Read the following paragraphs and answer the questions given at the end of them carefully.

This is a part of Prayag Prashasti.

He had no rival on earth. Endowed with many virtues and auspicious deeds, he has erased the fame of other kings with the sole of his feet. He is the Supreme Being, the cause of the prosperity of the Sadhu (good) and the destruction of the Asadhu (bad). He is unknowable. His soft heart can be tamed only by devotion and humility. He is full of compassion. He is the giver of several thousand cows. His mind has been initiated for the salvation of the downtrodden, the destitute and the afflicted. He is the embodiment of divine benevolence to humanity. He is equal to Kubera (wealth-god), Varuna (ocean-god), Indra (rain-god) and Yama (death-god) among the gods.

(i) Where is this passage taken from? Whose creation is this?

This part has been taken from the famous Prayag Prashasti by the name of Allahabad Pillar Inscription. It is the composition of Samudragupta’s court poet Harishena.

(ii) What is its original language?

Its original language is Sanskrit.

(iii) Who was Samudragupta? To which deities has he been compared?

Samudragupta was probably the most powerful Gupta emperor. He is compared to Kubera (the god of wealth), Varuna (the ocean god), Indra (the god of the rain), and Yama (the god of death).

(iv) Which qualities or achievements of Samudragupta have been mentioned by the author? Name any four.

According to Harishena –
(A) Samudragupta had no rivals on earth. He had erased the fame of other kings with the sole of his feet.
(B) He was the divine man – the reason for the prosperity of the sadhu (good) and the destruction of the Asadhu (bad).
(C) He was invincible.
(D) His soft mind could be tamed only by devotion and humility.

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