[XX. The Complete Emancipation of the Elders]
[Theraparinibbānaṁ]
[The Passing of King Devānampiyatissa]
14-42 ≠ Mhv 7-28
Devānampiyatisso tu Rājā, Dhammaguṇe rato,
But the King Devānampiyatissa, who delighted in the virtue of the Dhamma,
Mahāvihāre navakammaṁ, tathā Cetiyapabbate. [14]
built the Great Monastery, and (another) near the Cetiya mountain. Now known as Mihintale.
Thūpārāme navakammaṁ niṭṭhāpetvā yathārahaṁ,
And after completing the building of the Sanctuary monastery, as was fit,
Dīpappasādakaṁ Theraṁ pucchi pucchitakovido: [15]
he asked the Elder who brought faith to the Island, who was skilled in questions:
“Kāressāmi ahaṁ Bhante vihāre te bahū idha
“Venerable Sir, I will build here many monasteries
Cetiyāneva sabbāni niṭṭhapetvā asesato,
and after completing all the rest of the Shrines,
patiṭṭhapetuṁ Thūpesu kathaṁ lacchāmi dhātuyo?” [16]
where will I find the relics to place inside the Sanctuaries?”
“Sambuddhapattaṁ pūretvā, Sumanenāhaṭā idha
“Having filled the Perfectly Awakened One’s bowl, Sumana brought it here
Cetiyapabbate Rāja ṭhapitā idha dhātuyo, [17]
to the Cetiya mountain, King, and placed (many) relics there,
Hatthikkhandhe ṭhapetvāna dhātuyo, idha āhara.”
after putting those relics on the back of an elephant, bring them here.”
Taṁ tassa vacanaṁ sutvā, Rājā attamano ahu, [18]
Having heard this statement, the King was uplifted,
bhusāpetvā mahānāgaṁ, maṅgalahatthisammataṁ,
and after decorating the great elephant, the appointed state elephant,
pūjāsakkārasammānaṁ gāhāpetvā anekadhā, [19]
and making them give worship, respect and honour in various ways,
tattha gantvā Satherena, tathā āhari dhātuyo.
and going there with the Elder, he brought the relics back.
Vihāre kārayitvāna ṭhāne yojanayojane, [20]
After buildings monasteries league by league, I.e at every place.
tesu tesu vihāresu, Cetiyesu tahiṁ tahiṁ,
in every monastery, and inside every Shrine,
dhātuyo ca nidhāpesi, nakkhattena subhena so. [21]
he deposited the relics, with lovely celebrations.
Sambuddhabhuttapattaṁ so Rājavatthughare subhe,
ṭhapayitvāna pūjesi nānāpūjāhi sabbadā. [22]
After placing the bowl the Perfectly Awakened One had eaten from in the lovely Royal Palace, he worshipped it with various offerings everyday.
Pañcasatā issaraputtā, mahābhogā mahāyasā
chaḍḍayitvā, mahābhoge pabbajuṁ Therasantike. [23]
The five hundred noble sons, having discarded great wealth and fame, went forth in the presence of the Elder of great (spiritual) wealth.
Pañcasatehissarehi vasitaṭṭhāne kato tu so,
He built a dwelling place with the five-hundred nobles,
vihāro tad-upādāya Issarasamaṇavhayo. [24]
and in reference to that it was called the Noble Ascetics monastery.
Pañcasatā vessajanā mahābhogā mahāyasā
nikkhamma, Girigāmamhā pabbajuṁ Therasantike,
Five hundred people from the farmer class having renounced great wealth and fame, went forth in the presence of the Elder in Mountain Village,
teheva vasitatthāne kato Vessagiravhayo. [25]
and he built a dwelling place there called Farmers’ Mountain (monastery).
Yāyaṁ Mahāmahindena Therena vasitā guhā
Whatever caves were lived in by the Great Elder Mahinda
sapabbate vihāre, sā sā Mahindaguhā ahu. [26]
on the mountain dwellings, those became (known as) Mahinda’s caves.
* * *
Mahāvihāraṁ paṭhamaṁ, dutiyaṁ Cetiyaṁ subhaṁ,
First the Great Monastery, second the lovely Cetiya (monastery),
Thūpārāmaṁ tu tatiyaṁ, Thūpapubbaṅgamaṁ subhaṁ, [27]
but the Sanctuary monastery was third, preceding the lovely Sanctuary (itself),
catutthaṁ tu Mahābodhipatiṭṭhāpanakāraṇaṁ.
but fourth he had the Great Bodhi planted.
