The Extended Mahavamsa - Asoka and the Missions

Mahāmahindathero so, tadā dvādasavassiko,
Then the Great Elder Mahinda, having twelve Rains, In the monastic life seniority is counted by the number of Rains Retreats one has completed. At twelve Rains Mahinda would be an Elder, although still quite a young monk.

upajjhāyena āṇatto Saṅghena ca mahāmatī [1]
being of great intelligence, ordered by his preceptor and the Community

Laṅkādīpaṁ pasādetuṁ, kālaṁ pekkhaṁ vicintayi:
to bring faith to the Island of Laṅkā, having sought the right time, thought:

'Vuḍḍho Muṭasivo Rājā, na sakkā Sāsanapaggahaṁ, This line has an extra syllable. [2]
'King Muṭasiva is old, he is unable to uphold the Dispensation,

tanayo Piyatisso ca Rājā ca abhavissa so
if his son Piyatissa were to become King

so sakkā paggahaṁ kātuṁ Sāsanassa ca Satthuno,
he would be able to uphold the Dispensation of the Teacher,

na hi so samayo patto na gacchissāmi Dīpakaṁ.’ [3]
therefore the time has not arrived when I will go to the Isle.'

Tad-antare Mahindo so, daḷhaṁ katvāna mānasaṁ,
In the meantime Mahinda, having resolved his mind (to go later),

passituṁ ñātisaṅghañ-ca Dakkhiṇāgiriyaṁ varaṁ, [4]
in order to see his relatives (went) to the noble Dakkhiṇāgiri, It was a state (janapada) situated more or less where Madhya Pradesh is now, having Ujjenī (modern Ujjain) as capital.

upajjhāyañ-ca Saṅghañ-ca vanditvāpuccha Bhūpatiṁ
and after worshipping his preceptor and Community, he asked the Lord of the Earth King Asoka, his Father.

ādāya caturo There, Saṅghamittāya atrajaṁ, [5]
and took with him four Elders, and (his sister) Saṅghamittā’s son,

Sumanaṁ sāmaṇerañ-ca, chaḷabhiññaṁ mahiddhikaṁ.
the novice Sumana, who had the six deep knowledges and great power.

Ñātīnaṁ saṅgahaṁ kātuṁ agamā Dakkhiṇāgiriṁ [6]
To give favour to his relatives he went to Dakkhiṇāgiri

tathā tattha Mhv: tassa. carantassa cha māsā samatikkamuṁ.
and while walking from one place to the other six months passed by.

Kamena Vedisagirinagaraṁ Mātudeviyā [7]
sampatto Mātaraṁ passi, Devī disvā Piyaṁ sutaṁ,
Having by and by reached his Mother Devī’s city Vedisagiri he saw his Mother, and Devī, having seen her dear son,

bhojayitvā saparisaṁ attanā, yeva kāritaṁ
and prepared food for him and his assembly, made

vihāraṁ Vedisagiriṁ Theraṁ ārocayī Mhv: āropayī; (the Elder) got ready. subhaṁ. [8]
the lovely monastery (called) Vedisagiri, and announced it to the Elder.