Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c16.s2.3

c16.s2.3

² The commentary on the *Amarakośa* seems to suggest that Agnimitra is the original of king Sūdraka of tradition (Oka, p. 122; *Ann. Bhand. Or. Res. Inst.*, 1931, 360). On the other hand Keith refers to a tradition recorded in the *Vīra charita* and by the younger Rājaśekhara which represents Sūdraka as a minister of a Sātavāhana king. We are further told by another writer that Sūdraka defeated prince Svāti and ruled for a long time. A tale alluded to in the *Harshacharita* represents him as an enemy of Chandraketu, lord of Chakora, apparently in South India (Keith, *The Sanskrit Drama*, p. 129; *Sanskrit Literature*, p. 292; Ghosh, *History of Central and Western India*, pp. 141 f.). The story of Sūdraka is essentially legendary and it is difficult to extract any historical truth out of it. The abeyance of Sātavāhana power in the Upper Deccan for a long period is a fact. But it is due to the irruption of foreign tribes from the north. Disloyal ministers may have helped to bring in the invader.