Mahācetiyaṭhānamhi silāyūpassa cāruno [28]
The beautiful stone pillar (marking) the place of the Great Shrine
Sambuddhagīvādhātussa patiṭṭhāpanapañcamaṁ,
and (inside) the relic of the Perfectly Awakened One’s neck (bone), he established fifth,
Issarasamaṇaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ, Tissavāpiṁ tu sattamaṁ, [29]
the Nobles Ascetics’ (monastery) was sixth, the Tissa tank seventh,
aṭṭhamaṁ Paṭhamathūpaṁ, navamaṁ Vessagirivhayaṁ,
eighth was the First Sanctuary, ninth the (monastery) called Farmers’ Mountain,
Upāsikāvihārañ-ca, tathā Hatthāḷhakāvhayaṁ, [30]
The Lay-Womens‘ Monastery, and then the (one) called the Elephant’s Measure,
kireva Bhikkhuṇīsaṅgho, bhikkhuṇīphāsukāraṇā,
Hatthāḷhake osaritvā, bhikkhuṇīnaṁ upassaye. [31]
it seems the Community of nuns, after entering the Elephant’s Measure, which was made for the comfort of the nuns, (lived) in this home for the nuns.
Hatthāḷhakā nikkhamitvā, Saṅghamittā anāsavā
After leaving the Elephant’s Measure, the pollutant-free Saṅghamittā
gatā Bhikkhuṇisaṅghena bhattaggahaṇakāraṇā. [32]
went with the Community of nuns for the reception of food.
Kāretvā bhattasālaṁ so Mahāpālikam-avhayaṁ,
Having made a reception hall called the Great Range,
pāṭiyekkaṁ pāṭiyekkaṁ sampannaparivāritaṁ, [33]
for each of the honoured assemblies separately,
vatthabhojanapānādi, upakaraṇasampadaṁ,
tassev’ Ubhatosaṅghassa adāsi Manujādhipo. [34]
the King furnished (it) with (all) utensils, and gave clothes, food, drinks and so on for both Communities.
Tathā Bhikkhusahassassa saparikkhāram-uttamaṁ
Pavāraṇāya dānañ-ca anuvassañ-ca dāpayi. [35]
In the same way he had donated to a thousand monks at the Invitation a donation of the very best requisites annually.
Nāgadīpe Jambukole vihāre tamhi paṭṭane
In the port of Jambukola in the Nāgadīpa Now known as Jaffna, it is not an island, but a peninsular. (he built) the monasteries (known as)
Tissamahāvihārañ-ca, Pācīnārāmam-eva ca, [36]
Tissa’s Great monastery, Not the monastery of the same name in the south as Geiger suggests. and the Eastern monastery,
ettakamhi vihāramhi bahudānaṁ nirantaraṁ
paṭiyattaṁ paṭiyattaṁ sakkaccaṁ pi dine dine. [37]
and in all these monasteries he continually had great donations prepared with respect day by day.
Iti etāni kammāni Laṅkārajjahitatthiko,
Thus these deeds the one who sought the kingdom of Laṅkā’s benefit,
Devānaṁpiyatisso so, kārāpesi, guṇappiyo,
(King) Devānampiyatissa, to whom virtue was dear, had made,
yāvajīvaṁ tu nekāni puññakammāni ācini. [38]
and throughout his life he accumulated countless meritorious deeds.
Paṭhame yeva vassamhi rajjaṁ patvā, pabhūti so
After attaining sovereignty in the first year, subsequently
sabbāni puññakammāni dānasīlādikāni ExtMhv: -
(he did) all meritorious deeds, beginning with donations, virtue and so on.
Rajjaṁ patvāna paṭṭhāya, ācinitvā dine dine,
After attaining sovereignty, accumulating (merit) day by day,
vibhajjetvā yadi vatvā gaṇanāya asaṅkhiyā, [40]
sharing what has been called an immeasurable amount,
Laṅkādīpo ahū phīto Dhammatejena pālito.
the Island of Laṅkā became prosperous and was protected by the strength of Righteousness.
Devānampiyatisso so, Ratanattayamāmako, [41]
Devānampiyatissa, who was devoted to the Three Treasures,
vassāni cattāḷīsāni rajjaṁ kāresi Dīpake,
made his rule over the Isle for forty years, (and then),
maccu mukhamhi sampatto, rogena paripīḷito. [42]
being oppressed by disease, he fell into the mouth of Death.