266 



JOUKNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIII. 



Baiagala kaude hima vata 

 Kapa tana ema vigasata 

 Mulbiju vapurayi sanikata 

 Sataravararn deviyo evita 

 Satara kare veta bendimata 

 Goyi seraadena avi evita 

 Palamuva sifci mulgoyiyata 

 Devipihitayi sema devituta 

 Gonagale puravedimata 

 Dahasak rajavaru veda sita 

 Mahasakvala hima medikota 

 Veda keruvayi sadenek sita 

 Mulgoyiya gurupandurata 

 Sadamin kirimuhun evita 

 Kirimavu dahasak eraavita 

 Genna dunne vigasata 



[When all the fields are well prepared,* 

 Which lie round Baiagala hill, 

 Right quickly then the seed is sown 

 By the Four Regents of the earth, f 



* I cannot vouch for perfect accuracy in these translations, the meaning 

 in some places being very obscure — at any rate to one who is not " to the 

 manner born." 



f " Below the highest sphere four regents sit, 



Who rule our world." — " Light of Asia," 8th ed., p. 1. 



At tlie Birth of Buddha. 



"When they brought the painted palanquin 

 To fetch him home, the bearers of the poles 

 Were the four regents of the earth, come down 

 Prom mount Sume'ru — they who write men's deeds 

 On brazen plates — the Angel of the East, 

 Whose hosts are clad in silver robes, and bear 

 Targets of pearl : the Angel of the South, 

 Whose horsemen, the Kumbhandas, ride blue steeds, 

 With saphire shields: the Angel of the West, 

 By nagas followed, riding steeds blood-red, 

 With coral shields : the Angel of the North, 

 Environed by his yakshas, all in gold, 

 On yellow horses, bearing shields of gold. 

 These with their pomp invisible, came down 

 And took the poles, in caste and outward garb 

 Like bearers, yet most mighty gods." — Ibid, pp. 4, 5. 



See also J. Alwis' " Contributions to Oriental Literature, " Part II., 

 pp. 1 13, 11 4, for an account of the four guardian devas, by the Rev. R. Spence- 

 Hardy, upon which the description in the " Light of Asia " would seem to be 

 founded. 



