Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa’, the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history
Enemies become friends
1. The chief minister Meghavarna and King Mahasen who had become enemies of late, sat for dinner together. While enjoying the delicious food, they were engaged in a pleasant conversation. The king then asked the chief minister what made him come to fight against him, when he was so fond of him. The chief minister said, "O' King, our fight is not with you". The king looked at him in surprise and asked him, "Against whom are you fighting then?"

2. The chief minister replied, "We want you to follow the right path. We want to save you from the grips of the Chola priest. He has deceived you. That is why the Mahavihara which flourished for centuries, is being ruined now. You allowed the disciplined priests to undergo hardships. Those are not correct things to do. Do not for a moment think, I am the only one who is disgusted. All the people are living in utter disgust. They have no leader to carry on a campaign against the Chola monk and you. That is why I had to rise to the occasion".

3. The king said, "No. I do not think so. Even now the people respect me. They pay taxes faithfully. I refuse to believe you". "Yes, it is true. Till now they did not have a leader. I realized this when I came to Malayarata. The moment I stepped forward, the people flocked around me. The army gathered. These were all people who respected the 'Sasana'. They hated you. You wait and see dear King. By tomorrow morning the people of the entire city, will be on our side", said the chief minister, Meghavarna.

4. Then the king asked him whether that meant the chief minister was winning in the battle tomorrow and chasing the king from the throne. "Not at all", said the chief minister. "We do not intend to harm you in any way. But the Chola priest will be chased out of our country. We will show you the correct path and help you to mend your ways". The king then said, "Dear Meghavarna, I did all this, expecting to bring about progress in the Sasana".

5. The chief minister was simply shocked. "What damage have you done, acting on the advice of that Chola priest?" The king replied saying, "Now look at Abhayagiri Vihara. How much of money have I spent on its construction. Go and see how beautiful it is today". The chief minister continued his accusation that the Chola priest had misguided him.

6. King Mahasen was quiet for a while and was in deep thought. The chief minister then added, "useless contemplating now. The damage done to Mahavihara alone is so great. Think of the disciplined monks, who being unable to go on in hunger had to migrate to either Ruhuna or Malayarata. To add insult to injury, minister Sona joined the Chola priest and destroyed the Mahavihara. Today you cannot trace the place where it stood".

7. The king listened patiently to all this. The chief minister got up to get back to the camp. The king stopped him and said, "I understood all that you said. I admit my fault. Let us forget that miserable past. I shall admit that all that was due to my mistake. Let us join hands. Give up war and try to build up a righteous society. I shall undertake to repair all the Buddhist shrines, that have been damaged.

8. The chief minister Meghavarna accepted the king's suggestion. He said, "Yes O' King. I myself do not like war. I know it only ruins human lives and property. Now you have to withdraw the law you passed asking the citizens not to give alms to the monks of Mahavihara. Please invite them to come back to Anuradhapura. King Mahasen agreed to act accordingly. He said, "Now I realize that I was in the wrong. You took the right path always".

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