Why do you think kings claimed divine status?
Kings claimed divine status as a means of claiming high status by identifying themselves with a variety of deities. The Kushanas exemplified this strategy by installing colossal statues of their rulers in shrines, suggesting they considered themselves godlike. They also adopted the title devaputra ("son of god"), possibly inspired by Chinese rulers who called themselves sons of heaven.
Furthermore, kings tried to project themselves as supermen to present at least a façade of power, especially when they were losing control. The Prayaga Prashasti describes Samudragupta as Purusha (the Supreme Being) and equal to gods like Kubera, Varuna, Indra, and Yama, demonstrating how divine claims enhanced royal prestige and authority.
Explanation
The textbook context provides two main reasons for kings claiming divine status: (1) as a strategy to claim high status by identifying with deities, exemplified by the Kushanas who used titles like devaputra and installed their statues in shrines; and (2) to project a façade of power when kings were losing control. The Prayaga Prashasti illustrates how kings were equated with gods in prashastis to enhance their prestige.