Which of the following inscriptions of Samudragupta describes him as 'Param Bhagavat'?

Correct answer: (a) Allahabad Pillar Inscription

Explanation

The expected answer is the Allahabad Pillar Inscription (Prayag Prashasti), Samudragupta's chief record. His court poet Harishena composed it in Sanskrit. It lists his conquests, praises him as a poet (Kaviraja) and a musician, and calls him Lichchhavi-dauhitra (daughter's son of the Lichchhavis).

Samudragupta was a devotee of Vishnu. The title Parama Bhagavata (supreme devotee of Vishnu) appears for him in the Gaya and Nalanda copper plates, which some scholars think are later copies. Later Gupta kings, above all Chandragupta II, also used it.

• The Eran inscription is also Samudragupta's, but only a fragment survives.
• The Bhitari pillar inscription belongs to Skandagupta.
• The Mehrauli iron pillar inscription is of a king named Chandra, usually taken to be Chandragupta II.

The title 'Parama Bhagavata' appears for Samudragupta mainly in the Gaya and Nalanda copper plates, which are not among the options. The book's key is (a), his best-known inscription.