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

of Punjab—not in his royal palace in the capital! If ever there was an ideal emperor, it was he! 279. If the Huns were hemmed in one small corner of the Indus and if India was saved from all the indignities, massacres and wanton destruction at their hands to which Europe had been subjected almost contemporaneously, all the credit must go to the armed strength of Skundgupta. Although he died before the Huns were completely annihilated, his exemplary valour brought forth another generation of warriors, much stronger than before, to take the field against these once war-intoxicated but now enfeebled Huns. 280. Hence, we bow down to the memory of Emperor Skundgupta, with as much reverence and pride and a sense of national gratitude as we might do to any other conqueror like Vikramaditya. After the Death of Skundgupta 281. Subsequent to the death of Skundgupta, the throne of Magadha was usurped by his rebel brother, Purgupta, whose lack of every sort of ability encouraged the Huns once again to push forward under their King, Khilkhil. In the reign of Torman, who succeeded Khikhil, Huns once again let loose the dogs of war and Kamboj, Gandhar, and Punjab suffered most from their horrible depredations and arson. The world-famous University of Taxila was razed to the ground. Thousands of its invaluable books only served to make bonfire for the Huns. 282. This is another instance that shows how even the national literature, civilization and culture are destroyed at the hands of foreign invaders, if they are not defended and supported by the nation’s mailed fist. 283. In the meanwhile, those Hunnish hordes that had so far overrun the kingdom of Persia, and in A.D. 484 put her King, Phiroz, to death, were now free to join the army of Torman in his work of reducing India to the same miserable state. With his army so suddenly augmented, Torman pushed ahead of Punjab into Malva and captured it round about 511A.D., along with its capital Ujjain. When tormans son, Mihirgula, who was braver and more atrocious than the father, succeeded to the Hunnish throne, strangely enough, he became a sincere devotee of the Vedic God, Rudra and held the cult of Buddha in the greatest spite. Mihirgula, the Devotee of the Vedic God 284. Strange as it may seem, the Huns were speedily attracted to the worship of the Vedic God Rudra at least from the time they entered the