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resolved "May the king see me alone, and not the others," and said, "Tissa, Tissa, come here!" The king, hearing this, thought: "No one born in this island is capable of addressing me by name as 'Tissa.' But this one, with torn and tattered robes, shaven-headed, wearing a saffron robe, addresses me by name. Who indeed could this be? A human or a non-human?" The Elder said: "We are ascetics, great king, disciples of the King of Dhamma; Out of compassion for you, we have come here from Jambudīpa." And at that time, King Devānampiyatissa and King Asokadhammarāja were unseen friends. And by the power of King Devānampiyatissa's merit, at the foot of Chāta Mountain, in one bamboo grove, three bamboo staffs arose, the size of chariot poles – one called the creeper staff, one called the flower staff, one called the bird staff. Among these, the creeper staff was silver-colored; the creepers that arose adorning it... appears in five colors. On the flower-staff, flowers of blue, yellow, red, white, and black colors, with well-defined stalks, leaves, and stamens, appear. On the bird-staff, swans, cocks, jīvajīvaka birds, and other birds, and various kinds of quadrupeds, appear as if alive. This has also been said in the Dīpavaṃsa: “At the foot of the Chāta mountain, there were three bamboo-staffs; White, like a silver staff, a creeper like gold. “Whatever color the flower, such are the flowers on the flower-staff; Birds on the bird-staff, are established in their own forms.” From the sea, many kinds of gems like pearls, jewels, and beryl arose for him. In Tambapaṇṇi, eight kinds of pearls arose: horse-pearl, elephant-pearl, chariot-pearl, āmalaka-pearl, bracelet-pearl, ring-pearl, kakudha-fruit-pearl, and natural pearl. He sent those staffs, those pearls, and many other gems as a tribute to King Dhammāsoka. Asoka, being pleased, sent him five royal regalia: an umbrella, a whisk, a sword, a diadem, and jeweled sandals, and many kinds of tribute for his anointing; namely: a conch, Ganges water, a vaḍḍhamāna, a headdress, a water-pot, a nandiyāvaṭṭa, a palanquin, a maiden, a ladle, a pair of unwashed cloths, a hand-towel, red sandalwood, red-colored earth, collyrium, harītaka, and āmalaka. This has also been said in the Dīpavaṃsa: “A whisk, a turban, an umbrella, a sword, and sandals; A wrapping, a precious armlet, a water-pot, a nandivaṭṭaka. “A palanquin, a conch, a headdress, an unwashed cloth, a cloth-end; A golden bowl, a ladle, a precious hand-towel. “Water from Anotatta, a maiden, excellent red sandalwood; Red-colored earth, collyrium brought by nāgas. “Harītaka, āmalaka, precious deathless medicine; One hundred and sixty loads of rice, fragrant, brought from Suvaka; Born of meritorious deeds, Asoka sent…” he said. And not only this gift of material things, he also sent this gift of Dhamma: "I have gone for refuge to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha; I have declared myself a lay follower in the teaching of the Sakyan son. "In these three excellent things, in the teaching of the Victor, may you too gladden your mind, and go for refuge with faith." Now, on that day, this king had been anointed for one month with the anointing sent by King Asoka. They had performed his anointing on the full moon day of Visakha. He, recalling the recently heard news of the teaching, and hearing the Elder's words, "We are recluses, great king, disciples of the Dhamma-king," thought, "Have the venerable ones arrived?" And immediately laying down his weapon, he sat down to one side, engaging in a friendly conversation. As it is said: "Laying down his weapon, he sat down to one side; Seated, the king conversed, much conducive to welfare." And while he was engaged in friendly conversation, those forty thousand men also came and surrounded him. Then the Elder showed the other six people. The king, seeing them, said, "When did these arrive?" "Together with me, great king," he said. "Are there now other recluses like these in Jambudīpa?" "There are, great king; at present, Jambudīpa is illuminated by the saffron robe, a refuge for ascetics. In it, "Possessing the three knowledges, endowed with psychic powers, skilled in knowing the minds of others; Destroyed of defilements, arahants, many are the disciples of the Buddha." "Venerable sir, how did you come?" "Neither by water, great king, nor by land." The king understood, "They came through the air." The Elder, wishing to test whether the king had keen wisdom, asked a question about a nearby mango tree: "What is the name of this tree, great king?" "It is called a mango tree, venerable sir." "But, great king, apart from this mango, are there other mangoes, or not?" "There are, venerable sir, many other mango trees." "And apart from this mango and those mangoes, is there, Great King, are there other trees?” “Yes, venerable sir, but they are not mango trees.” “Apart from mango trees and non-mango trees, is there any other tree?” “This