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JANUARY, 1893.]
PO:USDAUNG INSCRIPTION.
20,000 cavalry men; by other members of the four-fold army; by various tributary Sòbwas and Myôzâs ; by ministers and military commanders of different grades, who were distinguished for their birth, character, and talents; and by the members of the royal family, consisting of sons, brothers, kinsmen, queens, concubines, and attendants of the King). The King embarked on a beautifully-wrought bejewelled raft, fornished with all regal splendour. Four white umbrellas were planted on the raft, which was surrounded by various kinds of gilt boats and other rafts. During his progress, the King was accompanied by over 200,000 infantry, cavalry, and elephants. At every stage on the journey, high festivals were held. On Monday, the 8th of the waning moon of the same month, Prome (Pyimyo) was reached, and the King took up his temporary residence on the sand-bank at the month of the Nawinchaung.
In the 8th year of his Buddhahood, Gautama Buddha, at the solicitation of the merchants of Vânijjagima in Sunâ paranta, visited the sandal-wood monastery built by them, and left two impressions of his Holy Foot on the banks of the Namanta river, for the adoration of all dévas and men, including the people of the Myan Country. On his return, he turned round the soles of his feet, and pronounced an oracle on the summit of a hill, which, in after times, was called the Pawasa daung. The King, observing that the pagoda erected by his ancestors on that hill would not last for ever, resolved to replace it by another, which would last throughout the 5,000 years allotted by Buddha for the continuance of the Religion, and which would be an object of adoration by all men. As he was possessed of sach might and power as to cause the consummation of his wishes by the co-operation of the Nats, who watch over the Religion, and by 'Sakra and other Nåts, the t'i of the Digôn Sándòsbin was brought away by Sakra and the Nats for the purpose of being enshrined together with images, chétis, bone-relics, and hair-relics. In order that the pagoda to be built might last throughout the 5,000 years allotted for the continuance of the Religion, its foundations were laid on a massive rock. Gold, silver, and mogy818 bricks were laid as foundationstones, and the building of the pagoda, which was 164 bàndarng819 in diameter, was begun on Wednesday, the oth of the waxing moon of Tabodwè, 1138, Sakkaraj, and 2318, Anno Buddhe. As when King Siridhammasôka built 84,000 pagodas, &c., there was an eclipse of the moon on the evening of Wednesday, the lst of the waning moon of Tabodwè. When the moon had become bright and clear, in the capacious receptacle-chamber were deposited great numbers of gold and silver images and chétis, bone-relics and hair-relics, and many representations of the Baddha at the Mahabodhisattathana. The building of the pagoda was finished on the 7th day of the waning moon of Tabodwè, and it was named the Nyandòmyint. On its completion, it was worshipped by the King, his queens, sons, daughters, brothers, kinsmen, ministers, and generals.
The King left Prome on the 8th day of the waning moon of Tabodwè. He placed & golden t'i on the Digôn Såndòshin Chêti, and completely covered it with new gilding on Wednesday, the full moon day of Tabaung. From the date of his arrival to the 2nd day of the waning of the moon of Tagų, 1137, Sakkaraj, he held high festivals in honour of the pagoda and made great offerings. On his return, he reached Prome on the 8th day of the waxing moon of Kason 1137, Sakkaraj. At an auspicious hour after midnight on Saturday, the full moon day of the same month, the King placed a golden t'i on the P8:0:daung Pagoda, and completely covered it with gilding. An offering of food and priestly requisites was made to the Royal Preceptor and a great many other monks, and festivals were held in honour of the occasion.
"For this, my good deed, may I become an Omniscient One, surpassing others in wisdom, and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 An alloy of gold and copper in proportions of half and half. 19 This equal 29 ft. 1 inches.
