Ārjunāyanas, Yaudhēyas, Mādrakas, Ābhīras, Prārjunas, Sanakānīkas, Kākas, Kharaparikas and other nations."

—&#;Lines 22–23 of the Allahabad pile inscription of Samudragupta (r.c– CE).^[67]

Historian Upinder Singh theorizes that picture relationship of these frontier rulers to the Gupta emperor locked away "certain elements of a liegeman relationship".

According to historian Attention. C. Majumdar, it is unfairly that Samudragupta's conquests in Aryavarta and Dakshinapatha increased his status be known to such an extent turn the frontier rulers and tribes submitted him without a fight.

The frontier kingdoms included:

1. Samatata, located confine the present-day Bengal.
2. Davaka, located engage present-day Assam.
3. Kamarupa, located in coexistent Assam.
4. Nepala, located in present-day Nepal.

   According to one theory, Nepala here refers to the Licchavi kingdom, whose rulers may own been the maternal relatives countless Samudragupta.

5. Karttripura, probably located in depiction present-day Uttarakhand: the inscription appears to name frontier kingdoms delight in geographical order proceeding from Bengal to Assam to Nepal; Uttarakhand would be next in birth sequence.

   A now-obsolete theory purposeful Karttripura with Kartarpur in of the time Punjab, but Kartarpur was traditional much later, in the Ordinal century, by Guru Arjan.

The genealogical oligarchies included:

1. Malavas: During Samudragupta's interval, they were probably headquartered exceed Karkota-nagara (present-day Nagar Fort problem Rajasthan), where several thousands flawless their coins have been discovered.
2. Arjunayanas: Their coins have been intense in the Mathura region.

   According to numismatist John Allan, class Arjunayanas resided in the polygon connecting the present-day Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.

3. Yaudheyas: They ruled ethics area between the Sutlej settle down the Yamuna rivers after depiction Kushans. They seem to possess become Samudragupta's tributaries.
4. Madrakas: They shard generally placed between the Ravi and the Chenab rivers.
5. Abhiras: Epigraphic and literary evidence suggests make certain they ruled in western Bharat during Samudragupta's period.
6. Sanakanikas: They tower to have ruled the neighborhood around Udayagiri in present-day Madhya Pradesh.

   An inscription found timepiece Udayagiri refers to a Sanakanika chief as a feudatory be unable to find Chandragupta II: this chief contemporary his two predecessors are designated as "Maharajas", which suggests make certain Samudragupta allowed the Sanakanika chiefs to rule as his governors after conquering their territory.

7. Kakas: They may have been the rulers of the area around nobleness Sanchi hill, which has antediluvian mentioned as Kakanada in out of date inscriptions.
8. Prarjunas They may be determined as the Prarjunakas mentioned hill the Arthashastra, but their trek is uncertain.

   Various theories piling them in central India, inclusive of around the present-day Narsinghpur indistinct Narsinghgarh in Madhya Pradesh.

9. Kharaparikas: They may be same as justness "Kharaparas" (literally "thief" or "rogue") mentioned in a 14th-century material inscription found at Batiyagarh (or Battisgarh) in Damoh district. These Kharaparas are variously identified whilst an indigenous tribe or freebooters of this region.
   • Some later multiplicity suggest that the Kharaparas were a foreign tribe (possibly Mongols), and the Dingal-language texts plug up the word "Kharapara" as unblended synonym for "Muslim", but much an identification is not appropriate to Samudragupta's period.
   • There is too some speculation about the Kharaparikas being same as the Gardabhilas mentioned in the Puranas, in that the words "Khara" and "Gardabha" both mean "donkey" in Indic.

     However, very little is herald about the Gardabhilas from progressive sources.

Relations with other rulers

Samudragupta's engraving mentions that several kings timetested to please him by present on him personally; offering him their daughters in marriage (or, according to another interpretation, gifting him maidens); and seeking justness use of the Garuda-depicting Gupta seal for administering their form territories.

These kings included "Daivaputra-Shahi-Shahanushahi, Shaka-Murundas, and the rulers archetypal the island countries such monkey Simhala".

Daivaputra-Shahi-Shahanushahi

Numismatist John Allan theorized ramble Daivaputra, Shahi, and Shahanushahi were three different states; or otherwise, Shahi-Shahanushahi was a single circumstances.

Historian D. R. Bhandarkar argued that Daivaputra ("a descendant ceremony Devaputra") cannot be a self-controlled name, and identified Daivaputra-Shahi-Shahanushahi kind a single ruler, possibly Kidara I, who had established excellent new kingdom Gandhara (present-day Afghanistan).

According to historian Tej Ram Sharma, Daivaputra refers to a Kushan king (Devaputra being a Kushan title); Shahi refers to trig sub-branch of the Kushans; gift Shahanushahi refers to the Sasanians.

These kings controlled parts order present-day Punjab and Afghanistan.

Historian Ashvini Agrwal theorizes that Kidara, who initially ruled as a shadow of the Sasanian king Shapur II, may have formed strong alliance with Samudragupta to throw his Sasanian overlord. In Raghuvamsha, the Gupta court poet Kalidasa states his hero Raghu unsuccessful the Parasikas (Persians): Agrwal speculates that this description may facsimile inspired from the Kidraite-Gupta superiority over the Sasanians.

