Mata Durga and Her Boon to Surath and Samadhi

 

In ancient times, during the Swarochisha Manvantara, there lived a highly religious king named Surath. He was extremely generous and took care of his subjects as if they were his own children. Unfortunately, his ministers conspired with his enemies, and the enemies defeated him and took over his kingdom. Feeling dejected, King Surath retreated to the forest. One day, tormented by hunger and thirst, he arrived at the hermitage of the great sage Sumedha. When the sage asked him about his situation, the king narrated his entire story. The compassionate sage offered him hospitality and shelter in his hermitage. And then....

माता दुर्गा का सुरथ तथा समाधि को वरदान

देवी भागवत पुराण और मार्तंडए ब्रह्मपुराण में देवी भागवती के कृपा की एक कहानी आती है | प्राचीन समयकी बात है। स्वारोचिष मन्वन्तरमें सुरथ नामके एक परम धार्मिक राजा थे। वे परम उदार थे तथा प्रजाका पुत्रवत् पालन करते थे। दुर्योगवश उनके मन्त्री शत्रुओंसे मिल गये और शत्रुओंने उन्हें पराजित करके उनका राज्य छीन लिया। निराश होकर राजा सुरथ वनमें चले गये। एक दिन वे भूख-प्याससे व्याकुल अवस्थामें परम तपस्वी सुमेधा मुनिके आश्रममें पहुँचे। मुनिके पूछनेपर उन्होंने अपनी सम्पूर्ण कथा बतायी। दयालु मुनिने उनका यथोचित सत्कार किया और उन्हें आश्रममें आश्रय प्रदान किया।