1855.] On the Epoch of the Gupta Dynasty. 377 



attach no value whatever to this evidence. The statement referred 

 to runs to the following effect — the kingdom of Kapila is mentioned 

 bv Ma-twan-lin under the name of Ka pi li. — In the article India, 



4. Now Siladitya died between 642 and 648 (say in 645) and as he reigned 

 sixty years, his accession must have taken place in A. D. 585 ; and his conquest 

 of Magadha may be dated about A. D. 600. The chronology of the Guptas as 

 derived from all sources will then stand thus. I. Gupta A. G. 0, A. D. 319. 



II. Ghatot Kacha A. G., 21, A. D. 340. III. Chandra Gupta 1st, A. G. 41, A. D. 

 360. IV. Samudra Gupta, Parakrama, A. G. 61, A. D. 380. V. Chandra Gupta 

 2nd, Vikramaditya, A. G., 81, A. D. 400. VI. Kumara Gupta, Mahendra, A. G. 



III, A. D. 430. VII. Skanda Gupta, Kramaditya, A. G. 121, A. D. 440. VIII. 

 Skanda Gupta, Lagraditya or Lo/caditya, A. G. 133, A. D. 452. IX. Buddha 

 Gupta, A. G. 161, A. D. 480. X. Takta Gupta, A. G. 191, A. D. 510. XI. Nara 

 Gupta, Baladitya, A. G. 221, A. D. 540. XII. Vajra, A. G. 251, A. D. 570. 

 Conquest of Siladitya, A. G. 281, A. D. 600. [Note.] (The dates obtained from 

 various sources are : — for Chandra Gupta Vikramaditya, 82 (Udayagiri Inscription) 

 and 93 (Sanchi Inscription), equivalent to A. D. 401 and 412 — from Jain Authorities 

 A. D. 409 ; and from Chinese Authorities A. D. 428 — for Skanda Gupta — his 

 death in 133, or A. D. 452 as stated on the Kuhaon Pillar; — for Buddha Gupta 

 165, or A. D. 484 as given by the Eran Pillar Inscription). 



5. The chronological table has been framed upon the following data. 1st, 

 The power of the Indo-Scythians did not begin to decline until the time of the 

 later Hans in China, whose dynasty was only established in A. D„ 222. During 

 the latter half of the third century their power was on the decline, and 

 may be supposed to have been finally overthrown by Gupta in A. D. 319. 

 There are great numbers of gold coins of Indo-Scythian type with corrupt Greek 

 and Indian legends which can only be attributed to this dynasty. 2d. A 

 short inscription of Chandra Gupta, at Udayagiri, is dated in the year 82 ; and 

 a second of the same prince, at Sanchi, is dated in the year 93. These dates 

 of the Gupta era are equivalent to A. D. 401 and 412, which agree with the 

 Chinese date of A. D. 428 for Yue-gai (Prinsep, Journal, VI. 665 ; Des Guignes I. 

 45, says A. D. 408). But Chandra Gupta on his coins takes the title of Vikramaditya 

 and in the Agni Purana (Prinsep, IV. 688) it is said that Vikrama, the son of Gadha- 

 rupa should ascend the throne of Malawa 753 years after the expiation of Cha 

 nakya. This event I have already placed in B. C. 325 ; from which deducting 

 753 years, we obtain A. D. 428 for the date of Vikrama of Malwa. Col. Tod also 

 quotes a Jain inscription of Chandra Gupta, dated either in 370 or 409. (Trans. 

 R. A. S. 140, 211) in which he is styled Avantindth, or "lord of Ujain," which 

 was the capital of Malwa. Here then we have a Vikrama and a Chandra Gupta 

 both kings of Malwa at the same time : two statements which can only be recon- 



