The Age of the Imperial Guptas c6.16

c6.16

Among the higher class of officials the *Uparikas* were appointed Viceroys of the provinces. Bloch discovered two seals of the *Uparika* of Tirabhukti or Tirhut. The legend is *Tirabhukty=Uparik-ādhi-karaṇasya*. “(The seal) of the office of the *Uparika* of Tirabhukti.” The importance of the ranks of the *Uparikas* was not understood till the discovery of the Damodarpur plates. From these inscriptions we learn that the *Uparikas* were viceroys of provinces. In G.E. 124, during the reign of Kumāragupta I an *Uparika* named Cirātadatta was governing the *Bhukti* of Puṇḍravarddhana.¹ He was also in charge of the same province, *i.e.*, Northern Bengal, in G.E. 129.² In G.E. 163, during the reign of the Emperor Budhagupta, an *Uparika* with the title of *Mahārāja* was the Viceroy of Northern Bengal.³ At some other time during the reign of the same Emperor another *Uparika* with the title of *Mahārāja* named Jayadatta was the Viceroy of the same province.⁴ We can say now that the seals discovered by Bloch at Vaiśālī were those of the Viceroys of Tirabhukti or North Bihar.