Day 15, Month of Chaithra (March/April), CE 337 - Pataliputhra, Capital of the Gupta Empire
The royal court was full to bursting.
Maharajadhiraja Chandra Gupta sat on his resplendent throne, keen eyes gazing all around him. Beside him was his royal consort, Queen Kumara Devi, the Lichchavi princess — with whose marriage, his small realm had transformed itself into a respectable kingdom.
A little below them were seated princes, courtiers, ministers, poets and army commanders; beyond them was the general public. Everyone looked nervous, excited and eager . Today, may have begun in the ordinary way, but what had the king said just now? That was anything but…
Princes gear up
For Chandra Gupta had just turned his attention to an entire group of royal princes seated below him, and announced that he was about to engage them in a competition.
The princes — and there were quite a few, including a lot of cousins, not to mention Chandra Gupta’s own sons — all sat up with interest. For a while now, everyone had been keen on proving himself as the most capable, for who knew when the kingdom would finally fall to their lot?
“I shall put you out of your misery,” began the king, “and ask you this: What would you do, if you ascended this throne, after my time?”
The buzz of excitement increased. This was straightforward, indeed.
The eldest prince, Kacha, stood up, proud and straight. “I shall rule just as you did, Father. I shall follow in your footsteps.”
The king nodded, and smiled slightly. The next prince rose. “I shall rule wisely and well, and make sure that our name stands till the end of time.”
“How?”
Prince Kumara faltered. “By…by making sure our vassals pay their tribute. And…and collecting taxes.”
The next was up even before he was done. “I shall not levy undue taxes and place our people in difficulties,” and he grinned at the sea of faces around him. “I shall make use of our treasury liberally, and dispense many grants.”
“And how do you intend to replenish your sources?”
Prince Puru pursed his lips. “Well ... perhaps some taxes are necessary?” He could provide no details.
The king turned to the next, who seemed to be in no hurry to volunteer an answer. “You’ve been very silent.”
The prince stood up slowly, and earned a contemptuous glance from his brothers and cousins. “I was thinking.”
“Were you? Pray, share your thoughts. Do you intend to rule wisely and well, too?”
Smart repartee
The prince smiled. “I would much rather give my plans in detail, than talk vaguely. First, I intend to follow an aggressive policy of invasion: I shall conquer kings Nagasena and Ganapati-naga, the Naga kings who rule the three kingdoms at Padmavati, Vidisa and Mathura. Next, I intend to subjugate Achyuta and Chandravarman, who rule Ahichatra and the regions to our east. Besides these, I plan to crush kings Rudradeva, Matila, Nagadutta, Nandin and Balavarman as well, who rule kingdoms such as Samatata, Kamarupa, Nepala, Davaka and Kartripura.” He paused to take a breath, as the king raised his eyebrows. “These shall be my tributaries; and I shall extend my rule in every direction, even far south…”
“You cannot go on invading endlessly, without suffering defeat,” protested Chandra Gupta. “What if your frontiers weaken?”
“My Empire ,” the prince said stolidly, and everyone gasped. “Shall be strengthened from within; I may invade and conquer, but I shall also make sure that they stay with me by maintaining friendship with them. After all, any fool can make his fortune; it takes a wise man to keep it.”
“You sound too sure of yourself,” observed the king. “How will you fund these invading expeditions of yours?”
“Each invasion shall fund the next; I shall levy such taxes as are absolutely necessary. Doubtless, the people will suffer some discomfort … but they shall enjoy the bounty as well, when it comes.”
This assured answer fairly took everyone’s breath away. “And what of your father, your king?” Chandra Gupta leaned forward. “What if I object?”
The prince smiled. “No king is king, if he objects to the proper expansion of his kingdom.”
The court subsided in stunned silence. Chandra Gupta rose slowly, his sceptre in his hand. “I have asked all my heirs of their plans; of how they would choose to rule after me.
They answered, of course, but no reply satisfied me. You,” he pointed to the last prince, “So sure of yourself were you, that you even outlined every land you planned to invade, and provide for your people.” He paused. “You are worthy indeed, to rule the whole world! I pronounce you, my successor, on this throne.”
Prince Samudra Gupta smiled.
Historical Note: Emperor Samudra Gupta (circa 340 CE – 380 CE) was the greatest among the Guptas, and ruled an extensive Empire that was made up of a vast part of North India, including the highlands of Chattisgarh, Orissa, and extending almost to Chengalpattu, in the South. Even the Pallava kingdom was his feudatory. Known as the ‘Indian Napoleon,’ he was a poet, musician (he played the lyre) and had a striking, unique personality. The kings and realms mentioned in this story were truly conquered by him, and were his faithful vassals.
