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THE MAHÁVAṆSA.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

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ND after that, that wicked ruler of men
(Kásyapa) sent his groom and his cook to his
brother (Moggallána) to kill him. And finding
that he could not (fulfil his purpose), he feared
danger, and took himself to the Síhagiri rock,
that was hard for men to climb. He cleared it 3
round about and surrounded it by a rampart,

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and built galleries in it (ornamented) with figures of lions; wherefore it took its name of Sihagiri (the Lion's Rock'). Having gathered together all his wealth, he buried it there carefully, and set guards over the treasures he had buried in divers places. He built there a lovely palace, splendid to behold, like 5 unto a second A'lakamandá, and lived there like (its lord) Kuvera. And Migára, the chief of the army, built a Parivena 6 after his own name, and a house also for the Abhiseka-jina. And 7 for the dedication thereoft he besought the king that he might (be allowed to) display ceremonies of greater splendour than were permitted to the Silá Sambuddha. And because his request was not granted unto him, he thought within himself, "In the reign of the rightful heir to the throne shall I know how to obtain it."

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But it repented him (Kasyapa) afterwards of what he had 8 done; so he did many acts of merit, saying, "How shall I

One of the great statues of Buddha restored and adorned by Dhátusena. See chap. XXXVIII., vv. 66, 67.

†The abhiseka of an image is the setting or painting of its eyes, a ceremony generally performed with great splendour. It is the Netrá-pinkama of the Sinhalese Buddhists.

Another famous stone statue of Buddha which stood in the precincts of the Abhayagiri Vihára. Its eyes were adorned by Buddhadása with "the cobra's gem," and when it was lost during the Tamil occupation previous to Dhátusena's accession, that monarch reset the eyes with two valuable sapphires, and renewed it otherwise. See chap. XXXVII., v. 37; chap. XXXVIII., vv. 61, 32.

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9 escape (punishment)?" He planted gardens at the gates of the city, and groves of mango trees also throughout the island, at a 10 yójana's* distance from each other. He repaired the Issarasamanâráma (Vihara), and by buying and making gifts of more lands for its support, he gave unto it more substance than it had possessed at any former time.

11 And he had two daughters, the one named Bodhi and the other Uppalavanná. And he called this vihára after their 12 names and his own. And when it was dedicated the Theravádít brethren (to whom it was offered) wished not to accept it, because they feared that the people would blame them in that they accepted an offering which was the work of a parricide. 13 But the king being desirous that these selfsame brethren should possess the vihára dedicated it to the image of the Supreme Buddha; whereupon they consented, saying, "It is the property 14 of our Teacher." In like manner, he caused a vihára to be built in the garden that he had offered near the rock (Síhagiri), 15 whence it also took the names of his two daughters. And this vihára, abounding with the four things necessary for monks, he gave unto the Dhammaruci brethren, together with a garden that 16 stood in the north side of the country. And having eaten once of a meal of rice that a woman had prepared for him in the milk of the king-cocoanut and ghee, flavoured highly with sweet con17 diments, he exclaimed, "This is delicious! Such rice must I give unto the venerable ones." He then caused rice to be prepared after this manner, and made an offering of it to all the brethren, 18 with gifts of robes. He observed the sacred days and practised the Appamaññᇠand Dhutanga§ discipline, and caused books to 19 be written. He made many images, alms-houses, and the like;

but he lived on in fear of the world to come and of Moggallána. 20 At length, in the eighteenth year of his reign, the great warrior Moggallána, being advised thereto by the Niganthas, came

Supposed to be equal to twelve English miles.

† The Mahá Vihára Fraternity.

Four subjects of meditation prescribed for a recluse who wishes to attain entire sanctification. They are, friendliness, compassion, goodwill, and equanimity. (Vide Childers' Dictionary for explanation, and Visuddhi-Magga, chap. IV., Samádhi-Bhávanádhikára, for directions.)

§ Certain austere practices (thirteen in number) prescribed for ascetics who desire to prepare themselves for the attainment of the highest stages of sanctification. (See Childers' Dictionary for enumeration, and VisuddhiMagga, chap. II., for details and mode of practice.)

A set of Hindu ascetics. Sanskrit, Nirgrantha.

hither from Jambudípa attended by twelve noble friends, and 21 encamped with his forces near the Kuṭhári Vihára in the country of Ambattha-kola.

And when the king heard thereof, he exclaimed, "I will catch 22 him and eat him." And though the soothsayers prophesied that he could not (be victorious), he went up with a large army (to meet his adversary). And Moggallána also advanced with his 23 army well equipped, and with his valiant companions, like unto the god Sujampati in the battle of the Asurs. And the two 24

armies encountered each other like two seas that had burst their bounds; and a great battle ensued. And Kassapa, seeing a great 25 marsh before him, caused his elephant to turn back, that so he might advance by another direction. And his men seeing this, 26 shouted, "Friends, our lord here fleeth," and broke the ranks; whereupon Moggallána's army cried out, "The back (of the enemy) is seen."† And the king (in great despair) raised his 27 head up and cut (his throat) with a knife and returned the knife to its sheath. And Mogallána was well pleased with this deed 28 (of boldness) of his brother, and performed the rite of cremation over his dead body; and having gathered together all his spoils, went up to the royal city. And when the brethren heard this 29 news they put on their garments and robed themselves decently and swept the vihára, and ranged themselves in a line (according to seniority). And Moggallána having halted his army outside 30 the elephant-rampart of the city, entered the (royal garden called) Mahámeghavana, like unto the king of the gods entering his garden Nandana, and being well pleased with the priesthood he 31 approached and made obeisance unto them, and offered unto the Order his royal parasol.§ And they returned it to him. Where- 32 fore the people called that place Chattavaḍdhi ('gift of the royal parasol'), and the Parivena that was (afterwards) built there was called by the same name. And when the king reached the city 33 he proceeded to the two viháras, and having saluted the brethren there he took the government of the great kingdom into his hands, and ruled his people with justice.

