# Bhanugupta > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bhanugupta > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bhanugupta.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhanugupta > Source revision: 1346691543 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Gupta prince Bhanugupta Male head, northern India, 5th-6th century CE. ? Gupta prince Reign c. 510 – c. ? CE Dynasty Gupta **Bhanugupta** was one of the lesser-known kings of the [Gupta dynasty](/source/Gupta_Empire). He is only known from an inscription in [Eran](/source/Eran), and a mention in the [Manjushri-mula-kalpa](/source/Manjushri-mula-kalpa). Only mentioned in the Eran inscription as a "Raja", not a "Maharaja" or a "Maharajadhiraja" as would be customary for a Gupta Empire ruler, Bhanugupta may only have been a Governor for the region of [Malwa](/source/Malwa), under Gupta Emperor [Narasimhagupta](/source/Narasimhagupta).[1] ## Eran inscription of Bhanugupta Bhanugupta is known from a stone pillar inscription in [Eran](/source/Eran), [Malwa](/source/Malwa). The inscription was translated by [John Faithfull Fleet](/source/John_Faithfull_Fleet) in 1888, and then a second time in 1981, leading to different interpretations. ### Initial translation (J.F Fleet 1888) According to the initial translation of the [Eran](/source/Eran) inscription (by [John Faithful Fleet](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Faithful_Fleet&action=edit&redlink=1) in 1888), Bhanugupta participated in a non-specific battle in 510 CE (Line 5).[2] Eran pillar inscription of [Goparaja](/source/Goparaja) Eran pillar of [Goparaja](/source/Goparaja) [Eran](/source/Eran) stone pillar inscription of Bhanugupta. Rubbing of the inscription. - (Line 1) Ôm! In a century of years, increased by ninety-one; on the seventh lunar day of the dark fortnight of (the month) Srâvana; (or in figures) the year 100 (and) 90 (and) 1; (the month) Srâvana; the dark fortnight; the day 7: — - (Line 2)—(There was) a king, renowned under the name of . . . . râja, sprung from the . . laksha (?) lineage; and his son (was) that very valorous king (who was known) by the name (of) Mâdhava. - (Line 3)— His son was the illustrious [Gôparâja](/source/Goparaja), renowned for manliness; the daughter's son of the Sarabha king; who is (even) now (?) the ornament of (his) lineage. - (Line 5) — (There is) the glorious Bhanugupta, the bravest man on the earth, a mighty king, equal to [Pârtha](/source/Arjuna), exceedingly heroic; and, along with him, [Gôparâja](/source/Goparaja) followed . . . . . . . . . . (his) friends (and came) here. [And] having fought a very famous battle, he, [who was but little short of being equal to] the celestial [king (Indra)], (died and) went to heaven; and (his) devoted, attached, beloved, and beauteous wife, in close companionship, accompanied (him) onto the funeral pyre. — [Eran inscription](/source/Eran) of Bhanugupta, 510 CE.[3] This translation was the basis for various conjectures about a possible encounter with [Toramana](/source/Toramana), the [Alchon Huns](/source/Alchon_Huns) ruler. It has been suggested that Bhanugupta was involved in an important battle of his time, and suffered important losses, possibly against the Hun invader [Toramana](/source/Toramana), whom he may or may not have defeated in 510.[4][5] Mookerji actually considers, in view of the inscription, that Bhanugupta was vanquished by Toramana at the 510 CE Eran battle, so that the western Gupta province of [Malwa](/source/Malwa) fell into the hands of the Hunas at that point.[1] Toramana would then have made his [Eran](/source/Eran) boar inscription, claiming control of the region.[1] ### New translation (1981) A new revised translation was published in 1981.[6] Verses 3-4 are markedly differently translated, in that ruler Bhanugupta and his chieftain or noble [Goparaja](/source/Goparaja) are said to have participated in a battle against the "Maittras" in 510 CE, thought to be the [Maitrakas](/source/Maitraka) (the reading being without full certainty, but "as good as certain" according to the authors).[6] This would eliminate the suggestion that Bhanugupta alluded to a battle with [Toramana](/source/Toramana) in his inscription. The [Maitrakas](/source/Maitraka) ruled in the areas of [Gujarat](/source/Gujarat) and Western India. According to the 1981 translation, they may have been the adversaries of Gupta ruler Bhanugupta.