Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa’, the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history
Thanasiva meets a tragic end
1. Queen Anula was greatly affected by Thanasiva’s wife’s words. Once she lost her patience, she said, “We are not low people, as you seem to believe. We, also were brought up in luxury. Please remember that”. Then Thanasiva’s wife replied, “You have come here for shelter. How dare you boast about your riches. You please note that I am the greatest lady in this area, as I am the wife of the ruler of this province”. Queen Anula then remarked, “Oh, that’s obvious. That is why you are so proud”.

2. Thanasiva’s wife continued her accusation thus. “Why can’t I be proud? I am living in my own house, with servants at my beck and call. I’m not a helpless woman like you. I do not need to know any more about you. I have been noticing your behaviour all these days and have come to the conclusion that you are a very haughty woman, who doesn’t know to respect those who deserve it. In short, you have no regard for even the people who look after you”.

3. Queen Anula, who was greatly annoyed said. “I just don’t like to listen to your gossip. I do not wish to exhibit my greatness and demand respect from others. But remember one important thing. You cannot receive our respect by force. I listen to my husband and respect him. I do not intend living the way others want me to live”.

4. Immense was the anger that arose in Thanasiva’s wife. She almost forgot herself and rushed to Queen Anula saying, “Look at the cheeky nature of this woman! You are coming to talk back to me”. She snatched the leaves the queen had already gathered and threw them away. Queen Anula suppressed her feelings and thought, “This is a very bad period for us”. She ran back to the house. By then, King Valagamba too had arrived.

5. Queen Anula fell at the feet of the king and began to sob, telling him how badly she was treated by Thanasiva’s wife. The king stroked her head lovingly and said, “Queen, do not get disturbed by the rash actions of that foolish woman. Try to be patient and live the way you have been living all these days. We cannot upset our programme, because of this woman. We must have a lot of tolerance. Try to bear up till our programme comes to an end”.

6. “I understand O King. But why do you allow me to be humiliated like this?”, asked the queen. The king who understood the queen’s plight said, “Be patient a few more days. We have a duty to serve the country. We have to save our people and our religion from foreign enemies. For this noble and worthy cause, we can afford to tolerate even when our self-respect is harmed”.

7. Thanasiva’s wife was trembling in anger. As soon as her husband arrived she ran and told him about the fight she had with Queen Anula. She exaggerated things and told him that Anula even insulted him. This angered Thanasiva. He took his bow and arrow and went towards the king and queen.

8. “When you had no shelter, you were brought here by Rev. Maha-Tissa. Through respect for the priest, I took you in and treated you well. Are you trying to live like a king and queen here? Why do you insult us? Don’t you know who I am?”, shouted Thanasiva in anger. The king and queen both listened in silence. But Prince Maha-Tissa lost his cool. When he heard his parents being insulted, he instantly acted. Pride overtook him. He got up from his seat and went towards Thanasiva. He shot an arrow at Thanasiva and Thanasiva fell dead.

By Halaliye Karunathilake
Edited and translated by Kamala Silva
Illustrated by
Saman Kalubowila

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