Samudragupta was a great ruler, general, diplomat and a personality having multifaceted talents and pragmatic outlook. His court poet Harisena has described the valour and conquests of his patron, Samudragupta, in the Prayag Prashasti. His victorious campaigns can be described as follows:

Aryavrata conquest – Samudragupta initially carried out military campaign in Aryavrata or the Ganga-Yamuna plains which was completed in two stages. He defeated nine kings : Rudradeva, Matil, Nagadutta, Chandravarman, Ganapati, Naga, Nagasena, Achyut, Nandi and Balvarma and annexed their territories to his kingdom

South Conquest – Samudragupta defeated 12 kingdoms in the south-Kosala, Mahakantar, Korala, Kottur, Pishtapur, Aronpalli, Kanchi, Avamukta, Vengi, Pallak, Devarashtra, Kusthalpur etc. but later freed them under the treaty of sovereignty over enemy territory and Moksha (freeing the enemy). He knew that direct rule over such distant lands was difficult.

Central India and the Frontier reigons, conquest – He defeated the Attvikas of central India and made them his vassals. The frontier regions of Monarchic and republican kingdoms also accepted his sovereignty out of fear. These included Samtat Dabak, Kamrupa, Nepal, Kartapur and nine republics of Western India.

Friendly relations with foreign rulers – Foreign rulers Devaputra, Shahi Shahanushashi, Shaka Murund, and singla etc. pleaded for friendly relations with Samudra gupta out of fear. He adopted the policy of ‘Aatma Nivedan’, ‘Kanyapayan’, ‘Gurutmandakit ‘Swavishay’, ‘Bhukti’ and ‘Shaasan Yachana’ with them.

In this way Samudragupta conquered a large part of India and united it under one rule. He was feared in far bigger regions which was a symbol of his pragmatism. Hence Smith called him the ‘Napolean of India’ due to his valour and war skills.