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

of Punjab—not in his royal palace in the capital! If ever there was an ideal
emperor, it was he!
279. If the Huns were hemmed in one small corner of the Indus and if
India was saved from all the indignities, massacres and wanton destruction
at their hands to which Europe had been subjected almost
contemporaneously, all the credit must go to the armed strength of
Skundgupta. Although he died before the Huns were completely
annihilated, his exemplary valour brought forth another generation of
warriors, much stronger than before, to take the field against these once
war-intoxicated but now enfeebled Huns.
280. Hence, we bow down to the memory of Emperor Skundgupta, with
as much reverence and pride and a sense of national gratitude as we might
do to any other conqueror like Vikramaditya.
After the Death of Skundgupta
281. Subsequent to the death of Skundgupta, the throne of Magadha was
usurped by his rebel brother, Purgupta, whose lack of every sort of ability
encouraged the Huns once again to push forward under their King, Khilkhil.
In the reign of Torman, who succeeded Khikhil, Huns once again let loose
the dogs of war and Kamboj, Gandhar, and Punjab suffered most from their
horrible depredations and arson. The world-famous University of Taxila
was razed to the ground. Thousands of its invaluable books only served to
make bonfire for the Huns.
282. This is another instance that shows how even the national literature,
civilization and culture are destroyed at the hands of foreign invaders, if
they are not defended and supported by the nation’s mailed fist.
283. In the meanwhile, those Hunnish hordes that had so far overrun the
kingdom of Persia, and in A.D. 484 put her King, Phiroz, to death, were
now free to join the army of Torman in his work of reducing India to the
same miserable state. With his army so suddenly augmented, Torman
pushed ahead of Punjab into Malva and captured it round about 511A.D.,
along with its capital Ujjain. When tormans son, Mihirgula, who was braver
and more atrocious than the father, succeeded to the Hunnish throne,
strangely enough, he became a sincere devotee of the Vedic God, Rudra and
held the cult of Buddha in the greatest spite.
Mihirgula, the Devotee of the Vedic God
284. Strange as it may seem, the Huns were speedily attracted to the
worship of the Vedic God Rudra at least from the time they entered the