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328
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1877.
Literal translation. " --having dissipated the enemies and exhilarated the faces of the multitude, as the sun, whon reaching the summit of the sunrise-mountain, destroys darkness and expands the lotuses-like into Sakra, the king of gods, by his infinite royal splendour-like unto the full-moon by his gentleness---like unto Mount Meru by his firinness-like the ocean by his profoundness-like the great earth by his patience-like a kalpa-tree produced by the morits of the inhabitants of the world "
It was thought incumbent on a king who wished to show his zeal for the religion of Buddha to issue edicts forbidding people to take away life. Of course it was rather the life of birds, fish, wild heasts, &c., which was meant to be spared; as for man's life, often the most devoted of these kings had made their way to the throne through murdering their predecessors. In the second part of the Mahuvanso this is usually expressed by a certhin fixed formula :
Machchhanam migapakkhinanis katabbaris sabbam achari:
"As for his duties towards the fish, wild beasts, and birds, he accomplished them all."
Nissalika Malla did not neglect these duties. In his inscription at Anuradhapura he says that he gave security to the fish in twelve great tanks, and commanded the Kambodyans not to kill birds, after having given them large presents. In his inscription on the pillars at Rankot Dagaba some of these tanks are enumerated :
Ran-Tisce-Minihoru-Gañgatala-Pads-etulu wu tun rajayehi no ek muha we tante asesha pran futa abhaya di:
"Having at the site of many great tanks, as Ranwawa Tisawa (Tissawawa at Anuradhapura), Miņihoruwawa (Mineri), Gañgata!Awa (Kandalei), Padiwawa (Padiwila), and others in the three kingdoms, given security to all living beings."
On the other hand, the same king sent his gene. ral Lak Vijayasingu Kit with an army over to India, to invade the kingdom of Pandi, and pretends to have received largetribute from his enemies. An inscription of this identical Lak Vijayasingu Kit, who is frequently spoken of in connection with Nissalika Malla's victories, I have described in a former report ; I shall insert it below, as it will be of interest to compare this later grant to the priesthood with the more ancient dedicatory inscriptions above quoted. The several queens of Nissalika Malla are also mentioned, as well as his son Virabahu, who reigned after his father's death for one year, and his daughter Sarv van gasundari (compare the names of other princesses of Kaliñga -Trilokasundari, queen to Vijayabahu I., and a
relation of hers called Sundari (Mahat. ch. lix., Turnour's ed. Intr. p. lxxxviii. ff.).
In several inscriptions the people of Ceylon are admonished to choose their kings from the royal family of Kalinga, as it would not become kings of Choda or Pandi, who were adverse to Buddhism, to reign over the island :
Kalinga-vamsayata himi Lak-diwa Buddha-édsanayata pratipaksha abauddha Choda Pandyddi-rajun no pihitiwiye yuttdy:
i.e." As it is not right to establish un-Buddhistic kings, as those of Choda, Pandi, &c., who are enemies to the religion of Buddha, in the island of Larka, which belongs to the dynasty of Kålinga" (Galpota, III, 21-22).
I think we are justified in inferring from this that the princes of Káliñga themselves were Buddhists, and it is not without interest to learn that so late as at the close of the 12th century there was a Buddhistio dynasty reigning over a part of Southern India.
Of real benefit to his subjects seem to have been the changes Nissalika Malla made in the system of taxation : for five years he remitted all taxes. and some of the most obnoxious he abolished for ever.
Inscription of Lag Vijayasingu Kit (on the three sides of a pillar found on the band of Abhayawawa or Basava-kkuļam, now in the Museum of Colombo) (date about 1210).
Srimat Okk-was-raja-parapuren A Abha Salamewan Lilâvati-svâmingê agramatya wû Lag Vijayasiñgu Kit senewiyantunwan nê Anuradha. purehi patan bhůmiye taman kæræ wû rawanpâyehi wædæ hun sangu
B.
ruwanta siwu-pasayen wana pásu piņisa taman. ta bat giņuwa yewin yalak ha mehi ma chai. tyayata yâlak hâ piļimageta yalakha bhůmi-dana kota hira-sanda pamana wa pidû påsayen pirimæmû me lâbhaya antaraya kalawun
windina narakadi-duk dæn ha matu matu wana nuwanætiyan lobha-dvesha-mâna duru kotæ lábba antaraya no kotæ nuwanættan (?) kala anumowanu mænæwi.
Literal translation. "General Lag Vijayasiñgu Kit, chief minister to Lilâvati's royal consort, Abhå Salamewan, who comes from the royal race of the glorious Ikshváku family-in the 3rd year (of the king's reign) having made a donation of land: one yala for rice......... barley (P) to the priests themselves living in the Rawanpåya (ratnaprasdda, palace of jewels) which he
