Who was the court poet of Samudragupta?

The correct answer is Harishen.

Key Points

• Harishena was the court poet of the Gupta Emperor, Samudragupta.
• Allahabad Pillar inscription is also known as Prayag Prashasti consists of 33 lines composed by Harishena. 
• Prayag Prashasti is one of the important epigraphic sources to know about the political history of the Gupta dynasty.
• Samudragupta was a patron of many poets and scholars, one of whom was Harishena.
• Samudragupta was the son and successor of Chandragupta I and was the greatest ruler of the Gupta dynasty.
• He conquered the Kushans and other small kingdoms and greatly expanded the Gupta empire.
• He had been termed as the Nepolean of India by V. A. Smith.
• He annexed the territories after defeating the monarchs of North India but did not annex south India.
• His authority over Java, Sumatra, and Malaya Island prove that he maintained a strong navy.
• He is said to have composed numerous poems.
• Some of his coins present him playing Veena. 
• He also performed Ashvamedha sacrifices.
• According to Chinese sources, Meghaverma, the ruler of Srilanka, sent a missionary to him for permission to build a Buddhist temple at Gaya.
• The Allahabad pillar inscription mentions the title Dharma Prachar Bandhu i.e. he was the upholder of Brahmanical religion.

Additional Information

• Banabhatta was the court poet of King Harsha Vardhana.
• Chand Bardai was the court poet of Prithviraj Chauhan.
• Bhavabhuti was the court poet of the King of Kannauj, Yashovarman.