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appropriately, leaving a space in the middle, the monks stood for the king. 47. The king, entering there, seeing the assembly of monks thus standing, with a gladdened heart, worshipped with joy. 48. Having offered perfumes and flowers, and made three circumambulations, he entered the auspicious place in the middle, where the full pots were. 49. A revolving staff, fixed to a golden peg, made of silver, pure, a surge of pure joy. 50. Taking it with an adorned, noble minister, who was an auspicious being, devoted to the welfare of beings. 51. Determined to make a great Cetiya circle, he began to turn it on the prepared ground. 52. A great Elder named Siddhattha, of great psychic power, far-sighted, restrained the king who was doing so. 53. "This king will undertake such a great stupa; before the stupa is finished, death will be his. 54. And the stupa will be great, difficult to repair." Thus, seeing the future, he prevented its great size. 55. With the permission of the Saṅgha, and with the Elder's approval, though wishing to make it great, he accepted the Elder's words. 56. According to the Elder's advice, the king had it made; a medium Cetiya circle, to establish the bricks. 57. In the middle, he had golden and silver pots placed, eight by eight, with eager effort, surrounding them. 58. And he had one thousand and eight new pots placed, and in one hundred and eight, one hundred and eight cloths. 59. Eight excellent bricks he had placed separately, by the approved, adorned minister. in many ways. 60. Then, taking one, among various auspicious items, in the eastern direction, the first auspicious brick. 61. He reverently laid it, in pleasant fragrant mud, among jasmine flowers, worshipped there. 62. There was an earthquake. The remaining seven, he had them laid by ministers, and performed auspicious rites. 63. Thus, in the month of Asāḷha, on the auspicious bright fortnight, on the full moon Uposatha day, he laid the bricks. 64. There, standing in the four directions, were the great taintless elders. Having worshipped and honored them, he respectfully proceeded in order. 65. Going to the north-east direction, to Piyadassī, the taintless one, having worshipped the great elder, he stood near him. 66. Increasing the auspiciousness there, he taught the Dhamma to him. The elder’s teaching, was beneficial to the people. 67. There was an attainment of Dhamma for forty thousand people. There was the fruit of Stream-entry for forty thousand people. 68. A thousand were Once-returners, and as many Non-returners. A thousand were Arahants, among the lay people there. 69. Eighteen thousand, monks and nuns, fourteen thousand, attained Arahantship. 70. Thus, knowing that supreme worldly success comes from a mind so purified, and from people with a generous, liberated mind, in the Triple Gem, one should cultivate delight in faith and other virtues. The twenty-ninth chapter, named The Commencement of the Thūpa, in the Mahāvaṃsa, composed for the serene joy and emotion of good people. The Thirtieth Chapter: The Construction of the Relic Chamber. 1. Having worshipped, the great king invited the entire Saṅgha, saying, "Accept alms from me until the completion of the cetiya." 2. The Saṅgha did not consent to that. But gradually, he obtained consent for seven days from as many as half the bhikkhus. 3. Having obtained them, he, being joyful, in eighteen places, around the thūpa site, having built pavilions, he offered great alms. Seven days. what was there for the Sangha, then he dismissed the Sangha. 5. Then having caused the drum to be beaten, bricks and a carpenter quickly; He assembled them at once, indeed five hundred in number. 6. "How will you do it alone?" asked, the king said; "Having obtained a hundred servants, I will take a cartload of earth. 7. I will finish it in one day," the king rejected him; Then half and half, and two measures of earth. 8. They said, the king rejected, those four carpenters; Then one wise, skilled carpenter said to the king. 9. "Having pounded it in a mortar, and winnowed with winnowing baskets; Having caused it to be ground by women, this measure of earth." 10. Thus spoken, he permitted, "Let there be grass and such for the roof"; "It is for the Cetiya," said the king, whose valor was like Indra's. 11. "What form will you make that Cetiya?" Asked, at that very moment, Visvakamma entered him. 12. Having filled a golden bowl with water, the carpenter; Taking water in his hand, struck it on the surface of the water. 13. A great bubble arose, like a crystal globe; "He will make it like this," the king, pleased with him. 14. Caused to be given a pair of clothes worth a thousand, and ornaments and sandals; And twelve thousand kahapanas. 15. "I will have bricks brought, how without oppressing people?" Thus the king pondered, the gods knowing this at night. 