History of India, c. 150 A.D. to 350 A.D.: Naga–Vakataka Imperial Period c14.s4.t1.93

c14.s4.t1.93

In the M a t h u r ā dynasty, the last name, N ā g a s e n a, is taken from the record of the conquest of Samudra Gupta. His seat, on the basis of Samudra Gupta’s inscription, which is discussed in Part III below, seems to be, almost certainly, at Mathurā. K i r t i s h e n a is described in the *Kaumudī-mahotsava* as a friend of S u n d a r a - v a r m a n and as the father-in-law of K a l y ā ṇ a - v a r m a n, son of Sundara-varman, who dispossessed C h a n d r a G u p t a I from Pāṭaliputra. His date is discussed in Part III in the Gupta history [§ 133]. On the basis of that date N ā g a - s e n a is given only 4 years and Kirtisheṇa, *c.* 315–340 A.D. To complete seven successions there should have been three more kings after Virasena at Mathurā. The Nāgasena of the Harsha-charita was a prince at Padmāvatī and not at Mathurā, and he probably flourished under the Guptas as he has left no coin at Padmāvatī.