1855.] On the Epoch of the Gupta Dynasty, 385 



nothing : as I said before, the annual dates need not be contested, it 

 is the cycle to which they belong that continues to be the enigma. 

 "But here again the advocate for the modernization of the Guptas 

 seems to have committed himself, inasmuch as he is found assuming 

 Skanda Gupta's death to have taken place in 133 of the year of 

 his dynasty — while the original, from which he quotes, is given by 

 Prinsep as "in the year one hundred and thirty-three after the 

 decease of Skanda Gupta !* 



The fourthf item of data for the chronological table — the Erun 

 pillar record of 165 is merely as valuable as the third ! — Buddha 

 Gupta may, in that year of a particular epoch — have erected the 

 commemorative stone, but this in the absence of other evidence no 

 more supports Major Cunningham's position that 165 is equal to 

 A. D. 484, than any other given number would have done. 



I am glad to find that there is one pointj in which Major Cun- 



* I do not wish for a moment to conceal the fact that Prinsep's translation of 

 the passage in question is hardly satisfactory ; he himself distrusted it — and if 

 Major Cunningham had made any such observation, I should have concluded that 

 he had obtained a new and improved transcript and translation, but it is probable 

 that if he had done so he would possibly have discovered that the real date is 141 

 and not 133. 



t " 4th. The date of Buddha Gupta has been determined by the inscription at 

 Erun, which records the erection of a pillar in the year 165 or A. D. 484. An 

 inspection of the table will show how well this date agrees with the period which 

 must be assigned to Buddha Gupta on the authority of Hwan Thsang ; according 

 to whom Fo-thoJciu-to or Buddha Gupta was the fourth prince prior to Siladitya's 

 conquest of Magadha in A. D. 600. The coins of Buddha Gupta may be seen in 

 pi. ii. figs. 55 and 57, of Mr. Thomas's Essay on the Sah kings of Surastra, and I can 

 confirm the reading of the legend, which he gives with some hesitation as Buddha 

 Gupta — 1 procured five of these silver coins from a traveller at Benares, of which I 

 have given away four ; but I still possess sealing-wax impressions of them all, 

 from which I have been able to recognise the engraved specimens." — Bhilsa Topes, 

 p. 144. 



X ** 5th. The coins of Nara Gupta Bdladitya, are scarce. Of two specimens 

 in gold, that have been in my own possession, I have still impressions ; but 

 the type may be seen in fig. 22, pi. xviii. of Wilson's ' Ariana Antiqua.' On the 

 obverse under the Raja's arm is written Ndra and on the reverse Bdladitya. The 

 small silver coin fig. 19, pi. xv. of the same work, most probably also belongs to 

 Ndra. I read the legend : — 