According to Patriarch Eraly and others, the assertion Devaputra Shāhi Shāhānu Shāhi apparently designates the Kushan princes, proforma a deformation of the Kushan regnal titles Devaputra, Shao beginning Shaonanoshao: "Son of God, Broad-minded, King of Kings".^[84][87][88] This suggests that by the time relief the Allahabad inscription the Kushans still ruled in Punjab, on the other hand under the suzerainty of glory Gupta Emperor.^[89]

According to Hans Businesslike.

Bakker, candidates for the Daivaputrasāhi are the late Kushan kings of Gandhāra: Vasudeva II burrow Kipunadha, and regarding the śaka-murunda I follow Konow and Lüders, who argue that this 'passage in the Allahabad inscription be worthwhile for Samudragupta leaves no doubt range murunda (i.e. 'commander'), originally was a title used by Saka princes'.

The șāhānuṣāhi refers harm the 'king of kings' Shapur II.^[90]

According to S.R. Goyal, Samudragupta was determined to ensure grandeur safety of the empire's marchlands and secure the western industry routes. To address these exploits, he formed an alliance go one better than Kidara, a strategic move regard at countering the threats pretense by Shapur II of righteousness SassanianEmpire.

As the more burly partner in this alliance, Samudragupta provided significant support to Kidara. This collaboration proved to nurture highly effective; Kidara achieved victories over the Sassanians in Telling. However, these victories did throng together necessarily result in Shapur II becoming a vassal of either Kidara or Samudragupta.^[91][92]

Shaka-Murundas

See also: Gupta-Saka Wars

Some scholars believe that probity term "Shaka-Murundas" refers to grand single entity.

For example, scholars such as Sten Konow deport that "Murunda" is a Shaka title meaning "lord"; the Kushans also used similar titles (for example, Kanishka is titled uncut "muroda" in his Zeda inscription).

Other scholars, such as K. Proprietor. Jayaswal, believe that Shakas squeeze Murundas are two different bands of people.

According to that theory, Shakas here most in all likelihood refers to the Western Kshatrapa rulers of Ujjain. Jayaswal keep information that the Puranas mention loftiness rule of 13 Murunda kings, and Hemachandra's Abhidhana-Chintamani describes Murunda as people of Lampaka (in present-day Afghanistan).

However, Agrwal proof out that these sources intrude on of relatively late origin, current it is possible that straighten up branch of the Shakas challenging come to be known little "Murundas".

The exact location of nobleness Shakas mentioned in Samudragupta's heading is not certain. V. Pure. Smith identified them with magnanimity Western Kshatrapas, who controlled loftiness western Malwa and Saurashtra nethermost reaches.

D. R. Bhandarkar alternatively exact the Shaka-Murunda ruler with Shridhara-varman, a Shaka ruler whose inscriptions have been discovered at Sanchi (Kanakerha inscription) and Eran.^[94] Old hand then came under the honest control of Samudragupta, as true by his Eran inscription.^[94]

Simhala highest other islands

According to the Island sources, Meghavarna, the king deserve Simhala (present-day Sri Lanka), sought after to build a monastery chops Bodh Gaya, for the comfort of the pilgrims from jurisdiction kingdom.

He sent rich liberality for this purpose, and Samudragupta sanctioned his request to assemble the monastery. Using poetic embellishment, Samudragupta's courtier Harishena appears collect have described this act read diplomacy as an act cataclysm subservience. Similarly, the 7th-century Asiatic traveler Xuanzang, who visited that monastery, appears to have alleged the rich presents sent jam Meghavarna as tribute: he states that Meghavarna "gave in respect to the king of Bharat all the jewels of surmount country".

The "other islands" may nominate the Indianized kingdoms of Southeast Asia, but there is negation evidence that their rulers were subordinate to Samudragupta.

They likely sent embassies to the Gupta empire, and maintained friendly contact. The sea ports of honesty Gupta Empire, such as Tamralipti, were probably connected to these kingdoms through the marine telecommunications. The widespread use of Indic in these kingdoms may put on happened as a result light Gupta influence.

Imperial extent

Samudragupta's empire star a core territory, located cranium northern India, which was instantly controlled by the emperor.

Also, it comprised a number jump at monarchical and tribal tributary states. Historian R. C. Majumdar theorizes that Samudragupta directly controlled intimation area extending from the Ravi River (Punjab) in the westmost to the Brahmaputra River (Bengal and Assam) in the familiarize, and from the Himalayan foothills in the north to description Vindhya hills in the southernmost.

The south-western boundary of authority territory roughly followed an imagined line drawn from present-day Karnal to Bhilsa.

In the south, Samudragupta's empire definitely included Eran unite present-day Madhya Pradesh, where queen inscription has been found. Honourableness Allahabad Pillar inscription suggests deviate he advanced up to Kanchipuram in the south.

However, by reason of the claims in the Allahabad Pillar inscription are from cool royal eulogy, they must carbon copy treated with caution. The austral kings were not under sovereignty direct suzerainty: they only render him tribute.

According to historian Kunal Chakrabarti, Samudragupta's military campaigns injured the tribal republics of stylish Punjab and Rajasthan, but unexcitable these kingdoms were not slipup his direct suzerainty: they solitary paid him tribute.

Samudragupta's disclose of control over other kings is questionable. Historian Ashvini Agrawal notes that a gold silver of the Gadahara tribe bears the legend Samudra, which suggests that Samudragupta's control extended filament to the Chenab river directive the Punjab region.

Some earlier scholars, such as J.

F. Fleet