The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c8.s4.13

v1.c8.s4.13

The fact is that there was not much occasion for rivalry between the Guptas and the Vākāṭakas, since their spheres of influence were quite distinct from one another. Even during the southern expedition of Samudragupta, he did not come into any direct conflict with the Vākāṭakas. For had he done so, it is certain that his Allahabad eulogy would have mentioned their name; the absence of any notice of them would be quite inexplicable, since the names of most of the contemporary kings or states are mentioned in this document in one connexion or other. It is true that most probably during the reign of Pravarasena I the rulers of Southern Kośala and the Andhra country came under the Vākāṭaka sphere of influence. But during the interval between the death of Pravarasena and the invasion of Samudragupta, the kings of this territory had renounced their fealty to the Vākāṭakas and had become independent. Their nominal submission to Samudragupta during his southern expedition did not therefore amount to any serious infringement of the vested interests of the Vākāṭakas, who had already lost their suzerainty. Nor can we identify King Vyāghrarāja of the Great Forest who professed allegiance to Samudragupta with King Vyāghrarāja of Ganj, who was a Vākāṭaka feudatory. For the former was a king in the Deccan, ruling somewhere to the south of the Vindhyas, while the latter was a king in Bundelkhand, ruling over a territory to the north of that range of hills.¹