Markandeyapurana 81.4

81.4

tasya pālayataḥ samyak prajāḥ putrānivaurasān /
babhūvuḥ śatravo bhūpāḥ kolāvidhvaṃsinastathā //

In times ago in the Svārociṣa period, a king named Suratha, sprung of the race of Caitra, reigned oyer the whole earth. And while he guarded his subjects duly as if they were his own children, there arose hostile kings, who did not destroy the Kolas.[2] He the bearer of a very powerful sceptre had war with them, and was defeated in war by them, inferior though they were, those non-destroyers of the Kolas. Then coming to his own city he reigned as king over his own country. That illustrious king was attacked then by those powerful enemies. His powerful and corrupt ministers, who were evil-disposed to a weak person, thereupon robbed him of treasury and army even there in his own city. Hence the king deprived of his sovereignty departed alone on horse-back to a dense forest under the pretence of hunting. There he saw the hermitage of the noble dvija Medhas, inhabited by wild animals which were peaceful, graced by the muni’s disciples; and he dwelt there some time, honoured by the muni. And roaming hither and thither in that fine hermitage of the muni, he fell into thought there then, his mind being distraught by selfishness, egotistical —“Lost indeed is the city which I guarded formerly. Whether it is guarded righteously or not by those my servants of wicked conduct, I know not. My chief war-elephant, always ardent, has passed into the power of my foes; what pleasures will he obtain? They who were my constant followers now assuredly pay court to other kings with favour, riches and food. The treasure which I amassed with great difficulty will go to waste through those men, addicted to unbecoming expenditure, who are squandering it continually.” These and other matters the king thought of continually.