Vol. VI, No. 2.] Buddhist Legends of Asoka. 69 



[N.S.] 



whom were one hundred thousand ascetics free from worldly 

 attachments and ninety hundred Bhikkhunls, among whom 

 were a thousand free from worldly attachments. 



Thus Asoka, having become the paramount power in India, 

 lived beautifying the doctrine. This is only a brief account, 

 the details are to be found in the Mahavamsa. Thus it is 

 said 



' King Tissa, the honey-supplier, by virtue of h 

 merit, enjoyed everywhere and always all felicity.' 



The second honey-dealer was reborn in Lailka, on account 

 of the sin he had committed in using harsh words against the 

 Paccekabuddha. His story runs thus : 



A king named Mutaslva ruled over the island of Tamba- 

 panni for sixty years. He had ten sons, each endowed with 

 the virtues of purity and wisdom and mutually striving for 

 each other's good. He had also two daughters. All of them 

 lived together in harmony. Once upon a time, after the death 

 of king Mutaslva, the ministers anointed prince Deva-nam- 

 piyatissa as king. Contemporaneously with his coronation 

 many wonderful things took place. The Acaryas, who composed 

 the Mahavamsa 



" The second son of the king far-famed as Devanampiya- 

 tissa was more pure and wise than his brothers. He ascended 

 the throne after the death of his father. Simultaneously 

 with his coronation many wonderful things took place. Nu- 

 merous treasures and jewels, that had hitherto been hidden 

 under the ground, rose up above the surface of the earth, 

 throughout the whole of Lafikadlpa, And both the jewels 

 which came from ships wrecked near Lafikadlpa and those 

 which were produced in the sea rose up upon the dry land. At 

 the foot of the Chata mountain there sprang up three posts a^ 

 large as chariot-goads. One of them was a creeper-post, it 

 creepers glittered with silver sheen; some of the creeper- 

 were golden, and they all looked charming and delight- 

 ful. - — - 



was 



spread its charming 



about. The third, a bird-post, had artificial birds and 

 animals so perfectly made that they seemed alive. There wen 

 altogether eight kinds of pearls, namely, the Horse, the 

 Elephant, the Chariot, the Amalakya, the Bracelet, the 

 Afigulivethaka, the Kakudhaphala, and the ordinary pearl. 

 Pearls coming out of the sea were scattered all round ie 

 shore. It was all a result of the merit of Devanampiyatjssa. 

 All kinds of jewals such as the sapphire, the beryl, the ruby, 

 and the pearls and the posts they brought to the king wit Inn 



,nampivatissa, the great king, and 



a week of his coronation. 



* ? 



Asoka 

 had m 



i other. Therefore, king Tissa sent 



