Ancient Hindu India, the Bharat, periodically gave birth to great warrior children, who had devoted their lives to defending mother India’s borders, and to preserving Sanatana Dharma values and traditions. Due to the sacrifices of these great warriors, of Sanatna Dharma that India has remained what it has always been, since last many centuries.
Greeks were forced to forfeit their polytheistic Hellenic culture or else leave ancient india.
India had always retained & safeguarded its ancient civilization through her great sons like Skandagupta.. We should be grateful to these heroes, the defenders of Mother India, because of whom, we are able to profess and practice our ancient religion.
Inscription number 30.
Bhitari stone Pillar Inscription of Skandagupta (455-67 A D.)
Provenance: Bhitari, near Sayyadpur, Ghaziapur district. U.P.
Script: Late Northern Brahmi:
Language: Sanskrit
Metres: v.1.
vv.2-6:
vv.7-8
vv.9-12
The pillar inscription mentions that Skandagupta had thoroughly defeated the Hunas & recaptured his empire. Though Hunas were eventually able to weaken Gupta empire into a vassalage but were again conclusively defeated by Yashodharma of Malwa and his confederate army of various kings subsequently.
Skandagupta, in honour of this great victory, assumed the title of ‘Vikramaditya’, like his illustrious grandfather.
Refrences
W.H.Mill, J.A.S.B, VI, pp1ff, Bhau Daji,
J.B.B.R.A.S. , pp.349ff- J.P Fleet. C.I.I,
III, No. 13, pp52ff,. D.C. Sircar, Sel.Inss, I, pp-321-24, Jagannath Vishveshvanand indological
Journal,XX, Pts I-II, pp.184-87, For other references, Bhandarkar’s List no. 1549 and Sewell’s List pp 349.
Footnote 1
1. In the sense of प्रभाव : i.e inflluence
observance of law virtuous conduot.
2. वृत्त = observance of law, virtuous conduct.
3. विहत = Obstructed
4. Fleet and others: तानधीदा विनीत:
Fleet translated this Disciplines in the understanding of musical keys. D.C. Sircar’s modest owing to his
Knowledge of objects of Senses. In fact, तानधीदा
does not yield any sense.
5. संविधानोपदेश = instruction in execution.
परेषां प्रणिहिते = In the application against enemies.
Footnote 2
1. Sircar (Sel.Inss, pp322, n.6) opines “This shows that before
the actual seizure of Power Skandaqupta, passed some time
in utter distress, Probably owing to defeat and success of a rival for the throne. Evidently he failed to grasp
the significance of the preceding line
विचलित – कुल —–स्तंभनायोधतेन
which makes it clear that
Skandagupta spent the night on bare ground in the course of his efforts to retrieve the shaken fortunes of his
family. In other words Skandagupta was fighting against members of some alien family, not against any rival claimant to the throne, who must have been member of his family i.e his real or step brother.
2. Others read युद्य मित्रश्चि
But either of the readings is merely conjectural, since
erosion has left the letters hardly legible. The Pushyamitras however are known as people from the Puranas (c.f Pargiter. Dynasties of the Kali age, section L1)
Footnote 3
1. CE. Raghuvansha, IV.20 -इक्षुच्छाय निषादिन्यस्तस्य गोप्तुर्गु पोदयम
आकुमार कथोद्वात शालिगोप्यो जगुर्यश :
2. Read वंश
3. Fleet and Sircar and others
वन्दक जनो यं प्रा पय त्या – यर्यताम
Because of weathering of stone the words are hardly legible. Fleet ‘s reading gives the sense that
nobility was conferred upon whom by his flatterers, which is anything but a complimentt. So I have accepted
Jagannath’s reading (See Vishwveshvaranand Ideological
Journal, Hoshiarpur. XX, Pts I & II, pp. 184.
Footnote 3
Known in the Chinese annals as the Hiung-nu, the Hunas
spread from their original home in north-west China to
distant lands, devastating the lands they passed through, spreading terror and destruction. Under Attila (406-53 A.D.) They invaded europe and brought about the downfall of the powerful
Roman empire. The names of Kubla Khan, Halak Khan and Changez Khan are still remembered with fear.
The hunas also moved south towards India, in the 5th century A, D.
when Kumaragupta 1, was on the throne. In the previous reign
of Chandragupta 2, (Vikramaditya) they were still on the Oxus,
where the contemporary poet Kalidasa places them in his Raghuvamsa(IV-67-68). Some editions have the reading -सिंधु तीर instead of – वडनक्षू
That is obviously wrong.
After defeating the Parasikas, Raghu moves north and destroys
the Hunas, and then proceeds to Kamboja (mod. Kirghizia).
Naturally Hunas have to be placed between Persia and
Kirghizia i.e. in the Oxus (Skt. Vankshu valley). But about the end of Kumaragupta ‘s reign, Possibly about 450 A.D. they fell upon the gupta empire and the Crown Prince
Skandagupta, who led the defensive forces defeated and
scattered them after grim battle. Skandaguptas prowess
saved india from their depredations for about half a century.
But about 500 A D a Huna leader. Toamana. (500-515 A.D.)
Wrested from the Guptas, the Punjab and Eran in Sagar district
of Madhya Pradesh, where in an inscription of Toramana ‘s
first regnal year Dhanyavishnu acknowledges his sovereignty.
Obviously, the intervening country must have also come under.
