Page:The Indian Antiquary Vol 2.djvu/258

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

232 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY. [August, 1873. disturbed in the early part by the competition of his brothers, whom he succeeded in reducing to sub¬ mission.” 6. Ceylon Reptiles, by Wm. Fergusson. 7. On an Inscription at Dondra, No. II., by J. W. Rhys Davids, C.C.S. This inscription has already been given in this Journal (I. A. vol. I. pp. 329-331), and Mr. Davids now reads the first sentence—“ In the 10th year of the Overlord Siri Sangha Bodi Sri Par&krama B&hu, a cocoanut tope, bought for money, (near) to the Bh<hni-mah&-wih&ra, to the image-house, and 200 cocoanut trees to the Lord Dewa R&ja (Vishnu).” And in addition to the citations formerly given for assigning the inscrip¬ tion to Sulu Siri Sanga Bo, he adds from the Rdjawali— Olm boena &ri Sanga Bo rdja Siydgal wehera karavoa Detou nuwara learawa Dewa-rdja sangayen solos aumruddak raj jay a keleya. Which Upham (vol. II. p. 248) translates:—“ He was succeeded by his nephew, whose name was Sri Sanga Bo R&ja, which king caused to be built the dagoba of Siagal, and the city Dewu Nuwara; and, through the assistance of Vishnu reigned for the space of 16 years.” To this Mr. Davids adds the following:— Translation from the Mahdvahsa, Oh. 46. 1. After the death of Hatthad&tha, Agra Bodhi, the eldest son of the king, also called Sri Sangha Bodhi, became king. 2. He was a righte¬ ous king, full of insight, and did innumerable acts of merit. 3. He superintended the maintenance of the priests of the three sects, preserved the canon of scripture, and forbade slaughter. 4. He gave offices impartially, according to merit, and favoured those who by birth or learning were worthy of favour. 5. Wherever he saw priests, he, the highminded, did them honour and asked them to say the liturgy (parit) or talk of religion. 6. He studied under the wise, virtuous, and learned priest D&th&siva of N&gas&la monastery. 7. And there, having thoroughly heard the teaching of the all-wise one, being perfected in religion, he became a doer of all gentle deeds. 8. Having heard a discussion between priestesses who (previous to their putting on the robes) were related to him, he quite turned away his favour from those who were wicked heretics. 9. He restored broken monasteries and parivenas to their former state. 10. He restored alms fallen into abeyance, and gave slaves to tho priesthood according to the necessities of each (sacred) place. 11. He made a splendid house for that priest, called after his name; which, having received, he, the highminded one, gave to the priesthood. 12. And the king gave to him villages for his maintenance, Bha- ratt&la and Kihimbila, and Kataka and Tuladh&m. 13. And Andhak&ra, and Attureli, and B&lava, and Dv&ran&yaka, and Mah&nikatthika, and Pela- h&la also. 14. These villages and others he, the lord of men, gave for maintenance, and he gave servants also of those related to himself. 16 Then, either seeing or hearing that monasteries of both sects were poorly provided for, he gave many villages for their maintenance. 16. But what is the use of much speaking P to the three sects he gave a thousand villages, fruitful ones and undisputed. 17. And following the three gems in the highest virtue, he took a necklace and turn¬ ed it into a rosary. 18. So in every way he followed after religion; and all men, taking him for their example, became doers of virtue. 19. A Tamil called Potthakuntha, who was his constant servant, made a splendid and won¬ derful house called M&tambiya. 20. And the king gave him Ambav&pi in Bukakalle, and the cloth-weavers’ village Ch&tika, and the village Hitthilavetthi, with the slaves (living therein). 21. And he built as residences the monasteries at Kapp&ra and the places at Kurundapillaka. 22. In other places too the wealthy one divided villages among the monasteries; and the wise general named Potthas&ta added to Jeta Vih&ra 23. A parivena called after the king’s name; and Mah&kanda the Tamil a parivena of the same name. 24. And the under-king Sanghatissa made a small house called Sehala-upa-r&jaka for the king. 25. And in other places many people both built monasteries (of which these are only a few), and were full of goodness, following the example of the king. 26. For when the chief does evil or good, the world does just the same; let him who is wise note this. 27. This king had a most virtuous queen called Jetth&, who built the Jetth& monastery as a home for priestesses. 28. And gave to it two villages in very stony land called Tanbuddha and Helag&ma, together with a hun¬ dred slaves. 29. And the king added a splendid relic house to the dagoba in M&ndalagiri mon¬ astery. 30. And he roofed in the inner chamber in tho Brazen Palace (at Anuradhapura). The celebrated Bodhi Tissa built Bodhi Tissa monastery. 31. And all the provincial governors throughout the island built monasteries and parivenas not a few, ac¬ cording to their ability. 32. In the time of this chief of men everywhere in the island virtue alone was practised. 33. It seems bad to me (thought the king), according to the most important sign of goodness, to have passed so much time here. 34. So after a time he went to Pulastipura, and there lived, ac¬ quiring merit. 35. Then when he was afflicted