भारतीय इतिहास के ६ स्वर्णिम पृष्ठ (वीर सावरकर - विदेशी आक्रान्ताओं पर विजय गाथा)

ribbon like piece of land from the north-Konkan, which had formerly been
in the hands of the Sakas. Now after the death of Kanishka, the two or
three Saka kingdoms that formed part of this Kushan empire threw away
the Kushan sovereignty and once again became independent. During the
century-old Saka-Kushan aggressive wars, the Satavahanas had
maintained the independence of their entire Southern India unimpaired and
now the north-Indian states also, who had so far accepted the nominal
overlordship of Kanishka, renounced it and regained their independence.
In this very confusion, the principality of Pataliputra in the eastern part of
India also became independent.
Once Again rose the Sunken Sun of Pataliputra
249. Pataliputra has been called a small principality in the previous lines.
Our readers might feel that it is a slip of our pen. But it is not so. For during
the deluge of the Saka-Kushan aggressions at the beginning of the Christian
era, the throne of Pataliputra, which was adorned by the celebrated
Emperors like Chandragupta, Ashoka, Pushyamitra and others, and from
which were guided for centuries together the destinies of the all-India
empire from the Himalayas to the southern seas, was lost all of a sudden,
just as the setting sun vanishes while we are still looking on and know not
when it has set. During the century-and-a-half of incessant Indian war with
the Saka-Kushans that followed, the separate existence of Pataliputra or
Magadha was never felt. Some non-entity of king from somewhere ruled
and lived within the four walls of Pataliputra.
250. But about the year 300 A.D. was established on this very principality
of Pataliputra, the rule of Lichchavi Republic, which was known in
Magadha from the times of Lord Buddha.
251. The daughter of the chief of this Lichchavi Republic, Kumardevi,
was wooed and married by a promising youth, son of a feudal chief
named Chandragupta in 308 A.D., With the strong support of the same
Lichchavi Republic, he established his sway over the surrounding
territory and in 320 A.D. he founded an independent kingdom in
Pataliputra. Let not this Chandragupta be confused with the famous
Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, because of their similar names.
Emperor Chandragputa belonged to the Maurya dynasty, while this
promising Chandragupta was born in the Gupta family. His
achievements, however, were as brilliant as would have befitted the
glorious dynasty of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. During his short