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

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 was engaged in a life and death struggle with Kanishka and
later on, after the death of Kanishka, declared themselved 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, Chandragputa 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
officials in his military and civil service and his ministers too began to hate
him secretly. Just at this juncture, a strange thing happened, which
galvanized the popular feeling against Ramgupta’s feebleness. Although
some historians consider this to be a hearsay anecdote, still ancient writers
like Vishakhadatta and Banabhatta have credited it with truth, and a
reference to it is to be found in the copperplate grant of King Amoghvarsha.
Again as in the comparatively recent times, the Rajput warriors had faced a
similar situation against Alla-ud-din in respect of Padmini, the opinion of
some other historians that this anecdote about Ramgupta must be
substantially true is more acceptable. The incident in question may be
summarised in the following manner:
256. Emperor Samudragupta having died and a weakling Ramgupta
having ascended the throne after him, the Saka kings became fearless and
began to behave insolently with the Magadhan empire, which was at
inimical terms with them. An impertinent and mean-minded Mlenchcha
king of these Sakas commanded Ramgupta, in order to humiliate him, that
he should send his young and beautiful wife, Grahdevi, to him or else be
prepared for war. This insolent and wicked message convulsed the whole
political atmosphere of the Magadhan empire with shame and indignation.
But Emperor Ramgupta had become so utterly imbecile and shameless, as
to start preparations to send his queen, Grahdevi, to that Saka Satrap with
the sole intention of avoiding a conflict. This infuriated his younger brother,