Question: Who was the Saka Kshatrapa king defeated by Chandragupta II?
A) Nahapana
B) Rudrasena
C) Rudrasimha III
D) Rudradaman
Answer: C) Rudrasimha III
The Gupta Empire, spanning from approximately 320 to 550 CE, was founded by Sri Gupta. The Gupta Empire’s capital was Pataliputra, in present-day Patna, Bihar.
While Sri Gupta was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty, Chandragupta I is widely considered the actual founder of the Gupta Empire.
Chandragupta II (376 – 413/415 CE), the Gupta Empire ruler, was son of Samudragupta and Datta Devi. He adopted the titles Simhavikrama and Vikramaditya.
Visakhadatta’s drama “DeviChandraGuptam” mentions that Chandragupta-II killed his elder brother Ramagupta and ascended the throne.
He destroyed the Saka Kshatrapa chieftain Rudrasena III and annexed his kingdom. Banabhatta’s Harshacharita gives a reference to this event.
After defeating Rudrasimha III, Chandragupta II further expanded the empire and established Ujjain as the second capital of the empire.
Through his daughter's (Prabhavati) marriage to Rudrasena II, a prince from the Vakataka dynasty in the Deccan, he indirectly ruled over the Vakataka kingdom.
An inscription on the iron pillar at Mehrauli (Delhi) indicated that his kingdom encompassed northwestern regions of India and Bengal.
He minted coins made of silver, copper, and gold (Dinara), with his coins often referred to as Chandra.
His court had 9 renowned intellectuals known as the Navratnas (nine gems), which included:
Vetala Bhatta- Author of Mantrashastra
Vararuchi- Author of Prakrit Prakasha
Kahapanaka- Author of Jyotishya Shastra
Shanku- Author of Shilpa Shastra
Ghatakarapara- Expert in sculpture and architecture
Dhanvantri- Physician of Ayurveda
Varahamihira- His literary work includes: Pancha SiddhantikaBrihadsamhita o and Brihat Jataka
Amarasimha- Author of Amarakosha
Kalidasa- Author of Abhijnashakuntalam, Meghdootam and many more.
Chinese traveller Fa Hien had visited India during the time of Chandragupta II.
