Description
The Allahabad Pillar Inscription, also known as the Prayaga Prashasti, is a 33-line Sanskrit eulogy carved on an Ashokan pillar at the Allahabad Fort in Uttar Pradesh. Composed by the court poet Harishena, it glorifies the achievements of the Gupta emperor Samudragupta.
Historical context
The inscription dates to the 4th century CE during the Gupta Empire, often called the “Golden Age” of India. It records Samudragupta’s military conquests across the Indian subcontinent, from the Himalayas to the southern tip, and his patronage of the arts and learning.
Content
The text details Samudragupta’s victories over 9 northern kings and 12 southern rulers, his performance of the Ashvamedha sacrifice, and his mastery of music and poetry. It provides a rare contemporary account of political geography and administrative structure of 4th-century India.
Modern status
The pillar stands in the Allahabad Fort (now a military area). The inscription has been extensively studied and is a cornerstone of Gupta historiography. It is published in the Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum and referenced in all major histories of ancient India.
Verification notes
The Sanskrit language and Gupta-Brahmi script are consistent with 4th-century epigraphy. The political events described align with other Gupta coins and inscriptions. The pillar itself is an Ashokan edict pillar reused by later rulers, a common practice in ancient India.
- Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).