In this Pancharatna volume, we have included Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya dynasty, and Ashoka, his grandson, who at the zenith of his conquests saw the futility of violence and had the courage to renounce it. Of Ashoka, H. G. Wells writes in his book, 'Short History of the World,' 'Such was Ashoka, the greatest of Kings. He was far in advance of his age.' The Gupta age is considered to be the golden age of India. To Samudra Gupta goes the credit of spreading the Gupta empire. The Fourth book in this volume is on the life of Emperor Harsha, who is remembered till this day as a great ruler, not only because he was a brave military leader, but also because he was a man of noble impulses. This is based on Harshacharita by Banabatta and the account given by the Chinese traveler, Hiuen-Tsang. The fifth book is on the life of Krishnadeva Raya, the greatest emperor of Vijayanagara. Domingo's Paes, the Portuguese traveler, described the capital city as 'the best provided city in the world'. Of Krishnadeva Raya, he wrote, 'He is the most perfect king that would be, cheerful of disposition and very merry.' **