Samudragupta was the 4th ruler of the Gupta Empire, and his reign was marked by expansion, that made him one of the most powerful rulers of that dynasty. Often depicted on coins as a muscular warrior flaunting his battle wounds, as well as playing the Veena.
When Samudragupta ascended the throne, he already had control over the vast Gangetic plains, thanks to his father Chandragupta Iās alliance with the Lichhavi princess Kumaradevi. Samudragupta expanded the empire beyond the Gangetic plains, making him one of the most powerful monarchs ever.
After defeating the neighboring Acchichatra kingdom, he turned his attention to the South and Deccan. He attacked the Pallava kingdom at Kanchipuram, and defeated the king Vishnugopa. He also defeated other rulers like the Kadambas, Western Gangas, Vakatakas. Inscriptions mention that he subdued 18 Atavika kingdoms around Bajalpur, Chota Nagpur, humbled 12 kings down South, defeated 9 border tribes and annexed the 5 frontier states of Smatata, Nepal,Devaka, Karupa and Kritipur. Rated as one of the most invincible warriors ever, he never lost a single battle.
However he followed a different policy of conquest in the North compared to the South. In the North, he followed the policy of Digvijaya, which meant conquest and annexation of all the territories. While in South, his policy was that of Dharma Vijaya, where he did not annex the kingdoms of the defeated rulers, but restored them on the condition that they acknowledge his sovereignity and pay taxes to him. He also defeated the Saka and Kushana rulers, making them accept his suzerainity. Apart from this the rulers of the frontier states of Kamrupa( Assam) , Bengal, Punjab accepted his suzerainity, makng him one of the most powerful rulers ever.
Another factor was the matrimonial alliance he had with the Vakataka ruler Rudra Sena II, it was a master stroke, as it gave him a strategic advantage, and enabled him to conquer Western Gujarat, that till then was under the Sakas. And keeping friendly relations with most of the kingdoms down South and in the Deccan, ensured he had a complete control over this region, after subjugating most of the Northern kingdoms.
Apart from being one of the greatest warriors ever in history, Samudragupta was also a great patron of art, architecture and music. He has been described in inscriptions as Kaviraja, or the Prince of Poets for his many poetical compositions. And he was an expert Veena player too, many coins show him playing the instrument. He was equally interested in philosophy and would often have discussions with learned scholars on tattva. He patronized the poet Harisena, who would later compose the Allahabad prahasti.
While a devout Hindu himself, he was equally tolerant of other religions. He allowed the Ceylonese king to build the Bodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, patronized the famous Buddhist scholar Vasubandhu, and himself studied the inner philosophy of Buddhism.