Mod 7: Skandagupta, the Hunas and the Decline of the Guptas — Bhitari and Junagadh, Budhagupta, Narasimhagupta and Mihirakula, Vishnugupta and the Later Guptas of Magadha
Concept
13.13 Skandagupta and the Hunas
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
The last great Gupta
Skandagupta (c. 455–467 CE), son of Kumaragupta I, was the last great Gupta. Titled Kramaditya and Vikramaditya, he saved the empire from two dangers — the Pushyamitras and the Hunas (Hephthalites, “White Huns”) from Central Asia.
| Inscription | What it says |
|---|---|
| Bhitari pillar (Ghazipur, UP) | He restored the fallen fortunes of the family by defeating the Pushyamitras; when he clashed with the Hunas, “the earth shook” |
| Junagadh (Girnar) rock, Gujarat (455–457 CE) | Governor Parnadatta and his son Chakrapalita repaired the Sudarshana lake dam; praises Skandagupta’s victory over the mlechchhas (taken as Hunas) |
Built by Pushyagupta (Chandragupta Maurya), fitted with channels by Tushaspha (Ashoka), repaired by Rudradaman I (150 CE) and again by Chakrapalita under Skandagupta — all recorded on the same Girnar rock that carries Ashoka’s edicts.
- Skandagupta (c. 455–467), Kramaditya: beat Pushyamitras and Hunas (Bhitari).
- Junagadh: Parnadatta & Chakrapalita repaired Sudarshana lake.
- Question: Which inscription names the Hunas directly? Answer: Bhitari pillar.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 2: According to the Junagadh Inscription, which Gupta monarch crushed the Huna invasion?
[BPSC level] Skandagupta’s title was:
[UPSC level] The Hunas who attacked India in the 5th century are also called:
[BPSC level] Under Skandagupta, the Sudarshana lake was repaired by:
[UPSC level] The Bhitari pillar inscription is located in:
[BSSC pattern] Skandagupta also defeated the:
[UPSC level] Which ruler did NOT repair or build the Sudarshana lake?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Which inscription names the Hunas directly?
Bhitari pillar.Concept
13.14 The decline of the Guptas
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
Hunas, feudatories and the last kings
| Ruler | Note |
|---|---|
| Purugupta, Kumaragupta II | Short reigns; disputes |
| Budhagupta (c. 476–495) | Last strong ruler; inscriptions from Bengal (Damodarpur) to Eran (MP) |
| Narasimhagupta Baladitya | Xuanzang says he defeated the Huna king Mihirakula; built a vihara at Nalanda |
| Bhanugupta | Eran inscription (510 CE) — first epigraphic sati |
| Vishnugupta (c. 540–550) | Last imperial Gupta (Damodarpur plate of 543 CE) |
- Toramana (Eran boar inscription) and his son Mihirakula (Gwalior inscription) ruled parts of north and central India; Mihirakula was also defeated by Yashodharman of Mandasor (c. 528 CE).
- After 550 CE the Later Guptas (not of the main line) ruled Magadha. Adityasena (7th century) performed an Ashvamedha; his Aphsad inscription (Nawada/Gaya, Bihar) traces their line.
- New powers: Maukharis of Kanauj, Maitrakas of Valabhi, Pushyabhutis of Thanesar (Harsha).
- Budhagupta; Narasimhagupta beat Mihirakula; Vishnugupta last (c. 550).
- Toramana, Mihirakula, Yashodharman; Maukharis, Maitrakas; Later Guptas (Adityasena, Aphsad).
- Question: Who was the last imperial Gupta? Answer: Vishnugupta.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[BPSC level] The Huna king Toramana is known from an inscription at:
[UPSC level] Mihirakula was defeated by Yashodharman of:
[BPSC level] Budhagupta’s inscriptions are found from Bengal to:
[UPSC level] The Later Gupta king who performed an Ashvamedha and is known from the Aphsad inscription in Bihar is:
[BSSC pattern] The Maukharis ruled from:
[UPSC level] Debased Gupta gold coins in later reigns point to:
[BPSC level] The Maitrakas ruled from:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Who was the last imperial Gupta?
Vishnugupta.Concept
🎯 UPSC · BPSC · BSSC · State PSC level: PYQs, traps and mains
| Exam | What it asks from this module |
|---|---|
| UPSC | Hunas; Bhitari; Sudarshana lake history; causes of decline |
| BPSC | Skandagupta vs Hunas; Narasimhagupta; Aphsad (Bihar) |
| BSSC / SSC | Last great Gupta; last Gupta |
Which Gupta ruler is credited with repelling the Huna invasion? (a) Kumaragupta I (b) Skandagupta (c) Budhagupta (d) Vishnugupta
- Skandagupta’s Bhitari pillar records his clash with the Hunas; the Junagadh inscription praises his victory over the mlechchhas.
- Hunas are named directly in the Bhitari inscription; Junagadh speaks of “mlechchhas”.
- Mihirakula was defeated by Narasimhagupta (Xuanzang) and Yashodharman (Mandasor) — not Skandagupta.
- Last great Gupta = Skandagupta; last imperial Gupta = Vishnugupta.
Model question: Discuss the causes of the decline of the Gupta empire. Points: Huna invasions; weak successors and disputed succession; rise of feudatories; debasement of coins and economic strain; land grants reducing revenue; decline of western trade; religious and administrative decentralisation.
- Last great = Skandagupta; last = Vishnugupta.
- Question: Who defeated Mihirakula according to Xuanzang? Answer: Narasimhagupta Baladitya.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
[BPSC level] Who is called the last great Gupta emperor?
[UPSC level] Which pair is correctly matched?
[BSSC pattern] The Aphsad inscription is in which state?
[UPSC level] Which of these is NOT usually listed as a cause of Gupta decline?
[BPSC level] Skandagupta reigned approximately:
[School] The Hunas came to India from:
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Who defeated Mihirakula according to Xuanzang?
Narasimhagupta Baladitya.