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 Thus, they were the first to fall in his conquests, which extended [[Gupta Empire|Gupta rule]] far beyond [[Prayagraj|Prayaga]] and [[Ayodhya|Saketa]], reaching the areas around [[Mathura]] and [[Gwalior|Padmavati]]. It is also cleverly suggested that this battle against the rebellious princes took place at Kausambi, where Samudragupta used the [[Ashoka|Ashoka pillar]] as a symbol of his victory.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uYXDB2gIYbwC|title=The Gupta Empire|last=Mookerji|first=Radhakumud|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0089-2|pages=20|language=en}}</ref>
+== South Indian Campaign ==
+After establishing his power in the surrounding areas, [[Samudragupta]] launched his South Indian Campaign. The campaign had three features, namely capture of the enemy, liberating them, and reinstalling them back.<ref name=":2" />
+=== Route of the Campaign ===
+Samudragupta's military campaign in the South primarily focused on the eastern [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] region along the [[Bay of Bengal|Bay of Bengal's]] coast. He began by moving through the forest areas of [[Madhya Pradesh]] and proceeded to the [[Odisha|Orissa]] coast. From there, he advanced through the regions of [[Ganjam district|Ganjam]], Vizagapatam, [[Godavari River|Godavari]], [[Krishna River|Krishna]], and [[Nellore]], eventually reaching Kanchi (modern-day [[Kanchipuram]]) south of present-day [[Chennai]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fWVZWjNAcAgC|title=A Political History of the Imperial Guptas: From Gupta to Skandagupta|last=Sharma|first=Tej Ram|date=1989|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-251-4|pages=80–81|language=en}}</ref>
+There is a theory by Fleet and some scholars suggesting that during his return journey, Samudragupta also conquered kingdoms on the western coast of India. However, evidence from historical inscriptions challenges this view. For example, the inscription mentions Kaurala, identified as Keralaputra (linked to the Chera kingdom of [[South India|Southern India]]), and Kottura, identified with a place in [[Coimbatore]]. Palakka is equated with Palaghat on the Malabar coast, while Erandapalla is linked to Erandol in the Khandesh district, and Devarashtra is associated with [[Maharashtra]]. The sequence of conquests listed in the inscription, however, indicates that Samudragupta's campaign moved steadily southward. The names of regions like Erandapalla and Devarashtra would logically appear after southernmost areas like Vengi and Kanchi if they were actually part of his campaign. Thus, it seems unlikely that he would have turned back to the south after conquering western regions. Instead, the evidence supports the idea that his southern expedition ended at Kanchi, without extending further into western territories like Maharashtra.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uYXDB2gIYbwC|title=The Gupta Empire|last=Mookerji|first=Radhakumud|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0089-2|pages=22–23|language=en}}</ref>
+==== Mahendra of Kosala ====
+The route of Samudragupta’s [[South India|southern]] campaign can be traced based on the sequence of events recorded in his inscriptions. Leaving the Jumna Valley, he likely advanced through the present-day regions of [[Rewa district|Rewa]] and [[Jabalpur]], reaching his first target: the kingdom of Kosala. This kingdom, known as Southern Kosala, had its capital at Sripura (modern-day Sirpur in Central Province). It encompassed the eastern and southern areas of the Central Province, covering the modern districts of Bilaspur, [[Raipur]], Sambalpur, and parts of [[Ganjam district|Ganjam]]. The ruler of Kosala at the time was King Mahendra.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uYXDB2gIYbwC|title=The Gupta Empire|last=Mookerji|first=Radhakumud|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0089-2|pages=20–21|language=en}}</ref>
+==== Vyagharaja of Mahakantara ====
+Samudragupta then entered the dense [[Vindhyas|Vindhyan]] wilderness of eastern [[Gondwana Rainforests|Gondwana]], known as Mahakantara. Its ruler, Vyaghraja—aptly called the "Tiger of the Forest"—was a notable leader and a feudatory of the Vakatakas. Vyaghraja had a son, Jayanatha of the Uchchakalpa dynasty, who is recorded in the year 174 of the Kalachuri era, indicating he was a contemporary of Chandragupta II, and thus, Vyaghraja was a contemporary of Samudragupta. The region’s likely capital was Sambalpur on the Mahanadi River.<ref name="The Gupta Empire - Radhakumud Mookerji - Google Books">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uYXDB2gIYbwC|title=The Gupta Empire|last=Mookerji|first=Radhakumud|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0089-2|pages=21|language=en}}</ref>
