1837.] Account of the Tooth relic of Ceylon. 865 



whole city appear as if immersed in an ocean of milk. Then transferring itself 

 to the palms of both hands of the prime minister, which were as red as a flower 

 and rendering itself manifest to the great concourse assembled, made him an 

 instrument of conferring signal benefit on the people. The ruler of men, on 

 hearing of this (further) miracle performed by the relic, in the impatience of 

 his joy, hastening thither on foot, and manifesting his two-fold delight, in 

 sincerity of faith, with clasped hands, thus prayed (addressing himself to the 

 relic) ' Universal intelligence 1 practised traffickers assign a value to gold after 

 having tried it on a touchstone : this has been a practice from days of yore. 

 Worldly persons, on finding a gem of a rich mine, perfecting it by passing it 

 through fire, for the purpose of exhibiting it, set it in the crown of royalty. 

 Supreme Muni ! in the present instance, it was for the purpose of putting thy 

 (divine) attributes to the test, that all this has been done by me. Infinite wisdom, 

 pardon this act of great presumption on my part ; and instantly adorn the crown 

 of my head.' Thereupon the tooth relic, resplendent in the form of a jewel 

 alighting on his head, shed around a white halo, like unto milk spirting from 

 mothers under the impulse of affection for their offspring. This bearer of the 

 relic (Pa'ndu) then walking in procession round the capital, making offerings 

 of flowers, incense, &c, conveyed it within his palace, which had been previously 

 decorated for the occasion. The raja then deposited it on the imperial golden 

 throne, over which hung the great white banner (of dominion.) 



" This monarch, for the rest of his existence, taking refuge in the three trea- 

 sures of which Buddho is the first, (viz. Buddho, Dhanmo and Sangho ;) and 

 forsaking his former cruelties towards the animal creation, and becoming the 

 fount itself of compassion, was thoroughly imbued with benevolence towards all 

 mankind." 



The third chapter then concludes with stating that Pa'ndu built a splendid 

 temple for the relic, and dedicated his dominions to it, as Asoko had done 

 before him to the Bo-tree at Buddhagaya, an account of which is given in the 

 18th chapter of the Mahawanso, that he conferred great presents and honors on 

 Gu'hasi'wo; and discarding the heretics, zealously supported Buddhism. 



The fourth chapter opens with an account of an attack made on Pdtitipura f 

 by a raja named Krt'ra'dha'ro, on account of the relic Buddhists in Ceylon 

 have been taught to understand that Khi'ra'dha'ro was a Buddhist, and sought 

 the acquisition of the relic, out of devotional feelings. I can, however, find no 

 authority for this view of his motives, nor for assigning Sdwattipura* to be his 

 capital, which would in that case make hioi the sovereign of Kosald (OudeJ. 

 Pa'ndu leaves his capital, with a great army, to meet him in the field. Khi'- 

 ra'dha'ro is defeated, and, as will be seen afterwards, is killed in this campaign. 

 The Dathadhdtuwanso then proceeds with the following account of the termina- 

 tion of Pa'ndu's regal career. 



* In Captain Forbes' account also, of the tooth relic, published in the 

 Ceylon Almanac for 1835, S&wattipura is stated to be the capital of Khi'ra'- 

 dha'ro's dominions, 



