Soon afterwards the king, who was by nature a grateful man, re- 51 membering him of the service that his cousin had rendered, in that he made over to him the kingdom (which he might easily have taken unto himself), was so moved thereby that ne bewailed himself sorely in the face of all the people. The prince also, when he heard of this, was 52 greatly overcome in spirit, so that they two came to look with more affection on each other. Hereupon the king went unattended to the 53 Malaya district, and (after they had been reconciled with each other) he brought the prince back to his own city. He then gave him his 5 daughter Sanghá to wife, thinking thereby both to give pleasure to the prince and to establish him in his loyalty.

Having now been restored to perfect friendship with the king, the 55 prince was living happily with his (the king's) daughter (Sanghá) when enraged with her at some fault, he gave her a blow one day, on which 56 she went up to her father in tears and made bitter complaint to him, saying, "The husband of your choice is killing me without a cause.' The king, when he heard this complaint, exclaimed, "Surely, I have 57 done a foolish thing," and took her straightway to the house of the nuns and made her take the robes.

Now, one Aggabódhi, a son of her uncle, had set his heart on her now 58 for a long while, and thought that the time had come when he might 59 carry her away with him. So he secretly took her away to the Róhana country by himself. Thereupon the king Aggabódhi took his cousin 60 and proceeded with him to the Róhaṇa country to punish his nephew Aggabódhi (that had done this evil thing). But Aggabódhi (the sub- 61 king) prevailed upon his cousin, king Aggabódhi, to stay behind, and proceeded himself to the western hills to punish the offender against his wife, if haply he might find him. With the large army that he had in 62 his hand he subjected the whole of the Róhana country, defeated the evil-doer in battle, and recovered and brought his wife Sanghá. From 63 that time forth these three (the king, the sub-king, and his wife) lived together in great peace and happiness with much loving confidence in one another, enjoying themselves as it pleased them most.

The king caused repairs to be made in the arámas Vápáranimaka, 64 Mánaggabódhi, and Sabhattuddésabhóga at the Abhayagiri vihára, as also in the terraced houses of Hatthikucchi vihára, Punapiṭṭhi 65 vihára, Mahá parivéṇa, and Váhadípaka. He also restored the old 66 doors of the Thúpáráma buildings and set up the pillars in a different order. In this manner, having performed many other acts of merit 67 according as he was able, this king (Aggabódhi VI., or Silámégha) passed away according to his deeds in the fortieth year of his reign.

Thereupon the fortunate Aggabódhi, who was sub-king, the son of 68 the wise Governor Mahinda, ascended the throne. He took under his 69 protection the religion of the country, and showed such favour to his subjects as he thought was fit for them, and appointed his son Mahinda

as sub-king. He repaired and strengthened all that had decayed of the 70 47-08

G

old house of the bódhi tree, and restored it. He also built the two 71 arámas, Kalanda and Mallavátaka. By means of decrees issued to enforce discipline among the priesthood, he thoroughly purged the religion of the conqueror, and stopped the way of those who set up false 72 cases by deciding them according to the law. He took unto himself the oversight also of everything that was done in the island, even unto the distribution of food and medicines for the sick, and ordained the 73 form and manner of holding festivities and funerals. He caused ticketrice to be issued to the dwellers within all the three fraternities, and richer victuals, such as were fit for the king's table, to the Pansukúlika 74 monks. This man, so full of self-control, having done deeds of such merit, died in the sixth year of his reign during his stay at the city of 75 Pulatthi. His son, who was sub-king, is said to have died before him, and so the kingdom was left without an heir.

