Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c21.s3.37

c21.s3.37

The struggle with the Pushyamitras was followed by conflicts with the Hūṇas¹ and probably also with the Vākāṭakas in which the emperor was presumably victorious in the end. The invasion of the Hūṇas took place not later than A.D. 458 if we identify them with the *Mlechchhas* or barbarian uitlanders of the Junāgaḍh Inscription. The memory of the victory over the *Mlechchhas* is preserved in the story of king Vikramāditya, son of Mahendrāditya of Ujjain, in Somadeva's *Kathā-sarit-sāgara*.² Central India and Surāshṭra seem to have been the vulnerable parts of the Gupta empire. The Bālāghāṭ plates³ refer to Narendrasena Vākāṭaka, son of Skanda Gupta's cousin Pravarasena II (III?) as "*Kosalā-Mekalā-Mālav-ādhipatyabhyarchitaśāsana*" 'whose commands were treated with respect by the lords of Kosalā (Upper Mahānadī Valley), Mekalā (Upper Valley of the Nerbudda and the Śon), and Mālava (probably Eastern Mālwa).' The Junāgaḍh Inscription tells us that Skanda "deliberated for days and nights before making up his mind who could be trusted with the important task of guarding the lands of the Surāshṭras." Allan deduces from this and from the words "*sarveshu deśeshu vidhāya goptṛīn*" 'appointing protectors in all the provinces' that the emperor was at particular pains to appoint a series of Wardens of the Marches to protect his dominions from future invasion. One of these Wardens was Parṇadatta,¹ governor of Surāshṭra. In spite of all his efforts Skanda Gupta could not, however, save the westernmost part of his empire from future troubles. During his lifetime he no doubt, retained his hold over Surāshṭra, the Cambay coast and the adjoining portions of continental Gujarāt and Mālwa.² But his successors do not appear to have been so fortunate. Not a single inscription or coin has yet been discovered which shows that Surāshṭra and Western Mālwa formed parts of the Gupta empire after the death of Skanda Gupta. On the contrary Harisheṇa Vākāṭaka, cousin of Narendrasena, claims victories over Lāṭa (South Gujarāt) and Avanti (district around Ujjain) besides Trikūṭa in the Koṅkaṇ, Kuntala (the Kanarese country), Andhra (the Telugu country), Kaliṅga (South Orissa and some adjoining tracts), and Kosala (Upper Mahānadī Valley), while the Maitrakas of Valabhī (Wala in the peninsular portion of Gujarāt) gradually assume independence.