The Maháwanso in Roman Characters

Sutwa wańsakkamań tassá só ṛatwá suddhawańsatań Líláwati mahésitté abhisinchi narissaro.
Sá tan patichcharájánań mahésí dhítarań lahi, námań Yasóḍharátissá akásí dharaṇipati.
Mirukandararatṭhéna saddhiń rájá sadhitarań Wirawammassa pádási. Sá labhí dhitaró duwé.
Samanánámiká jeṭṭhá samáná mahiyá ahu, Sugalá námiká ási, tásu dwísu kaniṭṭhiká.
Kalingadharanipáláwańsajań chárudassanań Tilókasundariń náma sukumárań kumárikań,
Kálingarattható rájá ánápetwá, chiráṭṭhitin nijawańsassa ichchhanto, mahésittébhiséchayi.
Subhaddhácha, Sumittácha Lókanáthawhayápicha, Ratnáwali, Rúpawati; itimá pancha dhitaro ;
Puttań Wikkamabáhuncha sá labhi, dhańṇalakkhanań sampanná tá pajáwuddhiń harantá rájino manań,
Itthágárésu sésésu wind samakulanganá gabbhójátu mahipalań tań pațichcha nasanthihi.
Athékadiwasań rájá amachchaganamajjhagó, wilokiya thitá sammá dhítaro paṭipáṭiyá,
Dhitunamawas és ánań thapetwá, Ratnáwalin dhanṇalakkana sampannaputtassuppattisúchakań
Lakkhanan lakkhanańnú só apassań pémawégawa, Ratnáwalitamahúya tassá muddhaniń chumbhiya:
"Téjógunehi chágéhi, dhiyásúrattanénacha, bhút écha bháwinóchéwa, sabbé bhúpéti sádhitó,
"Nichchań Lańkań nirátańkamékachchhattań kaméwacha, pawidh átuń, samattassa sammásásanasásiko,

away captive during the Chólian interregnum and) detained in the kingdom of Chóla, making her escape from her Chólian captivity, together with her royal daughter, embarked in a vessel; and expeditiously reaching Lanká, presented herself to the monarch. The sovereign having inquired into her pedigree, and knowing that her family was of illustrious descent, raised her to the station of queen consort. This queen bore a daughter unto the rája. The supporter of royalty conferred on her the name of Yasodhará. The rája bestowed this daughter, together with the province of mountains and torrents (Malaya), on Wirawammo. She gave birth to two daughters : of these two daughters, the eldest was named Samaná, she was as bountiful as the earth; the younger was called Sugalá.

This rája, intent on the perpetuation of the line from which he was himself descended, caused (also) to be brought from the kingdom of Kálinga a daughter of the reigning monarch of Kálinga, named Tilókasundari, lovely in person, and most amiable in disposition, and installed her (likewise) in the dignity of queen consort. She had five daughters; viz., Subhaddá, Sumittá, Lókanáthá, Ratnáwali, and Rúpawati; and a son named Wikkamabáhu, endowed with the indications of eminent prosperity. She so entirely captivated and engrossed the rája's affections, that among all the ladies of his palacc, none but her, who was as illustrious in descent as himself, could succeed in becoming enciente to him.

At a subsequent period, on a certain day, while surrounded by his ministers, he assembled his daughters, and ranged them in order, according to their seniority. Overlooking the other daughters, this (monarch), who was versed in fortune-telling, fixed his gaze on Ratnáwali, who, he discerned, was endowed with the signs of good fortune, and with a womb of fecundity. Overpowered by the impulse of his affections, clasping her to him, and kissing her on the crown of her head, he poured forth these endearing expressions: "Her womb is destined to be the seat of the conception of a son, who will be supremely endowed with the grace of dignity, as well as with benevolent and charitable dispositions; with firmness of character, and energy in

“Sóbhanańnékawuttissa imissá kuchchhi hessati, puttassuppatti ṭhánanti ;” mudunó só samabrawi,
Yáchantassápi só Chólamahipalassanékasó, kulábhimáṇin rájá só adatwána kaniyasiń,
Anápetwá Pandurájan wisúddhanwayasambhawań anujań rájiniń tassa Mittáwhayamádási so.
Sá Mánábharanań Kittisiriméghabhidhánakan, Siriwallabhanámancha janési tanayó tayó.
Subhaddań Wirabáhussa, Sumittań Jayabdhuno mahatápariháréna, pádási dharṇipati.
Adási Máṇábharaṇassa dhitarań Ratnáwalin, Lókanáthawhayań Kittisiriméghassadásí só.
Rupawatibhidhánáya dhituyóparatáyahi Sasiriwallabhassádá Sugalawkań kumárikań.
Madhukanṇawa Bhímarája Balakkárassanámaké mahésibandhawé rajaputté, Sihapurágaté,
Passitwána mahipálo tadá suparipítikó, tésampádási pachchékań wuttiń só anurupakań.
Té sabbé laddhasakkárasammáná dharaṇipatiń árádhayanta satatań niwassińsu yathá ruchiń.
Etésań rájaputtánań Sundariwhań kaniṭṭhikań adá Wikkamabáhussa nijawańsaṭṭhitatthikó,
Bhiyó Wikkamabáhussa tató Líláwatísatiń sahabhógéna pádási tadá bandhu hitérato.
Widhaya éwan sajané janindó nissésató bhógasamappitó só, dayáparóṇáti janánamattha samáchareniti
pathénurúpan,