But his wrath was kindled against the chief men of the State 34 for having attached themselves to him who had slain his father,

• Şakra.

† Meaning, 'The enemy fleeth.'

See note A at the end of this chapter.

§ In token of submission to the Church. || Abhayagiri and Jetavana.

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and he gnashed his teeth so that he protruded one, and hence he 35 acquired the name of Rakkhasa. And he put to death more than a thousand of them who held offices, and caused the ears and noses of some to be cut off, and also banished many from the land. 36 But when he had afterwards hearkened to the sacred discourses (of Buddha), he was greatly calmed in spirit, and his temper became serene, and then he gave alms in great plenty like unto the cloud that poureth forth its waters over the surface of the earth. 37 Every year he gave alms on the full-moon day of the month

Phussa,† and henceforth the custom of giving alms on that day 38 has prevailed over the island even up to this day. And the

driver of the chariot who had fed the king his father with fried rice (as he drove him to Kálavápi) took the king's letter (that 39 was given to him) and showed it to Moggallána. And he wept and sorely bewailed himself when he saw it. And after he had spoken of the great love his father had always unto him, he appointed the driver of the chariot to the office of chief of the 40 king's gate. And Migára also, the captain of the army, brought to the king's notice the request that had aforetime been denied unto him, and having obtained the king's leave thereunto, held the feast of the dedication of the Abhiseka-jina, according to his desire. 41 Moreover, Moggallána gave the Dalha and the Dáṭhá-Kondañña

Viháras at the Síhagiri rock to the Ságalika and Dhammaruci 42 brethren, and having converted the fortress itself into a vihára,

he gave it to Mahánáma,‡ the elder of the Díghasanda Vihára. 43 And being a man of great wisdom, he likewise built a convent called Rajini, and gave it to the Ságalika sisterhood.

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Moreover, a certain Dáṭhá Pabhuti of the Lambakaṇṇa race, who had been in the service of Kassapa, left it in disgust, and 45 went up to the Mereliya country and settled there. And he had a son, Silákála by name, who, fearing that danger would befall him from Kassapa, accompanied his kinsman Moggallána to 46 Jambudípa, and lived the life of a recluse at the Bodhimanda 47 Vihára and tarried there, serving the Order (as a novice). And 48 he was a man of cheerful disposition and of great skill. And

he presented a mango (one day) to the chapter of elders, and they were so pleased with him that they called him (in sport)

• See Note B attached to this chapter.

† January-February.

Dhátusena's uncle, the author of the first thirty-six chapters of the "Mahávagsa."

Amba-Sámanera ('mango-novice'). Wherefore he was known unto all men by that name.

And he afterwards obtained the Kesadhátu,* as it is written in 49 the "Kesadhátuvansa," and brought it hither in the reign of Moggallána. And Moggallána gratified him with many favours, 50 and took possession of the Hair-relic, and having placed it in a casket of crystal of great value, he bore it in procession to the beautiful image-house of the Lord Dípańkara. And he kept it 51 there and made great offerings to it. He made statues of 52 gold of his uncle and of his consort, and other images also, and a beautiful figure of a horse,† and placed them there. He caused 53 a casket for the Hair-relic to be made, and a parasol and a (small) pavilion studded with gems, and (the statues) of the two chief disciples (of Buddha), and a chowrie. (Yea) the king did honour 54 to it greater even than he cared to give to himself. And the charge thereof he gave unto Silákála, whom he appointed swordbearer. Wherefore he came to be known afterwards as Asiggáha 55 Silákála. And, over and above, the king gave unto him his own sister in marriage with a portion. But this is a very brief 56 account. The details in full are to be found in the "Kesadhátuvansa," from which those who desire more knowledge may gather information. And (the king) set a guard along the sea coast, 57 and thus freed the island from fear (of invasion). And he purged the religion of the conqueror as well as his doctrines by enforcing the observance of discipline among the priesthood. ||

And it was in this king's reign that Uttara, the captain of the 58 army, built a house of meditation for the brethren, and called it after his own name. And the king having performed these acts of merit, expired in the eighteenth year (of his reign).

Even so he who was so exceedingly powerful, and had snatched 59 victory from Kassapa, was not able to conquer death by the reason of his merits being exhausted, but was like unto a slave before him.

Wherefore wise men will seek to loose death of its

• Hair-relic.

†The expression cárukan assa bimbañ ca may mean either that he got made a beautiful image of his (own) or that of a horse.

Sáriputra and Moggallána.

§ Silákála, the sword bearer.

See Note 2, chap. XLIV.

¶ Padhana-gharan, a house or structure intended for the exercise of monastic austerities, which are supposed to lead to the attainment of supernatural powers and the subjugation of the passions.

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