13: The Coming of Mahinda


When he had resolved to visit in the meantime his kinsfolk, he bade farewell to his teacher and the brotherhood and having asked the leave of the king he took with him the four theras1 and also Samghamitta’s son, the miraculously gifted samanera Sumana,2 mighty in the six supernormal powers; and he went to Dakkhinagiri3 to confer on his kinsfolk (the) grace (of his preaching). While he was so doing six months passed away.


When the prince Asoka, while ruling over the realm of Avanti, that his father had bestowed on him, halted in the town of Vedisa, before he came to Ujjeni, and met there a lovely maiden named Devi, the daughter of a merchant, he made her his wife; and she was (afterwards) with child by him and bore in Ujjeni a beautiful boy, Mahinda, and when two years had passed (she bore) a daughter, Samghamitta. At that time5 she lived in the city of Vedisa. The thera who then sojourned there, perceiving (that) the time (was come), thought thus: ‘In that great festival of consecration commanded by my father shall the great king Devanampiyatissa take part, and he shall know the splendour of the three things6 when he has heard it from the envoys. He shall climb the Missaka-mountain7 on the uposatha-day of the month Jettha.8 On that same day we will go to the beauteous isle of Lanka.’



When he had stayed there a month the thera, on the uposatha-day of the month Jettha, with the four theras and Sumana,11 and the lay-disciple Bhanduka also, to the end that they might be known for human beings,12 rose up in the air (and departed) from that vihara; and he, the (thera) of wondrous powers, coming hither with his following alighted on the pleasant Missaka-mountain, on the Sila-peak on the open and fair Ambatthala.13

He who was foretold by the Sage, in the hour of death, as bringing salvation to Lañkä,14 by his merit in converting Lañkä, he, who for Lañkä’s salvation had become like to the Master,15 alighted there, extolled by the gods of Lañkä.


  1. 1-See 12. 7. []
  2. 2-See 5. 170. []
  5. 5-Namely, at the time of Mahinda’s visit. []
  6. 6-Cf. note to 12. 28. []
  8. 8-See note to 1. 12. []
  9. 9-A play upon the name Mahinda. []
  14. 14-Lit. ‘ For the blessing of L.’ []

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