No. 34. — 1887.] SINHALESE INSCRIPTIONS. 



93 



the future princes, ministers, and commanders of armies, and 

 wealthy people to patronise the manifold Dhamma. 



Between a gift and its maintenance, the maintenance is 

 better than the gift itself : in consequence of the gift one 

 attains heaven, in consequence of its maintenance one 

 attains the state from which there is no fall (Nirvana). 



If, in accordance with the above well-said maxim, there 

 be any good person who, by mere word or bodily exertion, 

 will be a helper in this charitable deed, let him endeavour to 

 attain divine and human happiness, and, finally, to experience 

 the ambrosial and great Nirvana, keeping in view the fact 

 that one who puts up a fence and protects seed derives 

 benefit more than the man who planted the seed, and one 

 who brings up a child with parental affection derives benefit 

 more than the mother who brought forth the child. 



May there be the accomplishment of wishes ! 



May there be good success ! 



May there be health ! 



May there be happiness ! 



May there be long life ! 



(Notes.) 



(1) Kala is evidently a clerical error for Laka = Lanka. 



(2) The king referred to in the following inscription was 

 Bhuvanaika Bahu IV. of Gampola, who ascended the throne 

 1344 A.D. According to " Nikaya Sangraha," Senalankadhi- 

 kara, his minister, sent pearls, precious stones, &c, to 

 KaSchipura (modern Conjeveram of Southern India), where 

 he got a stone image made. He also caused to be made at 

 Dewunuwara (Dewundara, or Dondra) a three-storeyed 

 house with images (of Buddha) in a standing posture, and 

 caused a large image-house of eighteen cubits to be built 

 at Akbo wehera (Agrabodhi vihara). Moreover, on the top 

 of the Parnasaila rock in the Sinduruwana nuwara, his native 

 place, he caused to be built a magnificent vihare, Lankatilaka 

 by name* which was as beautiful as the Kailasa rock. He 

 also performed many other religious acts and led a pious 