very mango tree, venerable sir.” “Excellent, Great King, you are wise. Do you have relatives, Great King?” “Yes, venerable sir, many people.” “Apart from them, are there any others, strangers, Great King?” “Strangers, venerable sir, are more numerous than relatives.” “Apart from your relatives and strangers, is there anyone else, Great King?” “I myself am a stranger.” Then the Elder thought, “The wise king will be able to understand the Dhamma,” and he preached the Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta. At the end of the discourse, the king took refuge in the Triple Gem together with forty thousand living beings. At that very moment, the king’s meal was brought. The king, while listening to the Sutta, understood: “It is not proper for them to eat at this time.” Thinking, “It is not right to eat without asking,” he asked, “Will you eat, venerable sirs?” “No, Great King, it is not proper for us to eat at this time.” “At what time, venerable sir, is it proper?” “From the rising of the sun until midday, Great King.” “Shall we go to the city, venerable sir?” “Enough, Great King, we will stay right here.” “If, venerable sir, you stay, let this boy come.” “Great King, this boy has attained the fruit, has understood the Teaching, is desirous of ordination, and will now be ordained.” The king, saying, “In that case, venerable sir, tomorrow I will send a chariot; you may ascend it and come,” bowed and departed. The Elder, after the king had departed a short while, addressed Sumanasāmaṇera: “Come, Sumana, proclaim the time for hearing the Dhamma.” “Venerable sir, how far should I make it heard when I proclaim it?” “The entire island of Tambapaṇṇi.” “Very well, venerable sir,” the novice, entering the fourth jhāna, which is the basis for supernormal powers, and emerging, Having resolved on this, With a concentrated mind, Making the whole island of Tambapaṇṇi resound, Three times he announced The time for listening to the Dhamma. The king, hearing that sound, Sent to the elders: "What, sirs, Is there any trouble?" "There is no trouble for us, We have announced the time For listening to the Dhamma, We wish to speak the Buddha's word." And hearing the sound Of the novice, The earth deities Echoed the sound. By this means, Up to the Brahma world, The sound ascended. By that sound, There was a great gathering Of deities. The elder, seeing The great gathering of deities, Recited the Samacitta Suttanta. At the end of the discourse, For countless deities, There was an understanding Of the Dhamma. Many nāgas and supaṇṇas Established themselves In the refuges. Just as there was a gathering of deities When Elder Sāriputta recited this Suttanta, So too did it occur For Elder Mahinda. Then, at the end Of that night, The king sent a chariot For the elders. The charioteer, Having placed the chariot to one side, Informed the elders: "The chariot has arrived, sirs; Please ascend, We shall go." The elders, saying: "We do not ascend chariots; You go, We shall come later," Having risen into the air, Descended at the site Of the First Cetiya, To the east of Anurādhapura. For that cetiya, Because it was built At the place where the elders First descended, It is called "Paṭhamaka Cetiya." The king, Having also sent the charioteer, Commanded his ministers: "Prepare a pavilion Within the palace." Immediately, All, delighted and joyful, Prepared a very beautiful pavilion. Again the king thought: "Yesterday, the elder, While speaking on the section of morality, Said, 'High and luxurious beds Are not permissible.' Will the venerable ones sit on the seats, Or will they not sit?" Even as he was thinking thus, That charioteer Reached the city gate. Then he saw The elders, Having arrived earlier, Having tied their waistbands And their robes... having put on the robe. Having seen him, with a very pleased mind, he came and reported to the king: “The Elders have arrived, Your Majesty.” The king asked, “Have they mounted the chariot?” “They have not mounted it, Your Majesty, but having left after me, they arrived earlier and are standing at the eastern gate.” The king, having heard, “They did not even mount the chariot,” thought, “Now the noble ones will not accept high beds or large beds.” And saying, “In that case, my good man, arrange seats for the Elders with ground coverings,” he went to meet them. The ministers, having spread mats on the ground, arranged above them colorful coverings such as kojavakas. The prognosticators, having seen this, declared, “Now the earth has been seized by them; they will be the masters of this island of Tambapaṇṇi.” The king too, having gone, and having paid homage to the Elders, and having taken the bowl from the hand of Mahinda Thera, with great offerings and respect, led the Elders into the city and into the inner palace. The Elder, having seen the arrangement of seats, thought, “Our Dispensation will be established in the entire island of Laṅkā like the earth, spread out and unmoving,” and sat down. The king,