9. The Successors of Kumaragupta I. 
By R. C. Masumpar, M.A., Ph.D. 
The discovery of the Sarnath inscriptions of Kumiragupta 
and Budhagupta threw unexpected light on the history of the 
later Imperial Guptas and I discussed the question in a paper 
in the Indian Antiquary, 1918, pp.. 161-167. The results of 
my discussion were summarised in the following Table :— 
Kings. Known Dates. Probable Period. 
1. Skandagupta or \ 
Puragupta 
or A.D. 455-7, 467-8 A.D. 456-468. 
Skandagupta and } 
uragupta 
| 
2, Narasimhagupta 23 nil »» 468-472. 
| . 
3. Kumaragupta IT .. A.D, 473-4 », 472-477. 
4. Budhagupta .. A.D. 477-8, 494-5 »: 478-500. 
As to the relation of Skandagupta and Paragupta I ob- 
served: ‘‘On the whole, therefore, the new inscriptions seem 
to be fatal to the accepted view that Puragupta succeeded Skan- 
dagupta. They certainly favour the supposition that the two 
names were identical although they do not absolutely preclude 
at 
the theory that Skandagupta and-Puragupta were rival kings. 
differenze that he held Puragupta to be the successor of 
Skandagupta. Since then the question has been discussed by 
four different scholars. Dr. V. Smith in course of a review of 
mer theories on the subject.!. Mr. R. D. Banerji also, in course 
of along review, accepted my main conclusions, but maintained 
that numismatic considerations are directly against the supposi- 
tion that Puragupta and Skandagupta are identical. He held 
that they were rival kings, “ Puragupta having rebelled in 
Magadha during Skandagupta’s absence from the capital at the 
time of the Hina wars.” * 
Mr. Radhagovinda Basak, discussing the same question, 
arrived at totally different conclusions.* He held that there 
1 J.B.A.S., 1919, p. 260. 
2 Annals of the Bhandarkar Institute, Vol. I, part I, pp. 67-89. 
8 Ep. Ind., Vol. XV, p. 113. 
