1.
It was Queen Somadevi’s final glance at the king. This brave
king who had never shed a tear before was on the verge of breaking
down. The queen felt very sad. She thought this was going to be
their final meeting. They had to part and that for the sake of
the country and the future of the Sinhala nation. Queen Somadevi’s
eyes too swelled with tears. She tried to control them.
2.
Somadevi then looked at Queen Anula. She was sobbing. The two
children were greatly frightened. This parting could not go on
for long. The enemy was chasing them. The king gave a handful
of gems and jewels to Somadevi. She accepted them and said, “Do
hurry. Try to meet again if fortune permits it”.
3.
With difficulty, the king uttered the following words. “O
great Queen. Once I succeed in saving the country from the enemy,
I shall do whatever I can for you. I shall never forget you in
life”. Somadevi descened from the chariot. Queen Anula wished
her the bliss of the triple gem. The chariot then drove fast.
Somadevi kept on looking at them. They too looked back at her,
until she vanished form their sight.
4.
The chariot carrying the king and his party entered the forest
Vessagiri. After traveling a little distance in the forest, they
came to the Kuppigala Vihara. Rev. Maha-Tissa was the chief priest
of that temple. The king with the queen and children entered the
temple. He met the chief priest. By this time, Maha-Tissa was
aware of everything that happened in Anuradhapura. The priest
was glad to see the king and said that it was quite advisable
to have fled like this.
5.
Before long, the priest realized that the king and his party,
had not had a proper meal. He took them to the dining hall and
requested them to partake of some food. The king refused saying,
“We respect our Buddhist priests, at the risk of our lives.
Our great respect towards them should not be shaken. This food
has been prepared for you. So please have your meal. If there
is anything remaining, we shall eat”.
6.
Listening to the king’s words, Rev. Maha-Tissa ordered all
the bikkhus present, to have their meals. As they entered the
dining hall, the king and his party, left the hall. Once the priests
finished their meal, the king’s party came in and partook
of the remaining food. The king then got a palm leaf from Maha-Tissa
and wrote on it, that the entire land around should belong to
the Kuppigala temple, from then onwards. He offered it to Rev.
Maha-Tissa. Maha-Tissa and the other priests present there, blessed
the king by chanting pirith.
7.
The priest got a place prepared for the king, queen and the two
children. As the journey was so tiring, the king fell asleep very
soon. But after a while he got up. Rev. Maha-Tissa sent some warm
water to the king, through a helper. That revived all of them.
Then Maha-Tissa took the king to the library. He closed all doors
and began to speak to the king.
8.
“O, Great King, the entire country is faced with a crisis.
The country, its people and the religion of the land, are all
at risk. A lot of people have already fled the city. The Tamil
soldiers who were supporting you, have now joined the enemy. The
other Tamils, who were scattered here and there, have all risen
against the Sinhala people.
They loot the wealth of the villagers and the temples. The temples
have lost the important place they occupied. The centres of the
Niganthas have become very prominent”. As the priest continued,
the king got into deep thought.
