Who was Known as the Court Poet of Samudragupta?

Harisena was a great famous Sanskrit poet and panegyrist (a person who writes praises for a ruler). He worked in the court of Samudragupta, one of the most powerful kings of ancient India. Harisena wrote poems and inscriptions that praised the king's great achievements in war and politics.

Akansha Arora Last updated on April 8th, 2025 06:30 pm

In ancient India, many powerful kings ruled large empires and were known for their bravery, wisdom and love for art and learning. These kings often had talented poets in their courts who wrote poems and inscriptions to describe their victories and good qualities. One such famous ruler from the Gupta Empire had a well-known court poet who wrote about his life and achievements in a special way.

Court Poet of Samudragupta

Harisena was a great famous Sanskrit poet and panegyrist (a person who writes praises for a ruler). He worked in the court of Samudragupta, one of the most powerful kings of ancient India. Harisena wrote poems and inscriptions that praised the king’s great achievements in war and politics.

Famous Work of Harisena

Harisena’s most well-known work is the poem written around 345 C.E., which is inscribed on the Allahabad Pillar. This poem tells the story of Samudragupta’s bravery, victories and kindness. It is one of the most important records of Indian history and gives a lot of information about the Gupta Empire.

Harisena and Kavya Poetry

Harisena was one of the early writers of Kavya poetry, a special kind of poetry in Sanskrit that includes both prose and verse. His style of writing was later seen in the works of other famous writers like Subandhu and Bana.

Other Writings by Harisena

Many works are said to be written by Harisena (or poets with the same name). These include:

Apabramsa Dharmapariksa
Karpuraprakara
Jagatsundari-Yogamaladhikara
Astahnikatha
Brhatkathakosa

Harisena’s Role in the Royal Court

Besides being a poet, Harisena was also the chief minister in Samudragupta’s court. He helped in many important matters of the kingdom. He had a close friendship with the king and they both enjoyed playing the lute (a musical instrument) together.

Help in the Royal Marriage

Harisena also played a big part in arranging the marriage of Samudragupta with Dattadevi, who later became queen. This shows how important and trusted Harisena was in the king’s life.