throne), a pair of slippers ornamented with beads, and above the throne the white canopy or parasol of dominion, mounted with a silver handle, glittered. The eight "mangalika "1 thereof (of the canopy) were like unto the seven treasures, and amidst the gems and pearls were rows of figures of quadrupeds; at the points of the canopy were suspended a row of silver bells. The edifice, the canopy, the throne, and the (inner) hall were all most superb.

The king caused it to be provided suitably with couches and chairs of great value; and in like manner with carpets of woollen fabric: 3even the ladle (usually made of a coconut shell) of the rice boiler was of gold. Who shall describe the other articles used in that palace? This edifice, surrounded with a highly polished wall, and having four embattled gates, shone forth like the (Véjayanta) palace in the Távatiņsa heavens. This building was covered with brazen tiles; hence it acquired the appellation of the "brazen palace."

At the completion of this palace the rájá assembled the priesthood. They attended accordingly, as in the instance of the Maricavaṭṭi festival. There, on the first floor, the "puthujjana " priests (who had not attained the state of sanctification) exclusively arranged themselves. On the second floor, the priests who had acquired the knowledge of thetépitaka." On the three succeeding floors, commencing with the third, those arranged themselves who had acquired the several grades of sanctity, commencing with the "sótápatti." On the four highest floors, the arhat" priests stationed themselves.

66

The rájá having bestowed this palace on the priesthood, pouring the water of donation on their right hand; and according to the former procedure, having kept up an alms-festival of seven days. Independent of the cost of the invaluable articles provided for this palace-festival, the expenditure incurred by this munificent monarch amounted to thirty kótis.

Some truly wise men, even from perishable and unprofitable wealth, derive (the rewards of) imperishable and profitable charity. By setting aside the pride of wealth, and seeking their own spiritual welfare, they bestow like unto him (Duṭṭha Gámaní) largely in charity.

The twenty-seventh chapter in the Mahávansa, entitled "The Festival of the Lóhapásáda," composed equally for the delight and affliction of righteous men.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THEREAFTER, this monarch caused a splendid and magnificent festival of offerings to the bó tree to be celebrated, expending a sum of one hundred thousand.

Subsequently, while residing in this capital, noticing the stone pillar planted on the (intended) site of the Ruvanveli thúpa, and recurring to the former tradition, delighted with the thought, he said: "I will construct the great thúpa." Re-ascending his upstair palace, and

1 Eight objects considered as auspicious: namely; a lion, a bull, an elephant, a water-jar, a fan, a flag, a trumpet or chank, and a lamp.

2" made of the seven gems."

3" even the laver and its ladle (for washing the hands and feet of priests, kept at the door of the temple) were made of gold."

4 Dele.

• "entering the capital (one day)."

5" the welfare of others."

having partaken his evening repast, reclining on his bed, he thus meditated: The inhabitants of this land are still suffering from the war waged for the subjection of the Damilas: it is not fitting 'to exact compulsory labour; but in abandoning the exercise of that power, how shall I, who am about to build the great thúpa, procure bricks without committing any such oppression?" The tutelar deity who guarded the canopy of dominion knew the thought of the personage who was thus meditating. Thereupon a discussion arose among the dévas. Sakka, obtaining a knowledge thereof, thus addressed himself to Vissakamma : " The rájá Gámaní is meditating about the bricks for the cétiya. Repairing to the bank of the deep river (Kadamba), a yójana from the capital, there do thou cause bricks to be produced." kamma, who had been thus enjoined by Sakka, proceeding thither caused bricks to be produced.

In the morning a huntsman repaired with his dogs to the wilderness in that neighbourhood. The dévatá of that spot presented himself to the huntsman in the form of a 2" gódha." The sportsman chasing the 3“ gódha" came upon and saw the bricks; and from the circumstance of the "gódha❞ vanishing, he there thus thought: "Our sovereign is desirous of constructing the great thúpa, this is a (miraculous) offering to him." Hastening (to the king) he reported the same. Hearing this agreeable report of the huntsman, the overjoyed monarch, delighting in acts of benevolence towards his people, conferred on him great favours. In a village named Acáraviṭṭhigáma, situated three yojanas to the north-east of the capital, on a space of ground sixteen karísa in extent, golden sprouts of various descriptions sprung up, in height one span, (with a root) one inch under ground. The villagers discovering this ground covered with gold, taking a cupful of this gold and repairing to the king, reported (the circumstance).

At the distance of seven yójanas in the south-east direction from the capital, on the bank of the river (Maháveliganga), in the Tambapiṭṭhi division, a brazen metal rose to the surface. The villagers taking a cupful of these brazen sprouts, and repairing to the rájá, reported the circumstance.

