Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa’, the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history
The commanders meet Rev. Maha-Tissa
1. The seven commanders were utterly disgusted. They felt sad about what happened to their friend. They wandered in the forest aimlessly. They were waylaid by a gang of robbers. After losing all their possessions, they were left quite helpless. With the greatest difficulty, they were able to reach the village, Hambugalla. They saw a temple there and went towards it.

2. The chief priest of the Hambugalla temple too was a priest named Tissa. The commanders went to meet the chief priest. The priest at once noticed that they had been starving for days. Without asking any questions, he led them to the dining hall and gave them food and drink. The soldiers who had been in dire need of food, ate greedily and drank to quench their thirst. The priest who watched them felt very sad and did not utter a word. Once they had fully satisfied their hunger and thirst, the priest questioned them.

3. The commanders, with no hesitation, told him everything. The priest listened patiently but did not say anything. Instead, he organized a place for them to rest awhile. After a short rest, the commanders felt fresh and strong. The priest sent a message to Kuppigala. This message was for Rev. Maha-Tissa. No sooner he got the message, Rev. Maha-Tissa arrived at the Hambugalla temple and met the commanders. They paid their respect to Rev. Maha-Tissa by worshipping at his feet.

4. Rev. Maha-Tissa questioned the commanders then. “O commanders, I’m asking a question for which all seven of you should give an answer”. The commanders agreed and the priest continued. “This is our motherland. Our country, the nation and the religion have suffered under foreign invasions for a period of 14 years. It is very difficult to bring things back to normal. How could we come out of this mess? It is time we make serious note of this”. The commanders were silent. The priest watched their reaction.

5. He asked them, “Are we to join the enemy or are we ready to rally round the king?” All seven of them, in one voice replied. “We are going to support the king”. The priest asked them why they deserted the king. “It was dangerous to be with him. Didn’t you see what happened to Kapisiya? You may well be aware of the entire episode”, said one of them. The priest replied saying the king was definitely too hasty.

6. Addressing the commanders, he went on thus. “You’re clever commanders. It is quite natural for anybody to make mistakes. I do not condone the king’s action. Things happened that way, because he lost his patience. There is a reason for that too. How much has the king suffered for the last 14 years? What kind of humiliation did he undergo? All these contributed towards the king’s hasty action. Let alone a king, even a normal man would not have tolerated so much of agony and suffering. Commanders, please try to understand the king”.

7. The commanders silently listened to the words of the priest. Rev. Maha-Tissa went into detail, describing how the king had to spend many a night in the thick jungle, where elephants and even tigers roam. He lived in caves occupied by bats. He did all that, with one intention of freeing the country. That bad period is now coming to an end. We are sure to see him accomplishing his ambition”.

8. As they listened patiently, the anger of the commanders subsided. The priest realized it and advised them thus. “Dear commanders, try to forget the previous mistakes. Let us join hands to protect our country. All of us should now support King Valagamba. Drown all petty rivalries and let us be untied to achieve this one aim of saving our country”.

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

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