Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa’, the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history.
The Tamil Commander who loved Somadevi
1. The Tamil armies who guessed that King Valagamba was somewhere there in hiding, entered Anuradhapura, through the northern entrance. They searched the entire city, looking for the king but couldn’t find a trace of him. They came as far as the southern entrance and failing to find the king, they sat and discussed what should be done next. Their only concern was that they could not catch him and kill him. The Chief Commander cautioned the others that they now have to live in fear and suspense.

2. The Commander Pulahattha then said, “Why should we live in fear? Valagamba hasn’t the strength to fight us again. There is no cause for alarm”. Then another commander, asked why the king fled. He had a doubt whether the king did so through fear of the Tamil armies or with the intention of organizing an army himself. By way of boasting, Pulahattha said, “He is a coward. How can he organize another army? He retreated to save his life. He may be hiding somewhere”.

3. The Chief Commander, who did not agree with Pulahattha said they had to go on looking for the king. He suggested that a unit of the army should be sent to the south. The others too approved of this plan and one of the commanders took his soldiers and headed for the south. These soldiers went as far as Vessagiri forest. They went in different directions to look for the king. One of the soldiers met Somadevi, who lay in hiding. He brought her to the commander.

4. The Tamil commander who was highly taken up with the beauty of Somadevi, thought of winning her somehow. He wanted the soldiers to get back and leave him alone with the queen. He thought of a plan and told the soldiers the king had to be closeby. He asked the soldiers to search for the king till he obtained some information from the queen. The soldiers did as they were told. They went into the forest.

5. The Tamil commander was now left alone with Somadevi. He was attracted by her beauty. Somadevi, who understood the situation, used her intelligence, and gifted the parcel of gems and jewels she got from the king, to the commander. The commander was greatly pleased, assuming that the queen too was attracted to him. Somadevi, realizing the weakness of the commander, made maximum use of it.

6. She began to contemplate. “King Valagamba will somehow raise an army and win the country and be king once more. I shall not utter anything to betray him. I have to be very careful. This Tamil commander is capable of even killing me”. Just then, the commander held her hand. Somadevi detested it but did not show any signs of disapproval. When he suggested that she should go with him, the queen consented.

7. They took a different route and arrived at Mantota. Then the commander spoke thus. “By now the Tamil army may be knowing everything about us. Already they may be on our trail. Before they find us, let us leave this country and go to my home-town”. As there was nothing better for this noble lady to do at this juncture, she consented to do so. Accordingly, both of them went to South India.

8. The soldiers who were combing the forest could not find a trace of the hiding place of the king. They went back to where they had left the commander. To their utter astonishment, they found their commander and the queen missing. They started looking for them. Seeing their foot prints pointing in the other direction, they thought they would have run away. They went back to Anuradhapura and reported all that had happened.

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

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