Dappula used these years to rearm himself and gather another force with two other cousins attacked Malaya Rata and captured it. Gathering more forces he surrounded the capital. The noise of his army was so great it was said that heavens were like to rend asunder. King Mahinda II took counsel with his ministers and generals (senapathis) who declared that what advantage to the king would be of maintaining in great pomp if they were to draw back at the hour of his (King's) need. Heartened by this, the king assembled his army and led it to victory once more. Dappula's two cousins were arrested, Dappula himself managed to escape to Ruhuna.