But Malwa was soon recovered by the Guptas as the Hunas as is indicated by the Eran Stone Pillar Inscription of the
Gupta year 191 (510 A. D.).Toremana’s successor Mihirakula (515-545 A D.) was routed by Yasodharman of Malwa
(See the mandaser stone pillar inscription infra III, 33)
and the gupta King. Bladitya, and was given shelter by the king of Kashmir.
But the ungrateful Huna treacherously
killed his benefactor and usurped his kingdom and also annexed Gandhara after kiling his brother, who had usurped the thone when Mihirakula was taken prisoner by Narasimaqupta Baladitya. But it appears, the Huna power received its final shattering blow when they were defeated
by the Maukhari king Isanavaman of South Bihar and Easten U. P. After this event the Hunas ceased to play
any significant role in Indian politics, though occasionally we hear of them as minor local powers as late as 1152 A.D. ( Vikrama 1210 of. Ajmer Harakeli
Nataka inscription of the Chahmanas). By this time they had completely merged into Hindu society and were counted as one of the 36 Rajput clans.
1. Fleet नभीषु The quatrain may be completed संपातिता: संगरे Lines 16-17 are almost illegible. The readings are merely conjectural.
2. Fleet गाडन्गं
English Translation of the inscription
Success
L.1-4: The son of Maharajadhiraja Sri Samudragupta,
Who was the exterminator of all Kings who had no match as a warrior: whose fame was tasted by the waters of the four oceans who was equal to (the gods) Kubera, varuna, Indra,
and Yamaraja, who was the very axe of (the god) Yamaraja,
who was the giver of many crores of lawfully acquired cows and gold, who was the restorer of the asvamedha sacrifice, what had been long in abeyance, who as the great
grandson of Maharaja Sri Gupta who was the grandson of Maharaja Ghatotkacha (and) who was the son of
Maharajadhiraja Sri Chandragupta 1 and the daughter’s son of the Lichchhavis, begotten on Kumaradevi.
L1.4-51 ( the most devout worshipper of Lord Vishnu, the
Maharajadhiraja Sri chandragupta 2, who was accepted by him (i.e. Samudragupta) who was begotten an Mahadevi Dattadevi (and) who was himself a matchless warrior.
Ll.5-6 His son was the most devout worshipper of Lord Vishnu,
the Maharajadhiraja Kumaragupta, who meditated on his feet. (and who was begotten on the Mahadevi Dhruvadevi.
Ll.6-8 s This son of him the king. who was renowned for his great wisdom, influence and power, whose fame was great, is the (present) king, by name Skandagupta, who as close
to the feet of his father and moved around him, whose fame is spread for and wide, who being rich in the prowess
of ams is, in the lineage of the guptas, the most eminent hero in the world, whose great splendour is spread far
and wide, by whose actions, the conduct of virtuous men has not been disturbed, who is of spotless
Soul (and) who is polite to those who Submit to him.
Ll.8-10: who, having. with daiy intense application,. Step by Step, attained his object by means of good behaviour,
strength, good policies and heroism, received instruction in execution (of his policies) through application as it were, against (his) enemies, who were eager for winning their desired objectives.
L1.10-11 By whom a night was spent on a bed of bare earth
While engaged in stabilising the shaken fortunes of his family and having conquered the Pushyamitras (or enemies ) in battle, who had developed great power and wealth, he
placed his left foot on the foot-stool that was the king, king (of the Pushyamitras)
L1.11-12: Of him, possessed of spotless fame, the bright deeds
perfomed right from childhood which were forcibly planted by matchless forbearance and valour combined with
appropriate modesty and which destroyed the power of
weapons, — are sung in every region by qualified people.
Ll.12-14 who when his father attained heaven, conquered (his)
enemies by the strength of his am, and re-established the ruined fortunes of (his) lineage, betook himself to
his mother, whose eyes were full of tears of Joy at his victory, just as Krishna he took himself to ( his mother
Devaki, after slaying his enemies.
Ll.14-15 who with his own armies, established (again his lineage that had been made to totter
–. (and) with his two arms subjugated the earth (and) showed mercy to the miserable, conquered people, (but)
has become neither Proud nor arrogant. though his glory
is increasing day by day and when his biography is sung in ballads, and eulogies, feels embarrassed, because
of his nobility.
L1.15-16s By whose two arms the earth was shaken, when he
the creator of a terrible whirlpool, joined in close conflict with the Hunas planted arrows on his enemies in battle
It appears to theears as the roar of saranga (the bow of god Vishnu)
Ll.17-18 The fame of his father- – –
—
— -(thinking that) some image
should be made having firmly resolved, he made this image of that famous ( god) vishnu to endure as long as
the moon and the stars last.
And, having installed it here and he whose rule has been firmly established, has allotted this village (to the idol) in order to increase the religious merit of (his) father.
L. 19 Accordingly. this image of the Divine vishnu, and the establishment here (of the village) has been assigned to the religious merit of (his) father by the pious-minded one.
31. A Silver Type of Skandagupta (455-67 A D.)
Reference: Allan B. M.C.
India (Gupta Coins), pp.122 ff.
Nos. 451ff.; AS.Altekar, (Coinage of the Gupta Empire, pp. 254,
Overse: Bust of king to right, traces of Greek legend.
Reverse: Burning alter in centre Brahmi (Late Northern legend)