Mod 4: Chandragupta II Vikramaditya — Ramagupta and Dhruvadevi, Victory over the Shakas, the Vakataka Alliance, the Iron Pillar, Faxian in Bihar and the “Nine Gems”
Concept
13.7 Chandragupta II Vikramaditya
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
Conquest, alliances and the iron pillar
After Samudragupta, a weak son Ramagupta may have ruled briefly. Vishakhadatta’s play Devichandraguptam says Ramagupta, besieged by a Shaka king, agreed to hand over his queen Dhruvadevi; his brother Chandragupta went to the Shaka camp disguised as the queen, killed the Shaka king, later killed Ramagupta and married Dhruvadevi. Copper coins of Ramagupta found in Vidisha–Eran show he was real.
| Theme | Detail |
|---|---|
| Titles | Vikramaditya, Simhavikrama, Sahasanka; Paramabhagavata (Vaishnava) |
| Conquest of the Shakas | Defeated the Western Kshatrapa Rudrasimha III; added Malwa, Gujarat, Saurashtra; issued silver coins on the Shaka model |
| Second capital | Ujjayini — gateway to western sea trade |
| Marriage alliances | Married the Naga princess Kuveranaga; gave daughter Prabhavatigupta to the Vakataka king Rudrasena II — she later ruled as regent |
| Mehrauli iron pillar | Praises king “Chandra” for victories over the Vangas (Bengal) and, crossing the seven mouths of the Indus, the Vahlikas (Bactria) |
The 7.2-metre wrought-iron pillar, now in the Qutb complex, Delhi, has hardly rusted in 1,600 years. Studies by R. Balasubramaniam (IIT Kanpur) show its high phosphorus content helped form a thin protective film (misawite). It was probably first set up at Vishnupadagiri (often identified with Udayagiri near Vidisha) and moved to Delhi much later.
- Ramagupta–Dhruvadevi episode (Devichandraguptam); Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (c. 375/380–415).
- Beat Rudrasimha III; silver coins; Ujjayini; Vakataka alliance; iron pillar (phosphorus).
- Question: To whom did Chandragupta II marry his daughter? Answer: Prabhavatigupta to Vakataka Rudrasena II.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 2: The inscription on the Mehrauli Iron Pillar at Delhi describing conquests over the Vahlikas refers to which king?
[BPSC level] The play Devichandraguptam was written by:
[UPSC level] Ramagupta’s historicity is supported by his:
[BPSC level] Chandragupta II defeated the Western Kshatrapa ruler:
[BSSC pattern] Chandragupta II’s second capital was:
[UPSC level] Prabhavatigupta, daughter of Chandragupta II, married into the:
[UPSC level] The iron pillar resists rust mainly because of its high content of:
[BPSC level] Gupta silver coins were first issued after the conquest of:
One-liners
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To whom did Chandragupta II marry his daughter?
Prabhavatigupta to Vakataka Rudrasena II.Concept
13.8 Faxian and the Nine Gems
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
A pilgrim’s view of Gupta India
The Chinese monk Faxian (Fa-Hien) travelled in India from about 399 to 414 CE in search of Buddhist texts. He spent three years at Pataliputra learning Sanskrit and copying texts. His book is the Foguoji (“Record of the Buddhist Kingdoms”). Strangely, he never names the king.
| Observation | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pataliputra | Ashoka’s palace so grand he thought spirits built it; rich citizens ran free hospitals for the poor |
| Government | Light taxes, few restrictions, no death penalty — only fines |
| Society | Chandalas lived outside towns and struck wood to announce themselves — evidence of untouchability |
| Bihar sites | Rajagriha, Bodh Gaya, Vaishali and the village of Nala (Nalanda) visited |
Tradition places nine scholars — Kalidasa, Amarasimha, Varahamihira, Dhanvantari, Kshapanaka, Shanku, Vetalabhatta, Ghatakarpara, Vararuchi — at the court of “Vikramaditya”. The list comes from a much later text (Jyotirvidabharana); the nine did not all live at the same time. Kalidasa probably did belong to Chandragupta II’s age; Varahamihira lived in the 6th century.
- Faxian 399–414: 3 years at Pataliputra; hospitals, light taxes, no death penalty, Chandalas.
- Nine Gems = later tradition.
- Question: What is Faxian’s book called? Answer: Foguoji.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Faxian visited India during the reign of which Gupta emperor?
[BPSC level] Faxian’s book is known as:
[UPSC level] Faxian noted that at Pataliputra rich citizens ran:
[BPSC level] Faxian says that in the Gupta realm criminals were usually punished by:
[UPSC level] Faxian’s account gives early evidence of:
[BSSC pattern] How long did Faxian stay at Pataliputra?
[UPSC level] The “Nine Gems” list of Vikramaditya’s court is considered:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
What is Faxian’s book called?
Foguoji.Concept
🎯 UPSC · BPSC · BSSC · State PSC level: PYQs and traps
| Exam | What it asks from this module |
|---|---|
| UPSC | Iron pillar metallurgy; Faxian; Vakataka alliance |
| BPSC | Faxian at Pataliputra; Vikramaditya; Shaka conquest |
| BSSC / SSC | Chinese pilgrim in Chandragupta II’s reign |
Which Chinese pilgrim visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II? (a) Xuanzang (b) Faxian (c) Yijing (d) Song Yun
- Faxian (399–414 CE). Xuanzang came under Harsha (7th century); Yijing in the late 7th century.
- Gupta silver coins begin with Chandragupta II after the Shaka conquest.
- Iron pillar king “Chandra” = Chandragupta II (most accepted), not Chandragupta Maurya.
- Faxian (Chandragupta II) vs Xuanzang (Harsha) vs Yijing (late 7th c.).
- Question: Who is “Chandra” of the iron pillar? Answer: Chandragupta II (most accepted).
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[BPSC level] Which title is most associated with Chandragupta II?
[UPSC level] The iron pillar now in Delhi was probably first set up at:
[BSSC pattern] Chandragupta II’s queen Dhruvadevi appears in which play?
[BPSC level] Which Bihar sites did Faxian visit?
[UPSC level] Chandragupta II married the Naga princess:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Who is “Chandra” of the iron pillar?
Chandragupta II (most accepted).