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Mahāvaṃsa -(Great History)(English | 中文 | བོད་ཡིག)

English

As if entering herself, the royal bedchamber of the queen. 23. Seeing it, she awoke, rising from her excellent bed; Her mind filled with a surge of joy and delight. 24. At that time, she entered the royal bedchamber of the queen; And recounted her dream to her, just as she had seen it. 25. "I too, that elephant calf, my bed, Having circumambulated it, stood, and I took it by the trunk. 26. Having pulled it onto the bed, and lifted it with affection; I embraced it in my dream," the queen also said to her. 27. Both of them, having thus recounted what they had seen to each other; Arose, delighted, having shaken off their heavy sleep at that time. 28. Then, in the morning, they questioned the purohita who had come to attend; And the soothsayers, and having heard, they rejoiced. 29. "Before long, a son, endowed with auspicious marks of prosperity; Will certainly be born," they declared. 30. Hearing that, the ministers, and likewise the city dwellers; And the king, all experienced great joy. 31. From then on, the king, desiring welfare exceedingly; Had the monastic community recite protective chants many times. 32. He gave away various precious gems and pearls, day after day; As gifts to many beggars. 33. With brahmins like the purohita, skilled in the Vedas and Vedangas; He had auspicious rituals like homa performed. 34. He assigned royal architects to repair dilapidated monasteries; And relic chambers, and tanks. 35. As the king spent his days in such wholesome deeds; Not long after, an excellent embryo settled in the queen's womb. 36. Having learned of that, the king, delighted and overjoyed; Provided a great pregnancy care for the queen. 37. The queen, with a full-term pregnancy, gradually gave birth easily; At the appointed time, marked by an auspicious constellation. 38. All directions were perfectly clear at that moment; And the breezes blew, fragrant, soft, and cool. 39. Of elephants with the cries of cranes, and the neighing of horses; The royal courtyard then became, a great clamorous shore. 40. Thus, with wonders exceedingly, appearing in many ways; Seeing that, the king Māṇabharaṇa, was filled with amazement. 41. Hearing of the birth of his own son, then announced; As if sprinkled with nectar, his mind was full of joy. 42. Then he released, many people imprisoned in the jail; And gave generous alms, to recluses and brahmins. 43. And the ministers and others, the residents of the city; With plantain arches and so on, the capital in many ways. 44. Having adorned the whole, beautifully decorated and arranged; They held a great festival, for several delightful days. 45. According to the procedures stated in the Vedas, the birth ceremony and other rites; Having completed all, for the prince, the king. 46. Then commanded the brahmins, led by the purohita, who were skilled in prognostication; Preceded by rites of honor and respect. 47. He appointed them to examine the marks of the prince; All the auspicious marks, such as those on his feet. 48. Having observed them, they, in the midst of the assembly of great ministers; Declared to the king and queen, with delight. 49. "Leaving aside the island of Lanka, he is skilled in making the entire Jambudīpa; Marked with a single parasol, and enjoying it." 50. Having satisfied them with wealth, he respectfully asked further; "Is there any inauspicious sign visible, or not?" 51. "This prince will have a long life, but something is perceived; A sign of misfortune for his father," they told the king. 52. He, whose arm was destined to crush his enemies with might; Took the meaningful name, Parakkamabāhu. 53. Having performed the ear-piercing and the first rice-feeding ceremony; The knower of rites, completely according to custom. 54. Then sent messengers, to Pulatthinagara, to inform King Vikkamabāhu; Of the birth of his son. 55. By them, he, Vikkamabāhu, hearing of the great fortune of his nephew; And also the sign of misfortune for his father. 56. Dhañña Vijayarāja and other royal lineages who was the leader. Like a shining gem to me, he made my nephew known. 57. Whatever harm there may be, so that it will not happen to him; Thus, let the prince grow up right here, close to me. 58. To gain what is not gained, and to protect what is gained; In every way, this son of mine, Gajabāhu, is not capable. 59. Even though endowed with bravery, born of Mahinda's lineage; He is lowly by his mother's clan, he is not fit for my kingdom. 60. For the kingdom, which I have accumulated many times through the Vikkama clan; My nephew alone shall be the heir. 61. Thus he sent messengers to bring that prince; Giving the prince ornaments, and the rest, a precious offering. 62. Having heard everything from the messengers, King Vīrabāhu, thought, "This word of his is fitting, spoken with good intention. 