A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c11.65

c11.65

Rudrasena was more fortunate in his relations with the Guptas and the conquests of Samudragupta did not affect him. The Śakas succeeded in improving their position and reviving the title of Mahākshatrapa from 346. Rudrasena's son, Prithvisheṇa I (365-90), assisted the house of Sarvasena in its conquest of a part of Kuntala or southern Mahārāshtra. A greater event of his reign was the marriage of his son Rudrasena II with Prabhāvati-guptā, daughter of Chandragupta II. The alliance was probably meant to strengthen the position of the Guptas in the execution of their plans against the Śakas; but Rudrasena II died prematurely after a reign of five years leaving two minor sons. The widowed Gupta princess became regent, and uncles of the collateral branch ruling at Bāsim did not venture to oppose the arrangement. It was during her regency that Gujarat and Kathiawar were conquered by Chandragupta II, Prabhāvati-guptā offering considerable help to her father. After she had been regent for 13 years, her elder son Divākarasena died and she held the regency on behalf of the younger son Dāmodarasena (later Pravarasena II) till 410. Pravarasena II (410-45) was a man of peace, more devoted to literature and the arts than to war. A worshipper of Vishnu, he composed the Prākrit poem Setubandha, said to have been revised by Kālidāsa, describing the most famous exploits of Rāma. He also founded a new capital at Pravarapura to which he moved in the second half of his reign. The crown prince, Narendrasena, married a Kadamba princess—the daughter of Kakusthavarman.