76

Now, king Silámégha had a son named Mahinda. He was a man well favoured by fortune, able to uphold a people and govern a kingdom. 77 On the day he was born, the king, his father, sent and inquired of the astrologers as to the future of his son, and they told him that the child 78 was fitted to govern a kingdom; and he gave them many presents, and kept the matter secret. In process of time, when the child came of age, 79 the king made him his own general, and having entrusted the affairs of the whole kingdom into his hands he lived (without care or anxiety). His son thereupon performed the duties of the kingly office with great 80 justice. But when his father Silámégha was dead, Mahinda, who was skilled in all statecraft, was not willing to take the office of general 81 from Aggabódhi. 2At that time, however, he had gone on some of the king's business to the sea-board and was living at the port of Mahá82 tittha. There he received news of the king's death, and fearing that traitors might take possession of the kingdom and spoil the capital, he 83 made haste thither. Meanwhile, the chieftains and landlords of the northern districts took possession of the country by force, and withheld 84 its revenues. And when he came to hear of this, he proceeded to the northern country with a large army, and subdued all the chieftains 85 together with their servants. He next visited the place where the king (his uncle) had died, and had a meeting with the queen, when he wept with her and consoled her. And when he saw that the time had come 86 he addressed her in these words, "Noble queen, be not sorrowful at the death of your husband. I will take upon myself the safety of 87 the island, while you shall govern the kingdom." The queen, though she kept silence, was yet full of evil thoughts, and afterwards secretly conspired to kill him, that she might live in whatever manner it pleased 88 her. And when the news of this conspiracy came to the ears of the general, he straightway set a watch over her and fought with and drove 89 off the people who were of the queen's party. He afterwards had the

See note in chap. XLIV., v. 46.

1 Dhamma kamméhi.
2 Silámégha's successor.

queen bound, and laid her on a bed and brought her to the city, and seized the kingdom with its treasures.

90

91

Now, there was a governor named Dappula, a nephew of Silámégha, who was possessed of great wealth and had the command of a large army. He gathered his forces together, and having taken Kálavápi, advanced to Sanghagáma to make war. The general being informed 92 thereof, set out at once to meet the enemy with an army well-furnished, and taking with him the queen. A fearful battle ensued, and the 93 governor perceiving that his army was giving way, retreated with his 94 forces and ascended the hill Acchaséla. Having driven him, the general returned (victorious) and lived at ease.

(While the general was absent,) the chieftains of the northern country 95 having heard that the city was unprotected, came together with the people of that part and took it. This brave and successful general, 96 unwearied in his efforts, drove them at last away, and returned to the city, and ruled the kingdom according to the rules of justice.

He did all that was meet to be done for the order of monks, his subjects, the lower animals-birds, beasts, and fishes-and his kinsfolk and the army.

97

99

Afterwards Dappula having added to his army, went against the 98 Malaya country with his two nephews, whom he had brought with him from Róhana; and having subdued all the country and provinces, reached the city at night with a great host, and surrounded it like a sea. His men encompassed the city all around, shouting on all sides, so that 100 with the neighing of the horses, the trumpeting of the elephants, the sound of the gongs and cymbals, the blast of the trumpet, and the 101 tumult of the soldiers, the heavens were like to rend asunder on that day. Whereupon the general, seeing this great army, spake cheerfully 102 unto his own men, saying, "These three princes with a great host have 103 come and laid siege to our city. Now, therefore, I pray you tell me what is meet to be done?" And his men of valour, thirsting for the 104 battle, answered him, saying, "From the day that your servants entered your service, their lives have they given unto you. If therefore 105 they should, in this hour of their danger, draw back, regardful of their lives, what advantage is it to their lord that he should have maintained them so long a time in comfort?" On hearing them, the king was 106 greatly comforted, and set his army in battle array at night. And in the morning, when the sun had risen, he mounted his elephant that had been saddled for him, and went forth from one of the gates, and 107 fell upon the enemy suddenly like a thunderbolt, with his thousands of mighty men, and made a terrible slaughter among them. He broke 108 altogether, and scattered on all sides, the hosts of the governor that had laid seige against them; and having stopped his men from pursuing the enemy, he arrayed his army in order, and shared with them the joy of victory. Dappula, the governor, who had been utterly routed on the 109 morning of that day, fled with the remnant that had not been slain in the field of battle to the Róhana country. But the two princes who 110

had accompanied him from thence, the general took alive, and carried 111 them to the city, as captives. As soon as peace was thus restored to

the island, this victorious and valiant general sent his forces against 112 the eastern country to reduce it to subjection. They proceeded thither, and also against the northern country, both which they soon brought under his yoke, and compelled a great number of fighting men to join them.

113

The general, who now became king, thinking that he could not with safety cast off the queen, or put her to death, took her unto him to 114 wife. And the king lived with her, and she conceived and bore him a son endued with all the marks of future prosperity and greatness. 115 From that time forth she became greatly attached to the king; and when the prince arrived at man's estate, the king appointed him to the office of sub-king, and gave him therewith a great portion of his wealth.

