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having it piled up to that level, 36. And having decorated that excellent place in many ways, the king lowered the relic from the elephant's back and placed it there. 37. Having arranged for the relic's protection, and having placed the elephant there, the king, with a swift mind, for the making of the relic-stupa, 38. Engaged many people for the quick making of bricks. Thinking about the relic-work, he entered the city with his ministers. 39. But the Great Elder Mahinda, went with his retinue to the beautiful Mahāmeghavana, and he made his dwelling there. 40. At night the Nāga goes around that place with the relic. At the Bodhi place, in the hall, by day he stays with the relic. 41. Above that site, a stupa, following the elder's advice, having built it knee-high, the king did so in a few days. 42. There, the relic's establishment, having announced it, he approached. From all around, a great crowd gathered. 43. At that gathering, the relic, from the elephant's back, rising high, to the height of seven palm trees, was seen standing in the sky. 44. Astonishing the people, the Twin Miracle, like the Buddha at the foot of the mango tree, it caused hair to stand on end. 45. Then, with flames emerging, and with streams of water, this land was illuminated and sprinkled, the whole adorned earth. 46. On the couch of Parinibbāna, by the reclining Conqueror, the five great determinations were made, by the one with five eyes. 47. The Great Bodhi, being taken, its southern branch, by sorrow, having cut itself off, may it establish itself in the bowl. 48. Having established itself, that branch, with beautiful six-colored rays, illuminating all directions, may it be released with fruits and leaves. 49. That beautiful one with the golden bowl, having risen up, delightful, invisible for seven days, may it remain in the snowy chamber. 50. My right collarbone, establishing itself in the Thūpārāma, having risen into the sky, may it perform the Twin Miracle. 51. In Laṅkā, in the adorned land, in the Hemamālika Cetiya, the relics establishing themselves, to the measure of a doṇa. 52. Having taken the form of the Buddha, having risen and stood in the sky, having established themselves, may they perform the Twin Miracle. 53. These five determinations, the Tathāgata determined. Therefore, that relic performed, that miracle at that time. 54. Having descended from the sky, it stood on the king's head. The king, greatly delighted, established it in the cetiya. 55. And when that relic was established, in the cetiya at that time, there was a great earthquake, wondrous, causing hair to stand on end. 56. Thus, Buddhas are inconceivable, the Buddha's teachings are inconceivable. For those with faith in the unthinkable, the result is unthinkable. 57. Having seen that miracle, people became serene; Prince Mattābhaya, the king's younger brother, moreover. 58. Having become serene in the Lord of Sages, and having requested the Lord of men, with a thousand men, he went forth into the Dispensation. 59. And also from Cetārigāma, and from Dvāramaṇḍala, and also from Vihīrabīja, likewise from Gallakapiṭṭha. 60. And from Upatissagāma, five hundreds (of them), joyful young men went forth, having arisen faith in the Tathāgata. 61. Thus, from the city and from outside, all went forth then; thirty thousand monks were in the Conqueror's Dispensation. 62. In Thūpārāma, the excellent stupa having completed, the king with many jewels and so on, always performed worship. 63. Royal ladies, khattiyas, and ministers, citizens likewise; and all country people, performed worship each in their own way. 64. With the stupa foremost, the king a monastery there caused to be built; "Thūpārāma" by that name this monastery became renowned. 65. And thus by his own bodily relics, even though the Lord of the world had attained Parinibbāna, the welfare and happiness of the people he rightly brought about in many ways, while the Conqueror's Dispensation was established, so the story goes. In the Mahāvaṃsa, composed for the serene joy and spiritual urgency of good people, the seventeenth chapter, named "The Coming of the Relics." Eighteenth Chapter The Bringing of the Great Bodhi 1. And the Great Bodhi and the Theri, to send for, the king, remembering the word spoken by the Thera, in his own house. 2. One day during the rainy season, seated near the Thera, having consulted with his ministers, his own nephew. 3. The minister named Ariṭṭha, in that task to appoint, having deliberated, having summoned him, spoke this word. 4. "Will you be able, from Dhammāsoka, the Great Bodhi, and Saṅghamittā the Theri, to bring here?" 5. "I will be able, O King, to bring those two from there, if, having come here, I am allowed to go forth, O giver of honour." 6. "So be it!" having said, the king sent him there; He, of the Thera and of the king, , having received the teaching, paid homage. 