[6] - (Lines 1-2) Ōm ! When a century of years, increased by ninety-one, (had elapsed) on the seventh lunar day of the dark fortnight of (the month) [Śrāvaṇa](/source/%C5%9Ar%C4%81va%E1%B9%87a), (or in figures) the year 100 (and) 90 (and) 1 (the month) Śrāvaṇa the dark fortnight; the (lunar) day 7;- - (Verse 1) (there was) a ruler, renowned as . . . . [rāja](/source/R%C4%81ja) sprung from the Śulakkha lineage; and his son (was) valorous by the name (of) Mādhava. - (Verse 2) His son was the illustrious [Goparaja](/source/Goparaja), renowned for manliness; the daughter’s son of the Sarabha king;1 who became the ornament of (his) family. - (Verses 3-4) (There is) the glorious Bhanugupta, a distinguished hero on earth, a mighty ruler, brave being equal to [Pârtha](/source/Arjuna). And along with him Goparaja, following (him) without fear, having overtaken the [Maittras](/source/Maitraka) and having fought a very big and famous battle, went to heaven, becoming equal to [Indra](/source/Indra), the best of the gods; and (his) devoted, attached, beloved, and beauteous wife, clinging (to him), entered into the mass of fire (funeral pyre). — [Eran inscription](/source/Eran) of Bhanugupta, 510 CE.[6] Bhanugupta in the inscription is only mentioned as a "Raja" and not a "Maharaja" or a "Maharajadhiraja" as would be customary for a Gupta Empire ruler. Therefore he may only have been a Governor for the region of [Malwa](/source/Malwa), under Gupta Emperor [Narasimhagupta](/source/Narasimhagupta).[1] ## Manjushri-mula-kalpa According to a 6th century CE Buddhist work, the [Manjushri-mula-kalpa](/source/Manjushri-mula-kalpa), "after the death of [Budhagupta](/source/Budhagupta), two kings in the Gupta line were crowned, one in [Gauda](/source/Gauda_Kingdom) and the other in [Magadha](/source/Magadha_(Mahajanapada))", the latter being probably [Narasimhagupta](/source/Narasimhagupta). According to this work, after Bhanu Gupta had lost Malwa, [Toramana](/source/Toramana) continued his conquest to [Magadha](/source/Magadha_(Mahajanapada)), forcing Narasimhagupta Baladitya to make a retreat to [Bengal](/source/Bengal). Toramana is said to have crowned a new king in [Benares](/source/Benares), named [Prakataditya](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prakataditya&action=edit&redlink=1), who is presented as a son of Narasimha Gupta.[7][1] Toramana then died in [Benares](/source/Benares) as he was returning westward.[1] ## References Gupta Empire 320–550 Gupta (c. 240 – c. 280) Ghatotkacha (c. 280–319) Chandragupta I with Kumaradevi (c. 319–335) Kacha (c. 335) Samudragupta (c. 335–375) (Ramagupta) (c. 375) Chandragupta II (380–415) Kumaragupta I (415–455) Skandagupta (455–467) Purugupta (467–473) Kumaragupta II (473–476) Budhagupta (476–495) Narasimhagupta (495–530) (Bhanugupta) (c. 510) Vainyagupta (c. 507) Kumaragupta III (c. 530 – c. 540) Vishnugupta (540–550) v t e 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Mookerji_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Mookerji_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Mookerji_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Mookerji_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Mookerji_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Mookerji_1-5) The Gupta Empire, Radhakumud Mookerji, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1959 [p.120](https://books.google.com/books?id=uYXDB2gIYbwC&pg=PA120) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Fleet (1888)](#CITEREFFleet1888), p. 93 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFleet188893_3-0)** [Fleet 1888](#CITEREFFleet1888), p. 93. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Ancient Indian History and Civilization by Sailendra Nath Sen p.220 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Encyclopaedia of Indian Events & Dates by S. B. Bhattacherje p.A15 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CII_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CII_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CII_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-CII_6-3) Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol.3 (inscriptions Of The Early Gupta Kings) [Main text p.352sq](https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.108395) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Early history of Jammu region, Raj Kumar, Gyan Publishing House, 2010 [p.538](https://books.google.com/books?id=pSKNeJsH7QgC&pg=PA538) ## Sources - [Fleet, J. F.](/source/John_Faithfull_Fleet) (1888). *Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum*. Vol. 3. Calcutta: Government of India, Central Publications Branch. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bhanugupta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhanugupta) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhanugupta?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.