116 The (two) governors of the eastern country having heard of these things, and thinking that there was danger in them to their cause joined themselves together, and raising a large army from both their 117 divisions, and a great sum of money, sent unto their brother Dappula from the Róhana country, and made a treaty with him, and encamped 118 with their great host on the border of the river (Mahaveli). The king, when he heard of these things, spake unto the chiefs of the people, and brought them to his side, and having caused the evil-minded persons 119 to be put to death, set a garrison in the city, and after he had done 120 everything that was needful he proceeded with his queen and a mighty

army ready for battle unto the village of Mahummára, which he strongly 121 fortified. And when it came to the ears of the three governors what the king had done, they encamped themselves before Kovilára, and 122 made themselves ready for a great battle. And the king went up against them with his mighty army and entirely defeated the hosts of the three governors, two of whom fell in the battle, Dappula only having escaped. Thus in this struggle also was the protector of the 123 land victorious. And he returned to his capital and occupied himself 124 with the government of the kingdom. He performed many acts of great merit, and celebrated great feasts in connection with the great bódhi tree, the three great cétiyas, and the tooth-relic.

125

But Dappula, after he had fled to the Róhana, levied yet another army to do battle with the king, if so be that he followed him thither. 126 And the king, in order to secure unto his children and grandchildren

that they should occupy the land in peace, gathered together at the 127 Thúpáráma all the monks and all the wise men, such as were able to discern between what was just and unjust. And being himself well 128 versed in all the duties of kings and the rules of government, he told them how he was minded to reduce the whole Róhana country to subjection. And when this had approved itself unto them, he gathered his army of 129 four hosts with all the materiel of war; and after he had seen to it

that the capital and every place of importance in the island was well

protected, he departed from the city and went without any delay to the hill of Márapabbata (in Róhana); and after he had subdued all the 130 country round it, he quickly ascended to the top of the hill (and occupied it). And when the inhabitants of Róhana saw (how strong was the position held by the king), they were affrighted, and submitted unto him. Afterwards the king made a treaty with Dappula, and being 131 puffed up with his success, forced from him a tribute of horses and elephants and gems. He also made the Black river1 a fixed boundary for 132 the future governors of that province, and decided all the country on this side thereof as the king's possessions.

Thus did this great and glorious person deliver the island from the 133. thorns of danger, and return to the city and live there in peace, after he had brought the government of the island under the canopy of one

sovereign.

This king made the Dámavihára and another called Sanníratittha 134 at the city of Pulatthi.

He built the monastery called Mahálékha at the Abhayagiri, and, at 135 the cost of three hundred thousand pieces of gold, the Ratanapásáda, 136 an exceedingly beautiful terraced palace with several floors, like unto another Véjayanta mansion.2 Out of his great wealth he made also, 137 at the price of sixty thousand pieces of pure gold, an image of the Teacher, and adorned the head thereof with a gem of very great value, and held a feast with much splendour at the inauguration thereof. On 138 the day of the dedication of the palace he relinquished (his right to) the whole kingdom (for the sake of the religion of the land). He also 139 made an exceeding beautiful silver image of the Bódhisatta, and placed it at the Silámégha, one of the convents of the nuns.

At the Thúpáráma he made for the thúpa a cover of gold, and orna- 140 mented it with bands of silver at distances from each other. He 141 repaired also the dilapidated palace that stood there. Then he caused a great festival to be held there, and made the great elder of the Héma- 142 sáli vihára, for whose use he had built a bath there, to expound the doctrines of the Abhidhamma. He repaired many old déválayas, and 143 caused very valuable images of the gods to be made for them. He gave 144 to the Brahmans the best of such food as was meet for kings, and their milk and sugar he made them drink out of vessels of gold. To the halt 145 and the lame he gave oxen and the wherewithal for their subsistence, and to the Tamils, who would not accept of oxen, he gave horses. To the poor who were ashamed to ask alms publicly, he gave in charity 146 in secret. Yea, there was not one single person left in the island unto whom he had not shown such favour as was most fitting for him. Thus, 147 having considered the manner in which it was most fit that food should be given to cattle (in charity), he set apart for their use one hundred

1 The text reads Gálha-bhógan, which makes no sense here. I think it is a mistake for Kálagangan, the Black river (Kalu-ganga).

2 Sakrá's palace.