7. On the second day of the bright fortnight of Assayuja, he departed, accompanied by his retinue, from Jambukola, embarking on a ship at the port. 8. Having performed a great ceremony, by the power of the Elder’s resolve, on the very day of departure, he went to the delightful Pupphapura. 9. At that time, Queen Anulā, with five hundred maidens, and with five hundred women of the inner palace, 10. having undertaken the ten precepts, pure, clad in saffron robes, desiring ordination, eagerly awaited the arrival of the Elderess. 11. In a beautiful nunnery, in a part of the city, built by the king, the virtuous one made her abode. 12. This nunnery was called by the female lay followers “Upāsikā Vihāra” (Laywomen’s Monastery), and by that name it became known in Laṅkā. 13. Mahā Ariṭṭha, the nephew of King Dhammāsoka, having delivered the king’s message, spoke the Elder’s message. 14. “The king’s sister-in-law, your royal elephant, desiring ordination, always dwells restrained. 15. Send the nun Saṅghamittā to ordain her, and with her, the southern branch of the Great Bodhi tree.” 16. The Elderess also spoke the Elder’s words concerning this matter; going to her father, the Elderess spoke the Elder’s wish. 17. The king said, “My dear, how shall I, not seeing you, dispel the sorrow born of separation from a child or grandchild?” 18. She said, “My great king, my brother’s word is weighty; and many are to be ordained, therefore I must go there.” 19. “How can I take a branch from the Great Bodhi tree, which is not to be harmed by weapons?” Thus the king pondered. 20. By the advice of his minister named Mahādeva, he invited the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, fed them, and asked the king. 21. “Venerable sirs, should the Great Bodhi be sent to Laṅkā?” The Elder Moggaliputta said, “It should be sent.” 22. The Five-Eyed One (Buddha) had made five great resolutions; the king, hearing that, rejoiced, the lord of the earth. 23. The path of seven yojanas, that Great Bodhi to the going. Having carefully cleansed, he adorned it in many ways. 24. He had gold brought forth, for the making of a bowl; And Visvakamma came, in the form of a scale-bearer. 25. "What size bowl should I make?" he was asked; "Knowing the measure yourself, make it," he said. 26. Taking the gold, and smoothing it with his hand; He made the bowl at that moment, and departed. 27. Nine cubits in circumference, five cubits in depth; Three cubits in width, eight fingers thick, beautiful. 28. With a mouth rim the size of a young elephant's trunk; The king had it taken, like a young god. 29. With an army of four divisions, seven leagues long, a league wide; And with a great company of monks. 30. Approaching the Great Bodhi, adorned with various ornaments; That was painted with various gems, garlanded with diverse banners. 31. Strewn with various flowers, resounding with various musical instruments; Having surrounded it with the army, and enclosed it with a curtain. 32. With a thousand great elders, as the chief of the great assembly; And with more than a thousand anointed kings. 33. Having surrounded himself, and the Great Bodhi well; He looked at the Great Bodhi, raising his joined hands. 34. From its right branch, four cubits in measure; Excluding the trunk and the place, the branches disappeared. 35. Seeing that miracle, the pleased lord of the earth; "I will worship the Great Bodhi with the kingdom," he declared. 36. The lord of the earth anointed the Great Bodhi with the great kingdom; Having worshipped the Great Bodhi with flowers and so on, circumambulating. 37. Having done so in eight places, and worshipped with joined hands; On a seat inlaid with gold, adorned with various gems. 38. On a well-raised, high platform, that golden bowl; Having had it placed, he ascended, to take the excellent branch. 39. Taking cinnabar with a golden brush; Having made a mark on the branch, he made an act of truth thus. 40. "If from here to the island of Lanka, If I am unwavering in the Buddha's teaching, in the great Bodhi. 41. May the beautiful southern branch of the Great Bodhi tree cut itself off and establish itself here in this golden bowl. 42. At the marked spot, the Great Bodhi branch cut itself off and stood above the bowl filled with fragrant mud. 43. Above the root mark, three fingers, three fingers, the king drew lines with red arsenic, encircling it. 44. From the main thick roots, and from the other smaller ones, ten by ten, roots emerged, forming a net, and descended. 45. Seeing that miracle, the king was exceedingly joyful; he shouted for joy right there, and the surrounding assembly did too. 46. The community of monks applauded with approval, delighted in mind; thousands of clothes were thrown up all around. 47. Thus, with a hundred roots, there in the fragrant mud, the Great Bodhi tree established itself, gladdening the great multitude. 48. Its trunk was ten cubits, with five lovely branches; four cubits, four cubits (each),