Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa’, the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history
King Subha

1. King Yasalalaka Tissa was a very jovial king. He very often exchanged roles with the door-keeper and enjoyed the fun. The king never realised that it would lead to his ruin one day. He even neglected affairs of state and led a very playful life. As a result, the king could not attend to anything worthwhile either for the development of the economy or the progress of religion. Things went on, without much royal supervision.

2. In the meantime, Subha, the door-keeper, who got accustomed to sitting on the throne frequently, gradually lost the fear and respect he had for the crown. He lost his regard for the king and cultivated a liking for kingship. He was planning to make this joke a reality. One day he decided to make use of the opportunity. King Yasalalaka Tissa never suspected him, as he was his good friend. So on this day too, they exchanged roles as usual.

3. The ministers arrived. They bowed and paid respect the king. The real king who was standing at the door could not help laughing. Subha who was seated on the throne, acted quickly. He showed anger at the door-keeper for laughing in the presence of the king and said, “How dare this door-keeper laugh at my presence?” He has the least respect for the crown. See that he is beheaded.” The king who stood at the door was shocked.
He quickly declared that he was the ‘real king’ and it was only a joke that they played, all the time. The ministers refused to believe him. As they took the king away, the king repeatedly said who he was and tried to escape death. He did not succeed.

4. The ministers had to carry out the orders of the king. The person who wore the crown and sat on the throne, was accepted as the king.
The people were expected to obey him. The joke that king Yasalalaka Tissa played brought about his end in 60 AD. His period of rule lasted seven years and eight months.

5. Though Subha ascended the throne by being a traitor to his friend, he proved to be a good ruler. He won the hearts of the people. He led a righteous life and donated very generously towards the cause of religion. He built two ‘Pirivenas’ and named them ‘Satha-raja’. The ‘Valli’ temple at Uruvela was also built by him. To the east of the city, he got the temple, ‘Eka-dvaraka’ built. ‘Nadigrama’ temple was also built by him. He spent a lot of his time and money in reconstruction work relating to religious buildings.

6. Other buildings of importance are the tank ‘Utpala-droni’ and the Recreating Halls built by him. There is mention of this king in the inscriptions, as well. In the inscriptions he is referred to as ‘Sabha’. One such inscription was found to the east of the city in the Galenbindunuwewa area.

7. According to this inscription he had bought the land for the building of the tank and had employed 500 people in the construction. However much he did for the people and the country, he eternally lived in fear and suspense. Frequently he was reminded of the misdeed of killing his good friend and this disturbed him. Meanwhile a rumour spread in the city, that a prince named Vasabha will come with an army and kill the king as he had come into power the wrong way.

8. When the king heard of this, he was utterly frightened. Security was tightened. The king’s men were sent all over the city to look for someone by the name ‘Vasabha’. If there was anyone by that name, he was to be killed. As the ministers acted accordingly, hundreds of youth were killed for no reason at all. Years went by. No one by the name Vasabha could be traced in any of the neighbouring villages then only was the king at ease.

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

Back to Mirror Magazine