No. 63. 1910.] AGE OF SRI PARAKRAMA BAHU VI. 
33 
dissension, shorn of her former possessions, a prey to foreign 
adventurers, yielding tribute to an alien nation ; he left a united 
realm, comprising the whole Island, respected by his neigh- 
bours abroad as the most formidable power in the East,^ having 
all her former territories restored, with new conquests added 
of cities over sea which acknowledged his over-lordship. His 
mild and beneficent sway and his victories deeply attached 
him to his subjects, who, as we read in contemporary verse, 
compared him to his namesake the Great Parakrama ^ ; and as 
the shadows of his long reign lengthened, his grateful people 
called to mind the old prophecy, which foretold the dawn of a 
bright era under a great and righteous emperor who would 
rule the world with clemency and justice ; and they loved to 
behold mirrored in their beloved sovereign the righteous lord 
who would bear sway " when twice five thousand years have 
rolled away." 
" O tell me, traveller, from whence you wend your way ? — 
From Samanala, Brahman, have I arrived this day. 
What news from god Sumana, who holds thereo'er chief sway ? 
When thousand twain, and hundreds five, of years have 
passed away, 
The world to rule, a king shall come, so folk who dwell 
there say ! 
King Perakum, then citizen, that is, whom all obey." ^ 
The fabric of Government that he had reared with such 
patience and toil withstood the incessant attacks made on it 
by civil discord and foreign aggression for nearly the space 
1 Oird Sandesa, v. 128. ^ Gird Sandesa, v. 129, 
2SS)£33 ^^(20 S)§<^ ^^Pi ®® 2553 
cSc8s33(3 i^t^qfSitS e3«58co d®e3'^s^ d^ssS ^cb 2©) 
— e3t6iSe®«)3 86'453, 112 4a. 
Tell (me) O! traveller ! where do you come from ? — O! Brahman, 
(I am returning) from having gone to Samanala. What news is there 
in that country, O ! Brahman, from the chief god Sumana ? When 
two thousand five hundred years shall have elapsed, they say there 
will come aking, the chief of the world. Then it can be said, O ! citizen, 
that is the king Perakum of this day. — Perakumbdsirita^ v. 112. 
(Skeen's Adam's Peak, p. 39.) 
D 36-10 