In the south-east direction from the capital, at the village Sumanavápi, distant four yójanas, a quantity of gems rose to the surface, Bamong which there were intermingled the cinnamon stone and sapphire. The villagers taking the same in a cup, and repairing to the rájá, reported the circumstance.

Eight yójanas to the southward of the town, in a cave called Ambaṭṭhakóla, silver was produced. A certain merchant of the capital, who was proceeding to the Malaya division to procure saffron and ginger in the said Malaya division, taking many carts with him, wishing to get a switch, stopping his carts in the neighbourhood of this cave, ascended a hill. Observing a fruit of the size of a 9" cáți" attached to a 1branch of a jak tree, which 11fruit was bending with its weight and12resting on a

966

166 therefore that I should levy taxes, but on remitting those revenues."
an iguana."
iguana."

366

were found nuggets of gold of divers sizes, the largest about a span and the smallest an inch long. The inhabitants, discovering that the ground was full of gold, took a plateful thereof to the king, and reported the matter to him." 566 to the east of the city, beyond," &c.

6" mine of copper."

766 nuggets of copper."

866 intermingled with."

9.66 a large pot or pan."

rock severing the same (from the branch) with 'an adze, at the stalk of the fruit, and saying to himself, "This is precious: I must give it (to the priesthood)," in the fervour of his devotion he set up the call of refection. Four sanctified priests presented themselves. This delighted and devoted person, bowing down to them and causing them to be seated, with his 'adze paring all round the point at which the stalk adhered to the fruit (so that no skin was perceptible), and pulling out (that stalk), he poured into their dishes the juice with which (the cavity of) the stalk was filled. The four brimming dishes of jak fruit juice he presented to them. They, accepting the same, departed. And (the merchant again) shouted out the call of refection; and four other sanctified characters presented themselves there. Receiving their dishes also from them, he filled them with the pods of the jak fruit. Three of them departed: one remained. This particular (priest), in order that he might point out the silver to him, 2seating himself at the mouth of the cave partook of the jak pods. The merchant having eaten as much of the rest of the pods as he wished, taking the residue in a 3jar he followed the footsteps of the priest. Having reached this spot, he beheld the théra there, and showed him the usual attentions; and the théra pointed out to him the path to the entrance of the cave. (The merchant) bowing down to the théra and proceeding by that (path), discovered the cave. Stopping at the mouth of the cave, he perceived the silver. By chopping it with his 1adze, he satisfied himself that it was silver. Taking a handful of the silver and hasting to the carts, and leaving his carts there, this eminent merchant, conveying this handful of silver, quickly repairing to Anuradhapura, and exhibiting it to the rájá, explained the particulars.

To the westward of the capital, at the distance of five yójanas, at the Uruvélapaṭṭana, pearls of the size of 5" nelli" fruit, together with coral beads, rose to the shores from the ocean. Some fishermen seeing these, gathering them into one heap, and taking (some of) the pearls and coral in a dish, and repairing to the king, reported the event to him.

To the northward of the capital, at the distance of seven yójanas, in the stream flowing through the broken embankment of the tank of Pélivápigáma, four superb gems, in size a span and four inches, and of the colour of the ummá flower, were produced. A huntsman discovering these, repairing to the court, reported, "Such and such gems have been discovered by me."

It was on the same day that this most fortunate monarch heard of the manifestation of these bricks and other treasures, to be used in the construction of the Maháthúpa. The overjoyed (king) conferred favours on those persons (who brought the news of these miraculous productions), 10as in the former instance (to the huntsman); and maintaining them under the royal protection, caused all these things to be brought (to the capital).

1" knife."

* Insert" descended from the hill and."

3 "bundle."

"lump."

"Amalaka (emblic myrobolan), interspersed with coral."

* Insert "sandbanks of the."

7" into."

8" about a small grindstone."

9.64 discovery."

10" and placing them as guards thereof."

Thus, he who delights in the accumulation of deeds of piety, not being deterred by the apprehension of its being attended by intolerable personal sacrifices, readily finds a hundred sources of wealth. From this (example) the really religious man should devote himself to (deeds of) piety.

The twenty-eighth chapter in the Mahávansa, entitled "The Acquirement of the Materials for the Construction of the Maháthúpa," composed equally for the delight and affliction of righteous men.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THUS the collection of the materials being completed, (Duttha Gámaní), on the full moon day of the month of "Vesákha,” and under the constellation "Vesákha," commenced the Maháthúpa.

The protector of the land, removing the stone pillar1 (which bore the inscription), and in order that2 (the structure) might endure for ages, excavated by various expedients a foundation for the thúpa there, one hundred cubits deep.

