It is written in classical Sanskrit, using the Nagari script. This inscription is engraved on an Asokan pillar. It describes his personality and achievements. The most important source for the reign of Samudragupta is the Allahabad Pillar inscription. The first refers to the achievements of Chandragupta I. The Chinese traveler Fahien, who visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II, has left a valuable account of the social, economic and religious conditions of the Gupta empire.ДЄpart from these literary sources, there are inscriptions like the Meherauli Iron Pillar Inscription and the Allahabad Pillar inscription. Contemporary literary works like the Devichandraguptam and the Mudhrakshasam written by Visakadatta provide information regarding the rise of the Guptas. The Puranas throw light on the royal genealogy of the Gupta kings. They include literary, epigraphical and numismatic sources. There are plenty of source materials to reconstruct the history of the Gupta period. Manju-sri-Mulakalpa mentions that two different kings were crowned after the death of Budhagupta, one at Magadha and another at Gauda. Hiuen Tsang mentions that Budhagupta was succeded by Tathagatagupta who later succeeded by Baladitya II. Who succeeded Budhagupta (476-495 AD) on the Gupta throne is a matter of contention. The controversy relating to the date of the Guptas had gone on for well-nigh forty years, and many of the ablest Oriental scholars engaged themselves in this controversy. Alberuni wrote in the 11th century that the Gupta Era was posterior to the Saka Era by 241 years, or in other words, the Gupta Era begins with 319 AD.

Map of the gupta empire