Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the 'Mahavamsa', the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history

The battle of the princes of the south
1. Prince Dappula organized his army and got ready for the battle. He came as far as an area called Sangama and camped there. Commander Mahinda, who got this news, got ready, collected the royal army and marched to the battle-field. The battle went on for a considerable time and there were losses on both sides. As the royal army was winning, the army of Dappula retreated. This prince climbed to the Walas rock, along with the army that was retreating.

2. Meanwhile the leaders in the north, got to know that there wasn't an army at Anuradhapura. They made a combined effort and captured the capital city. The Commander Mahinda had to stop his task of chasing the retreating army and immediately come to the capital city. He gave a good fight and chased the leaders of the north and continued his rule. He treated the clergy and the laymen both, quite well. He showed kindness even to animals.

3. He did his duty by his relatives and the army too. In the meantime, Prince Dappula, went to Malayarata. He collected armies there. He had two of his nephews in Ruhuna, at this time. He got them to join him. They came along with their own battalions of soldiers. The soldiers of the south were skilled fighters. So when they joined the army of Malayarata, it became a strong and powerful force.

4. These armies were well equipped. They had all four units - of elephants, horses, chariots and foot-soldiers. Prince Dappula led this huge army, one night to Anuradhapura and besieged the city. The Mahavamsa says it looked like the sea waters rushing ashore. The people were shocked at this sudden turn of events. The entire area echoed and re-echoed with the noise made by the elephants, horses, bugles and the noise of the warriors.

5. The citizens were quite alarmed. They became helpless and started to weep. They put off the lights in their houses and spent the night in darkness, shivering in fear. Some were looking for places of safety. In the palace too, there was pandemonium. Everyone was restless. They thought it was their ruin and began to seek solace in the religion.

6. Prince Dappula and the other two princes led the armies. Commander Mahinda, quite unmoved, looked out of his window. Observing that the enemy army was large, he assembled the royal army in the dead of the night. With a smile on his lips, he said, "Three princes have besieged the city. They have huge armies too. Now what would you do?"

7. Being skilled soldiers themselves, they said, "When we serve the king, our lives are not our won. Therefore, in an instance like this, we shall not hesitate to act. Why should we back out? And for what purpose have you fed us and looked after us, all this time? Let us fight." The Commander Mahinda was overjoyed at these words and asked them to get ready to fight.

8. He too donned his army attire and well-equipped for battle, he got on to his elephant. He had a good look at his army. When dawn was about to break, he went out with his army, making his exit through a secret door in the wall. This is something Prince Dappula and his crowd never expected. They thought that the battle would begin only in the morning. The Mahavamsa refers to this incident thus, "the royal army pounced upon them like a thunderbold.”

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