Funday Times - Mahawamsa

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

1. King Dappula gave contingents of soldiers to the princes who came from the south. It was to help them fight their own father. These two princes were named Kitu-Agbo and Dappula. The two of them marched with their troops, towards the South. The father, Mahinda, who was ruling the South, hearing that the sons were coming to fight, advanced with his army. The two sons entrusted their armies to a commander and returned to Anuradhapura.

2. The battle was avoided. The leader, Mahinda, also went back. Meanwhile, a relative of his came to fight him. He faced the fight but died in fighting. His relative too was badly wounded. He lived for a short while and succumbed to his injuries.

3. King Dappula 11 gave his daughter named Deva, in marriage to Kitu-Agbo. Kitu-Agbo, left his brother, Prince Dappula in Anuradhapura, to serve the king. He took his wife and left for the South and accepted the leadership there. He had a huge army and no one dared come, to fight him.

4. The new ruler of the South, was close to his subjects and treated them kindly. He did a lot to develop the Southern Province. He was religious too. In the meantime, the king of Anuradhapura, King Dappula 11, died in 831 AD. On the very day of his demise, an Agbo came to power in Anuradhapura. He was
Agbo 1X.

5. He made an announcement effective all over the city, that he was the lawful king. Dappula made a mistake in not appointing a 'Yuva-raja.’ His brother's son, Mahinda was the prince who deserved it. He allowed his son to inherit kingship. Prince Mahinda was very angry, for not getting his true place. He collected an army and came to fight the new king. King
Agbo 1X too marched forward.

6. The two armies met and the battle began. After a while, Prince Mahinda's forces were facing losses. The king's army was fierce and powerful. They killed a lot of soldiers in the enemy camp. Prince Mahinda was able to save his life. He fled out of the country. King Agbo 1X, on the other hand, being free from enemy attacks, spent a lot of time attending to the reconstruction and repair of viharas. He treated the monks of all three Nikayas, equally well.

7. This king Agbo 1X is sometimes referred to as a son of King Dappula 11. The Rajavaliya too - makes referece to this fact. However, in 833 AD, he passed away. He was succeeded by Prince Sena, who was King Agbo's brother. This king is referred to as Shilamegha in certain places.

8. King Sena tried to sort out the affairs of state. For this purpose, he had to use a lot of strategy. He employed a good spy service and got Prince Mahinda, who fled to India, killed. This king had three brothers, and they were Mahinda, Kashyapa and Udaya.