+==== Mantraja of Kurala ====
+J.F. Fleet initially suggested that "Kaurālaka," mentioned in Samudragupta’s inscriptions, could be a mistake for "Kairalaka," referring to [[Kerala]] on India’s western coast, possibly due to the unfamiliarity of the name. Others offered varying theories: L.D. Barnet associated it with Korada, while S.K. Aiyangar proposed a location near present-day Khurda in Odisha's [[Cuttack]] district. Kielhorn, while studying the Aihole inscription of Pulakesin II, suggested that "Kaurala" (or "Kunala") was likely near the Kollar Lake region between the [[Godavari River|Godavari]] and [[Krishna]] rivers, a view later accepted by Jayaswal. However, H.C. Raychaudhuri argued that this region would have fallen within the boundaries of Vengi, ruled by Hastivarman. R. Sathianathier proposed an alternative identification with Cherla in [[Nagpur]] Taluk of the East Godavari district, but this area, too, was likely within Hastivarman’s territory. G. Ramdas speculated it to be the plains northeast of the Mahendra Hills, aligning with the sequence in Samudragupta’s inscription. B.V. Krishnarao suggested "Kaurala" might refer to "Kulula," as mentioned in the Mahendragiri pillar inscription of [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] king [[Rajendra Chola I]], situated south of the Maikal range in [[Madhya Pradesh]]’s Chanda district. However, this location was considered too far north. A recent discovery offers a promising solution: a copper plate grant of Maharaja Narendra from the Sarbhapuriya dynasty of South Kosala references a region called "Mantrarajabhukti," likely named after a ruler called Mantraraja, who may correspond to the "Mantraraja" in Samudragupta’s inscriptions. This evidence suggests that the kingdom of "Kurala" was near South Kosala, clarifying its probable location.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_q1AAAAIAAJ|title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas|last=Agrawal|first=Ashvini|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0592-7|pages=107–108|language=en}}</ref>
+==== Mahendragiri of Pishtpura ====
+There has been some debate over the correct name of the ruler of Pishtapura. J.F. Fleet argued that a name ending in "giri" was unlikely to be a king’s name, as such endings were commonly associated with the Dasanami Gosains, a sect of recluses. Fleet therefore interpreted the ruler's name as simply "Mahendra," with "giri" linked to the following place name, "Kottura," translating it to mean "Kottura on the hill." However, D.R. Bhandarkar countered that this interpretation was grammatically flawed. V.S. Ramachandramurti further noted that several rulers in the [[Telugu]] region indeed had names ending in "giri" or its equivalent, "adri," validating "Mahendragiri" as a plausible royal name. Pishtapura, identified as present-day Pithapuram, lies 12 miles from Kakinada in [[Andhra Pradesh]]’s East [[Godavari River|Godavari district]]. This inscription provides the earliest recorded mention of Pishtapura, described in the Ragolu plates of King Vasishthiputra Shaktivarman as a city within the [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]] territory. It is also referenced in inscriptions of King Anantavarman of Kalinga. In the early 7th century, shortly before 634–635 CE, the Chalukya ruler Pulakesin II conquered Pishtapura and incorporated it into his kingdom.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_q1AAAAIAAJ|title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas|last=Agrawal|first=Ashvini|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0592-7|pages=108–109|language=en}}</ref>
+==== Svamidatta of Kottura ====
+After conquering Pishtapura, [[Samudragupta]] turned his attention to Kottura, ruled by King Svamidatta. Kottura is identified as either modern Kothoor in the [[Ganjam district|Ganjam]] district or as a location at the base of the hills in the Vizagapatam<ref>{{Cite news|title=District Gazetteer .1, 137}}</ref> (now [[Visakhapatnam]]) district.<ref name="The Gupta Empire - Radhakumud Mookerji - Google Books" />
+==== Damana of Erandapalla ====
