70 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIIL 



he went forth into the midst of the conflict like a maned lion among 

 elephants. In a moment the foes were flying in all directions (every 

 foeman was facing a different way). 



Of his audacity as well as his love of a joke, the following 

 is related : — 



He sent for one of Gaja's generals, from a certain Kala- 

 vewa (I do not see how it can be the well-known place far 

 in the north), byname Gokanna Nagaragiri, that he might learn 

 how far he was loyal to that king. The general knew already 

 enough of Parakrama to obey, but not unnaturally — after 

 the Badulla general's fate — he came with a large bodyguard 

 and not without anxiety. Parakrama received him with 

 all honours, and provided him with the best of lodg- 

 ings. But in the night Gokanna dreamed a dream. 

 He thought he saw his couch surrounded by armed 

 men come to kill him. With a cry of terror he leapt (or fell) 

 out of bed, and regardless of his troops and attendants, his 

 sword and his standard, he ran into the jungle, where he 

 wandered about till dawn ; and as soon as he could see the 

 way rushed off to his own village. His soldiers followed in 

 equal panic and arrived by different paths at KalavapL 

 And when the prince heard the tidings of this flight, he 

 laughed and (remained there a short time). He was very fond 

 of conversation, and in those days whenever he was over- 

 come with fatigue there was nothing like this story to drive 

 his fatigue away.* 



After no very long time spent in these preliminary 

 adventures he made his way northward, not without contests, 

 to the borders of his cousin's kingdom. His entering those 

 borders for the first time was a critical moment, and the 

 poet has not failed to emphasize it by a touch which un- 

 fortunately our English translator has omitted. He entered it 

 with abound — ranno ratthas'imani samullanghiyiipdgami — 

 as Caesar put spurs to his horse and leapt over the Rubicon. 



King Gaja Bahu, though not quite undisturbed at the 

 manner of the young prince's approach, persuaded himself 



* MaJidwansa, chap. LXVI., 35-56. 



