1872.] 
197 
The Conquest of South India in the Twelfth century by Parakrama Bahu, the 
great King of Ceylon. — By T. W. Rhts Davids, District Judge, Anu- 
radhapura, Ceylon. 
It is known from Tumour’s Epitome and Armour’s translation of the 
Dambulla inscription that Parakrama Bahu’s generals made successful ex- 
peditions into South India, hut no detailed account has yet been published. 
The history of these expeditions is given in the Mahawansa, chapters 76 and 
77 ; hut as these contain 439 verses, equal to about one-seventli of the pub- 
lished part of the hook, a translation of them would occupy too much space, 
and would be a formidable task to undertake, while a shorter account 
from one of the many trustworthy Sinhalese histories may be useful to those 
who take interest in the history and ancient geography of the Dak’hin. I 
have chosen the ‘ Narendracarit-avalokana-pradipikawa,’ the account in 
which, though a mere abstract, may be depended upon to contain nothing 
not found in the Mahawansa, and to bo in fact as far as it goes almost a 
literal translation of that work with many omissions. 
The chapter translated is the 66th ; the next goes on to relate how 
Kulasekhara, after his flight in disguise, fortified himself in the stronghold* 
of Tondamana, and afterwards, sallying thence, retook Ivandayaru, defeat- 
ing two of Lankapura’s lieutenants : how Lanka pur a again defeated him, 
re-established peace, and confirmed Wirapandu on the throne, restoring the 
banished Tamil noblos to their lands, and anointing Wirapandu in the city 
of Madura. It is mentioned also incidentally that on the orders of Para- 
krama Bahu he struck copper coins (Kakawanu, from Kaliapana = Karsha- 
pana). There are three copper coins of Parakrama Bahu, two given in Prin- 
sep,f of which I know of at least twenty or thirty examples, and one very 
rare with a well-executed lion on the reverse by the side of the standing 
figure. It will also, I think, appear from the notes to this translation 
that the gold coin with the inscription Lankeswara, unassigned by Prinsep, 
must have been struck by Parakrama Bahu. 
The 66 th Chapter of Narendracaritdvalolcana Pradipikdwa. 
After that, when the Maharaja Parfikrama Balm was promoting religion 
(Sdsana) and prosperity, after in the 8th year from his coronation, as is re- 
lated above, he had fought the great fight with his enemies in Ruhunu rata,]; 
and having conquered was livirig in security ; although both because the 
* Parwata widurgga. 
f Edition by Thomas, I, 419. 
J The southern part of Coylon. 
