Dīpavaṁsa
[The Chronicle of the Island]
XIX. [Duṭṭhagāmani]
1. This chapter is very confused and fragmentary. However by comparing the Mahāvaṁsa it is possible to ascertain what the single verses refer to. Verse 1 relates to the great palace called Lohapāsāda which was erected by king Duṭṭhagāmani (comp. Mahāv., p. 165, 1. 2). Vv. 2-4 contain a description of the different preparatory works for the construction of the Mahāthūpa built by the same king. There is nothing, however, to indicate the transition of the narrative from the Lohapāsāda to the Mahāthūpa; perhaps v. 10 which would answer to this purpose, originally belonged to the place between vv. 1 and 2. – Vv. 5-9 refer to the Bhikkhus present at the solemn inauguratory ceremonies at the foundation of the Mahāthūpa (see Mahāvaṁsa, p. 171). – Vv. 11-17 refer to the acts of liberality performed by king Lajjitissa (Mah., p. 202), and to the history of his successors. – Vv. 18-20 give an account of the buildings erected by the seven great warriors of Abhaya Vaṭṭagāmaṇi (Mah., p. 206). Vv. 21-22 refer to Mahācūli Mahātissa, the successor of Vaṭṭagāmaṇi (Mah., p. 208). The last verse relates to the death of Duṭṭhagāmani. The king (Duṭṭhagāmani) built an exceedingly costly, quadrangular palace (the Lohapāsāda) of nine stories in height, at an expense of thirty koṭis.
2. (He also erected the Mahāthūpa, at the foundation of which the following materials were used:) chunnam work, great stones, clay, bricks, pure earth, a plate of iron, then marumba, I cannot define the exact meaning of “marumba”. Turnour translates this word by “incense” (Mah., p. 169), which is decidedly wrong. To me it seems to mean something like “gravel”. In the explanation of the tenth Pācittiya Rule, in the Sutta Vibhaṅga, I find the following passage which I give exactly according to the Paris MS. (fonds Pāli 6) which is written in Burmese characters: “pathavī nāma dve pathaviyo jātā ca pathavī ajātā ca pathavi. jātā nāma pathavi suddhapaṁsu suddhamattikā appapāsāṇā appasakkharā appakathalā appamarumpā appavālikā …; ajātā nāma pathavi suddhapāsāṇā suddhasakkharā suddhakathalā suddhamarumpā suddhavālikā”, etc. –
3. small gravel, eight layers (?) of stones, twelve (layers?) of crystal and silver.
4. After the prince had caused these foundations to be laid, the Fraternity of Bhikkhus was called together, and the circle (of the base) of the Cetiya was described.
5. Indagutta, Dhammasena, the great preacher Piyadassī, Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha, wise Mittanna, – [209]
6. Anattana, Mahādeva, learned Dhammarakkhita, Uttara, and Cittagutta, and clever Indagutta, –
7. the great chief Suriyagutta of prompt wisdom, all these fourteen (Theras) came from Jambudīpa to this country (when the foundation of the Mahāthūpa was laid).
8. (Besides these there were present) Siddhattha, Maṅgala, Sumana, Paduma, and also Sīvalī, Candagutta, and Suriyagutta, Indagutta, and Sāgara, Mittasena, Jayasena, and Acala, the twelfth of them.
9. (The person that held the circle by which the base of the Thūpa was described, and his parents, had the following auspicious names, viz.:) Suppatiṭṭhitabrahmā, the son, Nandisena, the father, Sumanadevī, the mother, these three lay persons.
10. (The king constructed) the Mahāthūpa, the most excellent Mahāvihāra, expending twenty (twenty-four?) invaluable treasures.
11. (King Lajjitissa,) having heard the precepts for the conduct of itinerant Bhikkhus, which were propounded by the Fraternity, gave medicaments for the itinerant Bhikkhus, for the sake of their comfort, ...
12. Having heard the well-spoken speech of the Bhikkhunīs, which had been delivered at the ... time (at Harikāla?), the royal lord gave to the Bhikkhunīs whatever they desired.
13. He constructed the Silāthūpa, a Vihāra on the Cetiya mountain, and the most excellent assembly hall which is called Jalaka.
14. (By the next king, Vaṭṭagāmaṇi, a monastery) was constructed at the place where the Nigaṇṭha Giri had dwelt. (From this circumstance,) the appellation and the name of Abhayagiri derived its origin.
15. The five kings Ālavatta (Pulahattha!), and Sābhiya (Bāhiya!), Panaya, Palaya, and Dāṭhika reigned fourteen years and seven months.
16. Prince Abhaya (Vaṭṭagāmaṇi), the son of Saddhātissa, put the Damila Dāṭhika to death and became king.
17. He erected the Abhayagiri (monastery) between the Silāthūpa and the Cetiya. This prince reigned twelve years and five months.
18. The seven champions of Abhaya constructed five Ārāmas. Uttiya and Sāliya, Mūla, Tissa, and Pabbata, Deva, and Uttara, these were the seven [210] champions (of that king).
19. The (warrior) called Uttiya constructed the (monastery) called the Dakkhiṇavihāra, Sāliya the Sāliyārāma, Mūla the Mūlāsaya, –
20. Pabbata the Pabbatārāma, Tissa constructed the Tissārāma, Deva and Uttara constructed the Devāgāra.
21. The son of Kākavaṇṇa, Mahātissa, the ruler of the earth, made an agreement to work for wages in the paddy fields, and gave (the money) to the tranquil, thoughtful Thera Summa.
22. Having made an agreement for full three years’ labour at a (sugar-) mill, he bestowed a great donation of a thousand koṭis on the Bhikkhus.
23. Wise, enlightened Abhaya Duṭṭhagāmani, after having performed meritorious deeds, entered after the dissolution of his (human) body, the body of a Tusita god.