[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.raychaudhuri-1923) › c19.s2.20 # Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c19.s2.20 Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c19.s2.20 - **Language:** English ### [c19.s2.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.raychaudhuri-1923.c19.s2.20) The date of Gautamīputra Sātakarṇi is a matter regarding which there is a wide divergence of opinion. There are scholars who believe that the epithets \*varavāraṇa-vikrama\*, \*chāru-vikrama\*, "whose gait was beautiful like the gait of a choice elephant," and \*Śaka-nishūdana\*, destroyer of Śakas, suggest that he was the original of \*Rājā\* Vikramāditya of legend who founded the era of 58 B.C. But, as already pointed out, the use of regnal years by Gautamīputra and his descendants indicates that no era originated with the dynasty. Further, Indian literature clearly distinguishes between Vikramāditya of Ujjain and Śālivāhana or the Sātavāhanas of Pratishṭhāna. The view accepted in these pages is that Gautamīputra was the conqueror of Nahapāna and that his 18th year fell after the year 46 of the Śaka era, the last recorded date of his vanquished opponent. In other words the conquest of Nāsik by Gautamīputra took place some time after A.D. 78+46 = 124, and his accession after A.D. 124—18 = 106. As he ruled for at least 24 years, his reign must have terminated after A. D. 130. - [Previous: c19.s2.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.raychaudhuri-1923.c19.s2.19) - [Next: c19.s2.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.raychaudhuri-1923.c19.s2.21) - [Up: c19.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.raychaudhuri-1923.c19.s2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.raychaudhuri-1923.c19.s2.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.raychaudhuri-1923.c19.s2.20) · Pramāṇa