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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. II., PART II. 



have assumed in the Kdviyasekare, a weakness though 

 common to many, if not all, poets, yet in this instance 

 without, I believe, its parallel in the history of the world. 

 He speaks of himself in the followiDg strain : — 



The limits of each science fully found, 



Radiant with heavenly-derived religion's beams, 



On learning's head a living gem he streams. 



Literal translation. 

 Arrived at the end of all sciences, 

 Like a Brahaspati who entered the earth, 



And possessed of an assemblage of pure observances of religious- 



A gem (am I) worn on the head of all eminent talents in the 



This is a work which cost the writer years of great labour, 

 although, judging from its easy and unlaboured style, one is 

 led almost to disbelieve the writer's own account of it, that 

 it was commenced 1958 a.b., or 1415 a.d., and was concluded 

 in the 34th year of the reign of Sri Parakrama Bahu VI., 

 who ascended the throne 1953 a.b., or 1410 a.d. For, if the 

 writer brought this work to a termination in the 34th year 

 of the reign of the said king, he must have spent twenty- 

 fiine years in the composition of 885 stanzas, unless indeed 

 the dates given in the Mahdwansd cannot be relied upon. 

 He next wrote the celebrated — 



° Brahaspati : — The teacher of* the Hindu gods is often desig- 

 nated by a term supposed to be its equivalent — Jupiter. But this I 

 believe is incorrect, since the one has nothing in common with the 

 other. The Grecian Zeus and the Roman Jupiter is more like Brahma 

 in one sense and li&e Indra in another. " He is the site of gods and 

 men ; also the Thunderer." 



duties, 



world. 