This monarch, who could discriminate 3possibilities from impossibilities, causing by means of his soldiers (literally giants) round stones to be brought, had them well beaten down with pounders; and on the said stones being pounded down accordingly, to ensure greater durability to the foundation, he caused (that layer of stones) to be trampled by enormous elephants, whose feet were protected in leathern cases.

At Satatatintaka-the spot where the aërial river (flowing out of the Anótatta lake) descends, spreading the spray of its cataract over a space of thirty yójanas in extent-there the clay is of the finest description the same being thus exquisitely fine, it is called the "navaníta "4 clay. This clay, sanctified sámanéra priests (by their supernatural powers) brought from thence. The monarch spread this clay there, on the layer of stones trod down (by elephants); and over this clay he laid the bricks; over them a coat of astringent cement; over that a layer of "kuruvinda" stones; over that a plate of iron; on the top of that the ruler of the land spread the incense of the dévas brought by the sámanéras from Himavanta; over that layer of "phalika " stone he laid a course of common stones. In every part of the work the clay used was that which is called the "navanita.' Above the layer of common stones he laid a plate of brass, eight inches thick, embedded in a cement made of the gum of the " kapittha" tree, diluted in the water of the small red coconut. Over that the lord of chariots laid a plate of silver, seven inches thick, cemented in vermilion paint mixed in the "tila " oil.

1 Insert" that was there."

2" he might in every way make the thúpa firm and stable, digged a foundation for it seven cubits deep." Most MSS. have satta, “seven "; the Tíká has sata, "hundred."

3" the advantages and disadvantages of things."

• Insert" (butter)."

" fine."

prepared gravel; and over it a fragrant (substance) brought," &c.

•" and over that."

66

The monarch, in his zealous devotion to the cause of religion, having made these preparatory arrangements at the spot where the Maháthúpa was to be built, on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month "Asálhi," causing the priesthood to be assembled, thus addressed them: Revered lords! initiative of the construction of the great cétiya, I shall to-morrow lay the festival brick of the edifice; let all our priesthood assemble there." This sovereign, ever mindful of the welfare of the people, further proclaimed: "Let all my pious subjects, provided with Buddhistical offerings, and bringing fragrant flowers and other oblations, repair to-morrow to the site of the Maháthúpa."

He ordered his ministers (Vésakha and Siridéva) to decorate the place at which the cétiya (was in progress of construction). Those who were thus enjoined by the monarch, in their devotion and veneration for the divine sage (Buddha), ornamented that place in every possible way. The ruler of the land (by instructions to other parties) had the whole capital, and the road leading hither, similarly decorated.

The ruler of the land, ever mindful of the welfare of the people, for the accommodation of the populace, provided, at the four gates of the city, numerous baths, barbers, and dressers; as well as clothing, garlands of fragrant flowers, and savoury provisions.2 The inhabitants of the capital, as well as of the provinces, 3preparing according to their respective means tributes of these kinds, repaired to the thúpa.

The dispenser of state honours, guarded by his officers of state decked in all the insignia of their full dress, himself captivating by the splendour of his royal equipment, surrounded by a throng of dancing and singing women rivalling in beauty the celestial virgins, decorated in their various embellishments; attended by forty thousand men ; accompanied by a full band of all descriptions of musicians; thus gratifying the populace, this monarch in the afternoon, as he knew the sacred from the places that were not sacred, repaired to the site before mentioned of the Maháthúpa, as if he had himself been (Sakka) the king of dévas. The king, moreover, deposited in the centre and at the four corners (of the thúpa) a thousand, plus eight, bundles of made-up clothing. The various descriptions of cloths (not made up) the sovereign deposited in a heap; and for the celebration of the festival, he caused to be collected there honey, clarified butter, sugar, and the other requisites. From various foreign countries many repaired hither. Who will be able to render an account of the priests of the island who assembled here ? The profound teacher Indagutta, a sojourner in the vicinity of Rájagaha, attended, accompanied by 'eight thousand théras. The mahá théra Dhammaséna, bringing with him twelve thousand from the fraternity of the Isipatana temple (near Báránasí), repaired to the site of the thúpa. The mahá théra Piyadassi from the Jéta vihára (near Sávatthipura) attended, bringing with him sixty thousand priests. The théra Buddharakkhita attended from the Mahávana vihára of Vesáli, bringing eighteen thousand priests. The chief théra Dhammarakkhita attended from the Ghósíta temple of Kósambiya, bringing thirty thousand priests with him. The chief théra Dhammarakkhita, bringing forty thousand disciples from Dakkhinágiri temple of Ujjéni, also

bath attendants.”

"Add" according as they were required."

3 Dele.

4" lord of the land."

"cloths, and caused divers (other) cloths to be collected on the four sides thereof."

༔ "What need of speaking then about."

7.66 eighty."