6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

96 SIX GLORIOUS EPOCHS OF INDIAN HISTORY
Samvat and the Salivahan Samvat, should be closely-
connected with the glorious memory of Indian victories over
the Saka-Kushans is not merely a queer coincidence, it is
of great significance. Many eras like those of the imperial
Guptas and others, although greatly honoured during those
particular periods, are lost in the abyss of time. Only these
two which recorded the Indian victories over the Saka-
Kushans have enjoyed immortality. This may give us a fair
idea as to how our Indian Vedic people had to suffer
grievously at the hands of the ungovernable hordes of the
Saka-Kushans. For, otherwise these Vikram and Salivahan
Samvats which were started to perpetuate the memory of the
victories of the Salivahan and Gupta emperors over the
diabolic atrocities of, and political subjection by, the Saka-
Kushans would never have attained so much importance
vis-a-vis the extinction of many other victorious eras, and
could never have been observed even after the lapse of two
thousand years as the chief national eras of the Hindus.
INDIANS' MARTIAL & RELIGIOUS VICTORY OVER
THE SAKAS
230. Just as the Malavas firmly checked the aggression
of Sakas by killing their king, Nahapan (cf: Para 219), in a
similar way and at the same time did our Andhra warriors
march from the south towards the north and destroy the
Saka kingdoms in Gujarath, Sourashtra, and Sindh".
Harassed by the repeated offensives opened against them
by the valiant Salivahan Kings like Vilinayankur, Gautami-
putra Satkarni, Vashishthiputra Pulamayi and others, the
Saka Kings upto Ujjain ultimately reconciled themselves to
the sovereignty of the Salivahan Emperorsi^. There exists
a rock inscription which tells us tha.t a Saka Satrap 'Rudra'
even gave his daughter in marriage to a Salivahan King^*
as the Greek King Seleucos had years before given his to
Emperor Chandragupta!
231. It must also be borne in mind that because of
incessant fighting with the Indians on various battle-fields