Question

Samudra Gupta is known for his political conquests from his Allahabad Pillar Inscription. In this context, which of the following statements are correct?

A. He made the frontier rulers of Kamarupa, Samatata, etc., pay obeisance and tributes to him.

B. He expelled the Shakas and Murundas through war.

C. He defeated, captured and later released the kings of Palakka, Kottura and Avamukta.

D. He exterminated Yaudheyas, Madrakas and Malavas.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

1. A and C only
2. B and D only
3. A, B and D only
4. B, C and D only

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : A and C only

The correct answer is A and C only.

• Samudragupta 
  • He was the first significant ruler of the Gupta Dynasty.
  • Having come to the throne, he decided to extend the boundaries of his empire to cover the multiple kingdoms and republics that existed outside its pale.
  • Known as the Napoleon of India for his conquests, he was also a man of many talents and laid a firm foundation for the empire.
  • The rise of the Gupta Empire and the beginning of its prosperity are attributed to him, his military conquests, and his policies.
  • Samudragupta court poet and minister Harisena composed the Allahabad pillar Inscription or Prayag Prasasti. The Pillar was an Asokan Pillar erected by Asoka six centuries before him. This Inscription is a eulogy of Samudragupta and mentions the conquests of Samudragupta and the boundaries of the Gupta Empire. As per this inscription, Samudragupta defeated 9 kings in the North, 12 Kings in the South, reduced all the Atavika states to vassalage.
  • Samudragupta was defeated, captured, and later released by the kings of Palakkad, Kottura, and Avamukta. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
  • Violent destruction was not the only means adopted by Samudragupta.
  • He made the kings of the forest states in central India his servants.
  • For some other kings, it was considered sufficient if they paid tribute and gave obeisance to the Gupta emperor.
  • Historical and literary evidence suggests that Chandragupta II achieved military successes against the Western Kshatrapas (also known as Shakas), who ruled in west-central India. The Allahabad Pillar inscription of Chandragupta's father Samudragupta names the Shaka-Murundas among the kings who tried to appease him. Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect.
  • The southern conquests and his northern victories enhanced Samudra Gupta’s prestige and led to several republican states like Malavas, Arjunayanas, Yaudheyas, Abiras, Madrakas, Prarjunas, Kakas, Sanakanikas, and Kharaparikas to establish friendship with him by offering tributes. Hence, Statement 4 is incorrect.
  • The rulers of these states ruled over territories like Punjab, Rajasthan, Garhwal, Rohilkhand, and a large tract of Madhya Pradesh.
  • So also the rulers of the north like Kartripura (Kartarpur in Jullundar district of Punjab), the ruler of Nepal and rulers of north-eastern parts of India like Samatata (which consists of valley of Brahmaputra), Kamarupa (Assam), and Davaka (Nowgong district of Assam) hastened to establish friendly relations with him. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
  • The Allahabad Pillar inscription mentions that the Kushana rulers of North-West India and the Saka satraps of western India also submitted to him.
  • The Kushan ruler by name of Shahanushahi is said to have personally appeared before Samudra Gupta and tendered voluntary submission and agreed to accept and circulate the imperial coins as currency in his territories and offered his daughter in marriage to the emperor.
  • The empire of Samudra Gupta probably extended from Afghanistan in the west to Assam in the east and from Nepal in the north to Kanchi in the south.
  • To commemorate his victories he performed Ashvamedha Yaga and donated liberally to Brahmins, the poor, and the needy.