16. At the four gates of the Cetiya, having brought bricks; They placed them night after night, sufficient for each day. 17. Hearing that, the king, greatly pleased, began the work on the Cetiya; And announced, "No work here is to be done without payment." 18. At each gate, he caused kahapanas to be placed; Sixteen hundred thousand, and many clothes. 19. And various ornaments, food and drink; Perfumes, garlands, jaggery, and so on, and the five kinds of mouth fresheners. 20. "Let them take what they like, having done work as they like"; The royal workers, expecting that, gave. 21. Helper for the Stupa work one, a nun desired; Taking a lump of clay, made by herself. 22. Going to the cetiya site, having increased the royal workers; She gave it to the bricklayer, who received it knowingly. 23. Knowing her deed, there was curiosity; Gradually the king heard, came and asked the bricklayer. 24. “Deva, with one hand, having taken flowers, bhikkhus; With one, a lump of clay, they give to me, but I. 25. This is an arriving bhikkhu, this is a resident,” thus; “I know,” hearing this word, the king sent. 26. To show the strength of one, the monk who gave the clay; He showed his strength, he reported it to the king. 27. Three, of birth, family, and pot, at the great Bodhi courtyard; Having placed them by the strong man, the king had them given to the bhikkhu. 28. Not knowing, having honored, to that bhikkhu who stood; The strong man reported it, then that monk knew. 29. In the Kelivāta country, a resident of Piyaṅgalla; The elder, desiring companionship in the cetiya work. 30. His bricklayer’s relative, came here; Having made the brick, known by the bricklayer completely. 31. Having increased the work, he gave it to the bricklayer; He employed it there, and there was a great clamor. 32. The king, hearing it, said, “It is possible to know that brick”; “Even knowing, it is not possible,” the bricklayer said to the king. 33. “Do you know that elder?” Asked, “Yes,” he replied; To make it known, he sent, The strong man to him. 34. The strong man, knowing it through him, came with the king’s permission; At the Kaṭṭhahāla monastery, seeing the elder, he consulted. 35. Knowing the elder’s going and coming, and his destination; Saying, “I will go with you, to my village.” 36. He reported everything to the king, the king had him given; A pair of robes worth a thousand, a valuable red blanket. 37. Many requisites for a novice, and sugar; Fragrant ones and a water-strainer, having given them, he instructed him. 38. Going with the Elder, he saw the pleasant mango trees; He made the Elder sit in the cool, shady, watery place. 39. Having given him jaggery-water, he massaged his feet with oil; Having put on his sandals, he brought his requisites. 40. “These were taken by me for the Elder who visits the family; But the pair of robes is for my son, I give all of them to you.” 41. Having said this and given them, as he was taking them and going; Having bowed, by the king’s word, he spoke the king’s message. 42. When the Great Stupa was being built, the workers, with mindfulness; People in countless numbers, having faith, went to a good destination. 43. By mere purity of mind, in the Sugata, the highest destiny; Is obtained, knowing this, the wise person should make offerings to the Stupa. 44. Having done work for wages right here, two women; Were reborn in Tāvatiṃsa, when the Great Stupa was completed. 45. Recalling their past deeds, both saw the fruit of their deeds; Having taken perfumes and garlands, they came to worship the Stupa. 46. Having worshipped with perfumes and garlands, they bowed to the shrine; At that moment, the Elder Mahāsiva, who resided in Bhātivaṅka. 47. Came to worship the Great Stupa in the night; He saw the great Bodhi tree like that. 48. Without showing himself, seeing the wondrous attainment; Having stood at the end of their worship, he asked them. 49. “The whole island shines, with the radiance of your bodies here; What deed did you do, to go from here to the deva-world?” 50. “Work done at the Great Stupa,” the devatās told him; “Thus, indeed, faith in the Tathāgata is of great fruit.” 51. Three flower-deposits in the Stupa, built with bricks, one after another; Making them level with the ground, the powerful ones made them sink. 52. Nine times all that was built, thus they made it sink; Then the king convened an assembly of the Bhikkhu Saṅgha. 53. There were eighty thousand bhikkhus in the assembly; The king approached the Saṅgha, having worshipped and bowed. 54. He asked the Saṅgha the reason for the sinking of the bricks. he did. “Not for the ruin of the stupa, by the powerful bhikkhus. 55. This was done, great king, it will not be done now; Without altering it, complete the great stupa. 56. Hearing that, the king, pleased, had the stupa work done; In the ten flower receptacles, ten crores of bricks. 57. The Sangha of bhikkhus, the novices, and Uttara Sumana;