सुहोत्र की कथा

Narada said O Srinjaya, we heard also of the death of king Suhotra, who was the foremost of all heroes, invincible and interviewed by the gods themselves.

Having obtained his kingdom by virtue, he used to question his Ritvigas, family priests and Brahmanas about its welfare and then used to live up to their instructions.

Knowing virtue to be identified with the protection of his subjects, acts of charity and performance of sacrifices and the subjugation of foes, Suhotra desired the increase of his wealth,

He worshipped the gods according to the ordinances of the holy texts and conquered his foes by means of his arrows. He pleased all creatures with his own excellent acquirements.

During his time of rule, the earth was freed from the depredation of Mlecchas and the forest-thieves and the Parjanya showered gold throughout the whole year.

In those days of his the rivers ran liquid gold and were open to the use of everybody. Parjanya then poured on his kingdom large numbers of golden alligators, crabs and fishes of various classes and many other objects of desire; the artificial lakes of his dominions were full two miles long.

Then king Suhotra beholding thousands of dwarfs hunch-backs, alligators and sharks and tortoises, all made of gold, was greatly amazed.

That royal sage, having performed a sacrifice in Kurujangala, gave away that unlimited quantity of gold to the Brahmanas, even before the accomplishment of that sacrifice.

Having celebrated thousand horsesacrifices, a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices and, numerous other Kshatriya sacrifices, in all of a which he gave away vast wealth as sacrificial presents.

And also having accomplished numerous daily rites from specific wishes, that king ultimately attained to a very desirable end. O Srinjaya, when even such a king suffered death, who was superior to you in all the four virtues.

And so was superior to your son, you should not lament for your son saying 'O Shvaitya' who performed no sacrifice and gave away no sacrificial presents.