भारतीय इतिहास के ६ स्वर्णिम पृष्ठ (वीर सावरकर - विदेशी आक्रान्ताओं पर विजय गाथा)

ribbon like piece of land from the north-Konkan, which had formerly been in the hands of the Sakas. Now after the death of Kanishka, the two or three Saka kingdoms that formed part of this Kushan empire threw away the Kushan sovereignty and once again became independent. During the century-old Saka-Kushan aggressive wars, the Satavahanas had maintained the independence of their entire Southern India unimpaired and now the north-Indian states also, who had so far accepted the nominal overlordship of Kanishka, renounced it and regained their independence. In this very confusion, the principality of Pataliputra in the eastern part of India also became independent. Once Again rose the Sunken Sun of Pataliputra 249. Pataliputra has been called a small principality in the previous lines. Our readers might feel that it is a slip of our pen. But it is not so. For during the deluge of the Saka-Kushan aggressions at the beginning of the Christian era, the throne of Pataliputra, which was adorned by the celebrated Emperors like Chandragupta, Ashoka, Pushyamitra and others, and from which were guided for centuries together the destinies of the all-India empire from the Himalayas to the southern seas, was lost all of a sudden, just as the setting sun vanishes while we are still looking on and know not when it has set. During the century-and-a-half of incessant Indian war with the Saka-Kushans that followed, the separate existence of Pataliputra or Magadha was never felt. Some non-entity of king from somewhere ruled and lived within the four walls of Pataliputra. 250. But about the year 300 A.D. was established on this very principality of Pataliputra, the rule of Lichchavi Republic, which was known in Magadha from the times of Lord Buddha. 251. The daughter of the chief of this Lichchavi Republic, Kumardevi, was wooed and married by a promising youth, son of a feudal chief named Chandragupta in 308 A.D., With the strong support of the same Lichchavi Republic, he established his sway over the surrounding territory and in 320 A.D. he founded an independent kingdom in Pataliputra. Let not this Chandragupta be confused with the famous Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, because of their similar names. Emperor Chandragputa belonged to the Maurya dynasty, while this promising Chandragupta was born in the Gupta family. His achievements, however, were as brilliant as would have befitted the glorious dynasty of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. During his short