+The location of Erandapalla is essential to defining the southern reach of Samudragupta’s campaign. J.F. Fleet identified it with Erandol in East [[Khandesh]], [[Maharashtra]], supported by Gupta-era remains found there. However, Dubreuil disagreed, proposing Erandapali near Srikakulam (Chicacole) based on references in the Siddhantam plates issued by Ganga king Devendravarman, which mention a place named Erandapalli. G. Ramdas offered a different perspective, suggesting either Yendipalli in Golgonda Taluk, [[Visakhapatnam]] district, or Endipalli in Ellora Taluka, West [[Godavari River|Godavari]] district. He argued that Erandapalli’s kingdom likely spanned from the northern boundary of Golgonda Taluk down to Ellore. An "Eradavishaya" appears in the Nagadam plates of Ganga king Vajrahasta (dated to Saka year 979), though it is spelled with a dental "d" rather than the cerebral "d" seen in the Allahabad Pillar inscription. Jayaswal also placed Erandapalli in [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]], near Kalinganagara (Mukhalingam) in [[Ganjam district|Ganjam]] district, suggesting it was under Svamidatta of Pishtapura, with Damana of Erandapalli serving as a local ruler. Ramdas’s view, proposing Erandapalli’s kingdom stretched from northern Golgonda to Ellore, is widely regarded as the most plausible identification.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_q1AAAAIAAJ|title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas|last=Agrawal|first=Ashvini|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0592-7|pages=109–110|language=en}}</ref>
+==== Vishnugopa of Kanchi ====
+We have some information about Vishnugopa, a member of the well-known [[Pallava dynasty]] in the [[South India|south]]. He was the younger brother of Simhavarman (c. 332–344 CE) and the son of Skandavarman II (c. 297–332 CE). During his brother’s reign, Vishnugopa held the title of *Yuvamaharaja* (crown prince) and issued a grant under the name Vishnugopavarman. Later, he served as regent for his nephew, Skandavarman III, suggesting that [[Samudragupta|Samudragupta's]] invasion may have occurred during this period. The Pallavas’ capital was Kanchi, present-day [[Kanchipuram]] in [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_q1AAAAIAAJ|title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas|last=Agrawal|first=Ashvini|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0592-7|pages=110|language=en}}</ref>
+==== Nilaraja of Avamukta ====
+The identity of Avamukta is not very clear. Historian H. C. Raychaudhuri thought that an old sea-port named Nilapalli, near [[Yanam]] in the Godavari district, might be linked to a king named Nīlarāja. He also mentioned a temple called Avamukteśa in the [[Anantapur district|Anantapur]] district of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. However, the name Avimukteśa is another name for the [[Hindu gods|Hindu god]] [[Shiva]], and the term Avimuktakshetra usually refers to the area around [[Varanasi]]. Another historian, Jayaswal, pointed out two places called Ava and Pithunda mentioned in the Hathigumpha inscription of King Kharavela. He suggested that Pithunda might be the same as Pitundra, a place on the eastern coast mentioned by the ancient Greek geographer [[Ptolemy]]. B. V. Krishnarao had a different idea. He suggested that Ava could be the same as a place called Arvarnoi, also mentioned by Ptolemy. He thought this place might refer to Hiranya-rashtra, which is in the Kuddapah and [[Kurnool district|Kurnool]] districts of Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC|title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas|last=Agrawal|first=Ashvini|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0592-7|pages=110|language=en}}</ref>
+==== Hastivarman of Vengi ====
+Vengi has been identified as the area around Peddavegi in the Krishna district of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. The kingdom of Vengi covered the [[Coast|coastal]] region between the [[Godavari River|Godavari]] and [[Krishna River|Krishna]] rivers and stretched west to the Ghats mountains. It was a central part of Andhra Pradesh and a major crossroads where roads from different regions like [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]], Draviḍa, Karṇāṭa, [[Maharashtra|Mahārāṣṭra]], and Kośala met. Vengi played an important role in spreading Indian culture to the islands of the [[Pacific Ocean]]. Hastivarmā, a king of Veṅgi, was part of the Śālaṅkāyana dynasty (also known as Vāṅgēyakās) and is known for his many victories. The Śālaṅkāyana dynasty ruled Vengi for three generations before the region briefly came under the control of the [[Pallava dynasty|Pallavas]]. Later, it was taken over by the Vishnukundins.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC|title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas|last=Agrawal|first=Ashvini|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0592-7|pages=110–111|language=en}}</ref>
+==== Ugrasena of Palakka ====
