Suratha of Kuṇḍala
Suratha, king of the city of Kuṇḍala, is one of the best known devotees of Rāma in the Pātāla Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa. His whole kingdom lived in the thought of Rāma. Every citizen followed dharma and worshipped Rāma every day, and not even the messengers of Yama could enter the city. When the Aśvamedha horse came near his city, Suratha seized it. He did this out of pure love and a longing to see the face of Rāma, not out of pride. His act brought Rāma Himself to Kuṇḍala, and so Suratha’s deepest wish came true.
This Suratha is a different person from the Suratha of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, who became Sāvarṇi Manu.
The city of Kuṇḍala
Kuṇḍala was named for the ear-rings (kuṇḍala) that fell from the ears of Aditi when she trembled with joy and fear at an auspicious moment. The city was known for its remarkable way of life under dharma:
- Not one man broke the laws of dharma.
- Every citizen remembered Rāma each day.
- Men and women worshipped Aśvattha trees and Tulasī plants.
- Pure-hearted citizens, free from deceit, worshipped the mūrtis of Rāma in the temples.
- In every house the name of Rāma was spoken. There was no quarrel, no thought of adultery, and no gambling.
- All who died in Kuṇḍala reached bliss.
- The messengers of Yama had no way into the city.
(Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 49)
Suratha’s character
Suratha is described as “one whose mind is delighted by recollecting Rāma’s feet, and is very mad (after Rāma)”. Śesha asks: “How shall I describe the excellent servant of Rāma, viz. Suratha, whose all virtues spread on the earth purify pāpa (sins)?” The servants of his court recited only the stories of Rāma. He kept men who had taken the vow of having one wife only, men who did not crave the wealth of others, who did not delight in blaming others, and who followed the path of the Veda. He kept all wicked men and men of pāpa (sin) out of his country. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 49)
The seizure of the horse
Suratha’s servants told him that the yajña horse of Rāma had come near his city. He was filled with joy. He called his strong heroes and said:
“We are blessed that with our servants we shall see the face of Rāma. I shall seize his horse surrounded by a crore of warriors. I shall release the horse when Rāma would come. The object of me, the devotee, always engaged in meditating on Rāma, will be fulfilled. He, one’s relative, son, kinsman, animal, or vehicle, alone is blessed, by whom Rāma would be obtained. Therefore seize the sacrificial horse and keep it in the stable.”
His reason was wholly devotion. He set up the obstacle on purpose so that Rāma would come and he would have darśana (sight) of Him. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 49)
Yama’s visit in disguise
Yama could not take any life from the righteous city of Kuṇḍala. So he came himself, disguised as an ascetic muni. He wore bark garments and matted hair, had a Tulasī leaf on his head, and spoke the great name of Hari. Suratha worshipped this “muni” with great devotion and asked him to tell the stories of Rāma. Yama was struck by the unmatched purity and devotion of the king. He laughed in wonder and showed who he was, and he spoke of his amusement at the state of Kuṇḍala. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapters 49–50)
The battle and the fulfilment
A battle followed when the army of Śatrughna came to take back the horse. In the battle Pushkala was captured. In the end Rāma Himself came to Kuṇḍala, just as Suratha had planned. The moment Suratha saw Rāma, his deepest wish was fulfilled. He bowed to the ground before Rāma and laid his kingdom at His feet. He released the horse, and he received the darśana and the blessings of Rāma. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapters 52–53)
Sources
- Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapters 49–53