Iti sujanappasáda sańwégatthaya katé Mahdwańsé "Sangahakaranó” náma Ekúnasatthitimó parichchhédo.

action; with the power of commanding the respect of men, and of controling all other monarchs: he will be destined also to sway the regal power, by reducing Lanká, which will be over-run by foreign enemies, under the dominion of one canopy; and blessed will he be with all prosperity."

The rája refused to bestow his daughter, who was the pride of his race, on the reigning king of Chóla, who earnestly sued for her; and sending for a prince of the royal family of Pandu, which was already connected with his own, married him to his younger sister, princess Mittá. She gave birth to three sons, Mánábharano, Kittisirimégho, and Siriwallabhó. The ruler also wedded, in great pomp, Subhaddá to Wírabáhu, and Sumittá to Jayabáhu. He bestowed Ratnáwali on Mánábharano, and Lókanáthá on Kittisiriméghó. Of his remaining daughters, he bestowed the one named Rúpáwati, as well as the princess Sugalá,* on Siriwallabhó.

At that period there were three royal princes, the relations of queen Tilókasundarí, who had come over from Síhapura, whose names were Madhukannawo, Bhímarája, and Balakkaro. The ruler of the land having received them, and become favorably impressed with them, conferred on them, severally, stations worthy of them. All these three persons, in the full enjoyment of royal favor, and entirely possessed of the confidence of the monarch, resided where they pleased. Bent on the preservation of the purity of his house, he bestowed on (his son) Wikkamabáhu, Sundari the younger sister of these princes; and devoted to the interests of his house, he subsequently also gave unto (his said son) Wikkamabáhu, the amiable princess Líláwati, with a (suitable) provision.

Thus this monarch, endowed in the utmost perfection with all regal prosperity, and blessed with a benevolent disposition, seeking the advancement of his own connections, regulated his government on principles conducive to their aggrandizement.

The fifty ninth chapter in the Mahawanso, entitled, "the patronage (of relations,") composed equally for the delight and affliction of righteous men.

* The granddaughter is here called a daughter.

A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS OF THE TEXT OF THE MAHAWANSO.

12. The deputation of théros to various countries in India, to propagate Buddhism 58 13. The deputation of Mahindo to Ceylon

14. His reception into (Anuradhapura) the capital of Ceylon

20. The demise of the Théros (Mahindo and his colleagues)..

do.

24. The war between the two brothers (Dutthagámini and Saddhátisso) 25. The triumph of Dutthagamini.....

28. The acquisition of the materials for the construction of the Maháthúpo (Ruanwelli) 43 29. The preparations for its construction ..

30. The description of the receptacle (in the Thúpo) for the relics

102

125

32. The departure to Tusitapura (death of Dutthagámini) .........................

31. The enshrining of the relics.....

The translation in the present volume extends to the end of this chapter....3282

64. The march to the settlements of the Paramandala chiefs

The first of these "seven kings" is Mahaséno. The account of his reign terminates at the 48th verse, and there also the first part of the Mahawanso concludes, though in the middle of a chapter; which strengthens my opinion that Mahanámo, wrote the subsequent portion also to the end of the reign of his nephew Dáthuséno, being to the close of the 38th chapter.

⚫ By mere inadvertence, in the text the words "forty one" have been written for "forty," "forty four" for "forty three and "forty eight " for "forty seven;" omitting "forty," forty three," "forty seven."

• Printed in this volume as Appendix V.

No. of the

chapters.

65. The execution of the Minister...

No. of verses in each chapter.

66. The discovery of the traiterous movements of the Paramandala chiefs...... 157 67. The appointment (of Parakkamabáhu) to the office of Mahá Adipádo 68. The restoration of order and prosperity

....

69. The conciliation of the army by the distribution of rewards..

...

70. The abdication of the kingdom (in favor of Parakkamabáhu) 72. His accession to the kingdom