Explain the Dakshinpath conquest of Samudragupta.
Answers
The boundary states conquered by Samudragupta were Kamarupa in Assam, Samatata in Bengal, Kartripura in Punjab and Rohilkhand. After these conquests, Samudragupta performed “Ashwamedha sacrifice” to commemorate his victory. He took the title “Ashwamedha Parakrama”. He issued gold coins with the figure of horse on them
In the southern expedition he encountered with twelve kings and defeated them, set them at liberty and allowed them to rule as feudatory chiefs of the South. This policy of Samudragupta is described as Digvijaya or defeating the enemy kings of the South, Grahana or getting the authority over the kingdoms and then Anugraha allowing them to rule their Kingdoms under his Suzerainty.
In course of his Southern Campaign he humbled as many as twelve princes.
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These princes were:
(1) Mahendra of Kosala who ruled over Mahakosala region or the district of Raipur, Bilaspur, and Sambalpur,
(2) Vaghraraja of Mahakantara a forest tract of Gandawana,
(3) Mantraraja of Kaurala (Korada),
(4) Mahendra of Pistapur (Pithapuram region of Godavari district),
(5) Swamidutta of Kottura (Ganjam district of Orissa),
(6) Damana of Erandapolle. (Erandapolle of Ganjam district),
(7) Visnugopa of Kanchi— Canjeevaram of Madras,
(8) Nataraja of Avamukta (near Godavari),
(9) Hastivarman of Vengi—Ellor region of Andhra Pradesh,
(10) Ugrasena of Palakka—Some parts of Nellor,
(11) Kuvera of Devarastra—Vizagapatam district, and
(12) Dhanajaya of Kusthalapura who ruled over North Arcot.
Samudragupta’s Deccan Campaign is really memorable. He advanced with his army through the dense forest of Madhya Pradesh and covered a distance of 3000 miles and undertook unspeakable hardship. In spite of all adversities he displayed remarkable determination, courage and leadership for which he is often compared with Alexander and sometimes he is assigned with the title of Indian Napoleon.
Allahabad Pillar Inscription reveals that Samudragupta defeated the confederacy of twelve kings in a spitched battle and maintained his supremacy. The policy of treating the defeated enemies liberally was an extraordinary success of his diplomacy. This further highlights the deep political foresight and statesmanship of Samudragupta.
Seeing unparalleled military success many frontier states submitted to Samudragupta and agreed to pay annual tribute. These states were Samtala, South Eastern Bengal, Devaka (northern Assam) Kamrupa (Assam) Nepal, Kartripura (part of Kumaon Garhwal and Rohilkhand). The Allahabad Pillar Inscription confirms the conquests of the frontier states.
There were many independent republican tribes existing on the Western frontier. They were brave, spirited and lover of self-respect. The Allahabad Inscription reveals that nine tribes inhabited in the Punjab, Rajputana and Madhya Bharat etc. submitted to Samudragupta, Malavas, Aijunayanas, Yaudheyas, Madrakas, Abhiras, Prarjunas, Sanakanikas, Kakas and Kliarparikas were among those republican states.