+Ugrasena of Palakka was initially thought by [[historian]] Vincent Smith to be connected with [[Palakkad district|Palakkadu]], an area in the Palghat division of South Malabar. However, he later changed his mind and agreed with V. Venkayya that Palakka should actually be located in the [[Nellore]] district of Andhra Pradesh. Another historian, Hultzsch, did not agree with identifying it with Policut. G. Ramdas mentioned a region called Pakanadu or Panganadu in the inscriptions of the [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] king, [[Rajaraja Chola I|Rajaraja Chola]]. He suggested that it could be the same as Pakkai, an area between Udaygiri and Venkatagiri in the Nellore district. J. Dubreuil believed it was the same place as Palakkada, mentioned in several [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]] inscriptions. For example, the Uruvapalli grant of Yuvamaharaja Vishnugopavarman was issued from Palakkada, which might have been an important center for Pallava rulers. This place seems to have existed during the time of the [[Gupta Empire|Gupta]] king Samudragupta and was governed by a Pallava prince named Ugravamra.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC|title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas|last=Agrawal|first=Ashvini|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0592-7|pages=111|language=en}}</ref>
+==== Kubera of Devarashtra ====
+The historian Fleet initially identified Devarashtra as a region in [[Maharashtra]]. However, Dubreuil disagreed and located it in the Yellamanchili Taluk of the [[Visakhapatnam|Vishakhapatnam]] district in Andhra Pradesh. Dubreuil based this on mentions of Devarashtra as a "Vishaya" (district) in the Elamanchi Kalingadesha, as seen in the Kasimkot plates of [[Chalukyas of Badami|Chalukya]] king Bhima I. This is further supported by the Srungavarapukota plates of Anantavarman, which were issued from Pishtapura. In these plates, Anantavarman's grandfather, Gunavarman, is referred to as the ruler of Devarashtra. G. Ramdas opposed this idea, arguing that the Vishakhapatnam area should be part of the Pishtapura kingdom. He pointed out that it is unlikely for an independent state to exist within another independent kingdom. However, it seems these small southern kingdoms were quite small, some even smaller than a modern district. The coastal area between the mouths of the Mahanadi and [[Godavari River|Godavari rivers]] was divided into three small kingdoms: Kotura, ruled by Svimidatta in the [[Ganjam district]]; Devarashtra of Kubera in the Vishakhapatnam district; and Pishtapura, near Mahendragiri in the East [[Godavari River|Godavari]] district. Y. R. Gupte presented new evidence linking Devarashtra to Maharashtra. He noted that there is still a village called Devarashtra in the Khanpur Taluk of the Satara district, where the main temple, a Shiva lingam, is named Samudresvara. Gupte believed this preserved the memory of the Gupta emperor Samudragupta. However, most evidence supports the identification of Devarashtra on the eastern coast of India.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC|title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas|last=Agrawal|first=Ashvini|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0592-7|pages=111–112|language=en}}</ref>
+==== Dhananjaya of Kusthalapura ====
+V.A. Smith believed that Kushtalapura was another name for Kusasthalapura, which is one of the holy cities connected to [[Dwarka|Dwaraka]]. However, based on the identifications of Erandapalli and Devarashtra mentioned earlier, it is clear that Samudragupta’s military campaign was limited to eastern [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]], and he did not reach as far west as Saurashtra. Barnet thinks that Kuttalur, located near Polur in the North Arcot district of [[Andhra Pradesh]], is the ancient kingdom of Kushtalapura. On the other hand, B.V. Krishnarao suggests that the present-day town of Kolorupak or Kollipak on the Aleru river, a tributary of the [[Musi River (India)|Musi River]] that flows into the [[Krishna River]], is actually the ancient Kushtalapura. According to him, Kushtalapura is another name for Kusasthalapura, which means "the place of Kusa" (a figure in [[Hinduism|Hindu mythology]]). B.V. Krishnarao also says that the leaders of the Kot region (also known as ancient Dhanyakataka) trace their ancestry to a king named Dhananjaya, who was possibly defeated by Samudragupta. This king's territory was in western Andhra, between the [[Godavari River]] to the north and the Krishna River to the south.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC|title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas|last=Agrawal|first=Ashvini|date=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0592-7|pages=112|language=en}}</ref>