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112 INDIA AS DESCRIBED' IN EARLY TEXTS
had existed long before. The Sussondi Jataka speaks of the ministrel Sagga's journey from Benares to Bharukaccha 1 (Barygaza of Ptolemy and the Periplus.)
The Suppārikas or Suppārakas (Sk. Saurpārakas) were the citizens of Suppăra or Suppāraka (modern Sopārā) which was the capital of the kingdom of Sunäparanta. The distance of Suppāra from Sāvatthi was one hundred and twenty leagues. The people of Sunāparanta 'were reported as being fierce and violent.4
The Suratthas were the inhabitants of the kingdom of Surattha (Sk. Surâştra) which is identified with Kathiawar. The prosperity of Surattha was due to trade. One king Pingala ruled in Surattha as a subordinato potentate under the Mauryas, while, according to the Junāgaļ inscription of Rudradāman I, the Yavana Tuşāspa was the govornor of Surāştra under king Asoka.
Among the peoples of South India referred to in the Great Epic and Mārkandeya Purāna, 1 Jataka, iii, p. 187f.
2 Majjhima, ui, p. 268; Sannetta, iv, p. 61f; N. L. Dey, Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Medical India, p. 197. 3 Dhammapada-affhakatha, ii, p. 213. * Majjhima, iii, p. 268; Samyutta, iv, p. 61.
5 Apaddna, ii, p. 369; Milinda, pp. 331, 369; Jataka, ii, p. 463 V, p. 133.
6 Petavatthat, iv, 3. According to the Commentary, the con. temporary Maurya king was Dhammāgoka, which is, however doubtful. See O. D. Chatterjee's paper, 'A historical character ir the reign of Asoka Maurya', D. R. Bhandarkar Volume, p. 329f.
