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her that she will perform the Tilaka ceremony which is a sister's privilege at the time of his coronation. He kept the promise.
He made one Jamba, a merchant, his Mahāmātya, i. e. the principal minister. As the story goes, Vanarāja with his companions met him in a jungle when he was an outlaw. Jamba had five arrows with him, but broke the two of them in their presence. When asked the reason, he said that three arrows were sufficient for the three of them. Vanarāja was naturally impressed with the man and tested his skill by asking him to shoot at a flying object which he did to his satisfaction. How much historical reality there is in these stories, we cannot definitely say. Looking to the times and surroundings, they are not at all improbable.
The colophon at the end of the Neminathachariu supplies us with more reliable information which is important as indicating the way in which Vanarāja tried to make his city prosperous and strengthen his kingdom.
It says There is a family called Poruyaḍa (S. Prägvāṭa) originally of the city of Sirimāla (S. Srimala ). The family is a treasure of excellent men (lit. Manikya - rubies - amongst men) of innumberable virtues." This family which owned elephants, horses, and a rich store of merchandise came to the town of Gambhuya ( a place near Aṇahilapura Patana ). In that family, there was a famous rich merchant-prince named Thakkura Ninnaya. On one occasion, the king, (i. e. Vanaraja ) who looked upon him as a father (janayabuddhie ) took him to his own Anahillapāḍa (that is Ninnaya was requested to reside in his own
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