1848.] Gleanings in Buddhism. 83 



310, not as might be inferred from this account, within a life time after 

 Buddha's death. 



The Maha Raja replied that he was not at the time aware that Bud- 

 dha had entered Nivan or Nirvana. 



Singha Raja then invoked all the supernal powers to aid his arm, and 

 directed his elephant to he furiously urged against the great king's. Both 

 armies rushed to battle, and the two kings long contended hand to hand ; 

 at length Singha Raja with one blow of his sabre rolled his adversary's 

 head on the ground, the body remaining on the elephant. The troops of 

 the Maha Raja now fled and were pursued with great slaughter. 



" Three years after this battle a king of Hemantha Phara, confederated 

 with the Princes of four other countries, who having united their forces 

 to his, and thus formed an army of three hundred thousand men, 

 marched to attack Singha Raja in order to compel him to deliver up 

 the relic. 



On arriving before Dantapura the allies encompassed it with trenches, 

 and then sent a herald to summon the king to resign the relic. Singha 

 Raja requested three days for deliberation, which were accorded." 



It would appear however that Singha Raja foresaw that resistance 

 would cause the loss of his kingdom ; for, continues the account, the 

 unfortunate Prince being thus driven to extremity and disdaining to 

 fly or to yield up the precious tooth, determined to save his honor by 

 perishing sword in hand. He visited his queen, called his children 

 around him, and communicated to them his resolve. 



Her Majesty impressed upon the king that resistance to such a power 

 would be vain, and urged him to assume the garb of a priest and to fly 

 with his family to another country, carrying with him the sacred relic. 

 That opposition to such a host resembled an attempt to quench fire 

 without water, or like an ember on which a deluge was ready to pour. 

 His Majesty however continued firm, and observed that it would ill- 

 comport with the dignity which had descended to him from his ances- 

 tors were he to shun the impending conflict without making an effort 

 to defend his kingdom ; that the sword was in his hand and could not 

 be sheathed. 



He than solemnly enjoined the queen, that in case of his death (or 

 defeat) she should disguise herself as a priestess and seek refuge in a 

 monastery. Next, turning to his son Thont'ha Kuman and to his 



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