Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c11.s1.63

c11.s1.63

“Long ago when a Rāja named Bambadat ruled according to the four good rules in Baranas Nuvara (Benāres) in Kasiraṭa on the plain of Dambadiva, enjoying regal luxuries, there dwelt a young Brahman in Pasalgama. At the death of his parents becoming master of all their property, as he was living in enjoyment of the comforts of a layman, many hermits during the rainy season came from the Himalaya forest to Benares to the abodes of men and dwelt in ease in places such as the royal gardens and went too and fro in the city streets. Thereupon when the townspeople saw the hermits they prepared eatables and drinkables and gave to them and made arrangements for them to remain there till the end of the wet season, the hermits yeasaying them, dwelt in the royal gardens and such places. The townspeople began to treat them with food consisting of delicious dishes of every kind. At that time the aforesaid Brahmana Kumāra one day entering the city observing the people very eagerly treating the hermits and himself also going near the hermits remained