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Sinhalese tradition of referring to Mahawamsa & other Sinhalese Buddhist books
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1993 REPRINT ISBN 81-7013-102-2 Footnotes in italics are mine.
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Appendix A
Answers given by some of the best-informed Candian (1) Priests, to Questions put to them by Governor Falk (2), in the year 1769, respecting the ancient Laws & Customs of their Country.
A. If the King be a man of great abilities, well skilled in ancient laws & usages, acquainted with the practices of former Kings, & properly versed in religious knowledge, there are some matters which he may decide accordingy to his own pleasure; but there are, likewise, many others which he cannot determine without consulting the ministers & the people. Any doubts which exist upon this subject may be resolved by a reference to the book entitled Mahawamsa; wherein an account is given of the things which were done at the sole will & pleasure of King Parakrama Bahu, who ruled Lakdiwa (3), resided at Polonnaruwa; as well as of things done by him, after consulting his ministers.
A. It is said, in the book entitled Niti Sastra, that the basis of all good government is a victory over the senses: these are, Sights, Hearing, Smell, Taste, and Touch. A victory over the first is gained, when the wife of another can be beheld without giving rise to any wish or longing for her; over the second, when slander & abuse can be heard without exciting emotions of anger; over the third & fourth, when the organs of smelling & tasting are not immoderately delighted with perfumes & delicate viands; over the fifth, when the body is not captivated with its peculiar enjoyments. The first step towards the subjugation of the senses, is, reverence to parents, teachers, & elders; frequenting the society of wise persons is the source of that reverence; in order to be admitted into such society, learning must be acquired; by means of the wisdom derived from learning, a victory over the inclination is obtained, & that victory ensures the completion of every wish.
These are the Rules which ought to guide the conduct of Kings; a confirmation of which fact will be fond in the book entitled Tela Patta Jatake.
A. There are ten virtues which a King is enjoined to practice.
1. Charity; viz. giving rice & cloth to priests, Brahmins, & poor people.
2. Religion; viz. constantly maintaining the ordinances of Buddha
3. Liberality; viz. bestowing fields, gardens, & other valuable property.
4. Uprightness; viz. being void of deceit
5. Mercy; viz. not being of an obdurate mind
6. Temperance; viz. mortification of sensual desires
7. Placability; viz. not continuing to be angry after the cause of displeasure has ceased
8. Humanity: viz. not punishing, tormenting, or molesting innocent persons
9. Forbearance; viz. not being angry at faults before they have been well inquired into.
10. Impartiality; viz. shewing no undue preference to any one
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(2) British colonial governor of
(3)
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