The Allahabad Pillar inscription is associated with
Last updated May 30, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option A —
Samudragupta
The Allahabad Pillar Inscription (Prayag Prashasti): This is one of the most important epigraphic sources for classical Indian history. It was composed by Harishena, who was the court poet and minister (Sandhivigrahika) of the Gupta Emperor Samudragupta.
Content: Written in elegant Sanskrit (in the Champu style, combining prose and verse) using the Brahmi script, the inscription is a Prashasti (eulogy). It provides a detailed account of Samudragupta’s extensive military conquests, his statecraft, and his personality, earning him the title of the "Napoleon of India" by historian V.A. Smith.
The Pillar Itself: Interestingly, the inscription is carved on an Ashokan pillar. The pillar contains edicts of Ashoka, the Prashasti of Samudragupta, and later inscriptions by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, showcasing a unique continuity of Indian history on a single monument.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
