Question map
Which one of the following was composed by Harishena?
Explanation
Harishena was the court poet and a high-ranking official (Mahasandhivigrahika) of the Gupta Emperor Samudragupta. He composed the 'Prayaga Prashasti', also known as the Allahabad Pillar Inscription [1][2]. This 33-line Sanskrit inscription, engraved on an Ashokan pillar, provides a detailed account of Samudragupta's military conquests, his personality, and his ambition to unify the Earth (dharani-bandha) [1][3]. In contrast, the Nashik Inscription was issued by Gautami Balashri to record the achievements of her son, Gautamiputra Satakarni [3]. The Deopara Prashasti was composed by the poet Umapatidhara for the Sena King Vijayasena [4]. The Hathigumpha Inscription was inscribed by King Kharavela of Kalinga in Prakrit language. Thus, Harishena is specifically associated with the eulogy of Samudragupta at Prayagraj.
Sources
- [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > II. Epigraphical Sources > p. 89
- [2] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity > The warrior king > p. 149
- [3] https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/115670/3/Unit-14.pdf
- [4] https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/84170/3/Unit-5.pdf