63. Nevertheless, to counteract one's own misfortune, it is not proper to send one's own beloved son. 64. Moreover, if the prince is taken to Vikkamabāhu, his faction will be like a fire that has gained great fuel and strength. 65. With exceedingly great and mighty power, it will blaze up; Indeed, a great loss will befall us greatly." 66. Thus, he dismissed the messengers who had arrived, without sending his own reply, pleasing them in his mind. 67. Living there with his sons and wives, that lord of men, afflicted by a severe and great illness, departed from the land, along with his kingdom. In the Mahāvaṃsa, made for the joy and emotion of good people, The Rise of the Prince, The Sixtieth Chapter. The Sixty-first Chapter The Journey to Saṅkhatthalipura 1. Having heard of the death of their elder brother, the two other brothers, quickly came from their own lands and performed the last rites. 2. Then Kitti Sirimegha, having made his elder brother's kingdom his own, summoned his younger brother. 3. Giving him two other kingdoms, he assigned him a place there; And he, accepting the word of his elder brother. 4. Having taken the prince and the necklace of jewels, the two daughters went to the great city of Mahānāmahula. 5. Living there in harmony, they performed the tonsure ceremony for the prince, and always raised him with great care. 6. Then, wishing to give the elder daughter of the queen, named Mittā, to his son, he consulted with his ministers. 7. "Kings born of the Kalinga lineage have mostly attained sovereignty in this island of Lankā. 8. If the queen were to send her daughter in a disguised form to be given to Gajabāhu, born of the Kalinga clan, 9. the marriage connection would become stronger. This son of mine would be utterly without support." 10. "Therefore, this maiden is fit to be given to my son. Thus, our lineage would indeed prosper." 11. The queen, an ornament of the Sūrya lineage, hearing all that, and completely disapproving, said this to the king: 12. "Having slain all the yakkhas, the prince named Vijaya made this island of Lankā a human habitation forever. 13. From then on, our ancestors of the Vijaya lineage established connections with those of the Kalinga lineage. 14. A connection with other kings has not been heard of before, except for the rulers born of the Soma lineage. 15. How can such a connection be yours and ours with that prince born of the noble lineage?" 16. Though the queen repeatedly objected in this way, he forcibly gave that maiden to his own son. 17. Accompanied by his wife, who possessed many excellent qualities, he then lived near his father, pleasing all the people. 18. Having enjoyed the kingship for twenty-one years, Vikramabāhu, according to his karma, passed away to the next world upon the breaking of his body. 19. Then Gajabāhu, making the kingdom, which possessed abundant forces and vehicles, come into his hands, resided in the city of Pulatthi. 20. Then the kings Kitti Sirīmegha and Sirīvallabha, understanding this situation, reflected thus: 21. "That..." of Vikrama Bahu, due to his old age in many ways; That original kingship, is not a cause for blame for us. 22. For that young boy, ruling the original kingdom; Our indifference, is indeed not fitting. 23. They will soon, in the kingdom, become firmly rooted; Therefore, it is proper, to seize that kingdom by force. 24. All the Velakkara forces, they broke up with gifts of wealth; Leaving aside some servants, who were then within his inner circle. 25. The people of the country, were disaffected with King Gajabahu; So they sent messengers, to both kings many times. 26. "We will establish the kingdom, united as we are; You only need, to provide support." 27. Then the two brothers, quickly gathered their army; And approached his country, from both sides. 28. And they sent messengers, then Gajabahu by name; The king gathered his ministers, and deliberated. 29. "All the Velakkara forces, have become directly hostile; And the two kings, have come to our country for war." 30. "First, if one of their powerful factions, is quickly defeated; Then the others will be easily dealt with." 31. Having thus decided, taking all his army; He went to battle, facing King Sirivallabha. 32. King Sirivallabha also, waged a terrifying battle; From morning, until evening. 33. Unable to achieve, any victory over him; He then retreated, and quickly returned to his own country. 34. Defeated by Gajabahu's Gokanna minister; King Kitti Sirimegha also, returned to his own country. 35. King Gajabahu also, suffered no loss in that battle; And returned to the vicinity of the city. 36. Having punished the many powerful, and offending commanders; He pacified the country, and entered his own city. 37. From then on, the kings, in their respective countries; Became friends with each other. they established a connection, and lived. 38. Then Parakkamabāhu, the delight of the earth-protector; Intelligent, in many arts, learning very thoroughly. 39.