6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

3RD GLORIOUS EPOCH 107
military expedition, Samudragupta returned to Pataliputra,
Then in order to proclaim to the world his acquisition of
this new Indian empire according to the Vedic religious rites
he celebrated the Horse sacrifice*^, on a grand scale and was
rightfully annointed a Samrat (an emperor). Thereafter he
began his extensive preparations for his dash against the
Saka-Kushans.
THE FINAL SURRENDER BY THE KUSHANS.
253. At the fearful reports of this impending attack of
Emperor Samudragupta whatever small kingdoms of the
Kushans like Gandhar and others were, still leading a
precarious existence in the north-western regions of India,-
voluntarily sued for peace and accepted the Gupta para-
mountcy**. Our Indian ancestors at that time called these
Kushans 'Kush' also. As a token of their surrender those
Kushans sent rich offerings along with their personal envoys
to Samudragupta. Thus after an incessant warfare for a
century-and-a-half or two the Indian sword ultimately cut
asunder the very root of the Kushan power in India. The
Kushan problem was finally disposed of here and now !
254. But the Saka kings from Malava to Sindh who, as
has been told in paragraphs 236 and 248, had thrown off the
yoke of Andhra domination when the latter were engaged in
a life and death struggle with Kanishka and later on, after
the death of Kanishka, declared themselves free, did not on
their own initiative talk of any submission.
SAMRAT SAMUDRAGUPTA'S DEATH AND AFTER.
255. While he was just preparing to march upon the
Mlenchcha power of these Sakas, this powerful Emperor
Samudragupta breathed his last in 375 A.D.**. He had
expressed his wish that after him his younger but valiant and
virile son, Chandragupta II, should be crowned emperor. But
discarding this dying wish of his, the elder son, Ramgupta,
ascended the throne on the strength of his seniority in
age**. But he was so weak that almost all efficient ofiicials