By Thyaga Weraniyagoda, Leeds Int. School, Panadura

It was a full moon Poson day,
Which was declared a holiday,
King Devanampiyatissa was hunting,
As it is a royal sport,
Only for pleasure but not for food.

Seeing a deer in the thicket,
King aimed his bow and arrow,
But someone called out “Tissa, Tissa”,
He looked right, left and then up,
Saw a figure dressed in yellow.

Came down from the hill top,
Following five bhikkus and an upasaka,
Mahinda Thero seated on the grassy plain,
In the shade of a mango tree,
Where they had a long discussion.

The king became a Buddhist,
Buddhism as the main religion,
Still makes the people good,
And shows the path to Nibbana.