Heritage Splendor

How Panduvasdev became king of Sri Lanka

When King Vijaya was in the last year of his life, he thought, "I'm old now, and I have no son. This kingdom that I have made may come to nothing after my death. I wish my brother Sumitta could come here, so that I may give him this kingdom."

So King Vijaya wrote a letter to his brother Sumitta in India, asking him to come to Sri Lanka and take over the reins. But shortly after he wrote the letter, King Vijaya died.

His ministers ruled the country, waiting for Prince Sumitta. For one year, there was no king in Sri Lanka.

Now Vijaya's brother Sumitta was ruling Sinhapura. He had three sons. When Vijaya's letter came to him, he called his three sons and said, "This Letter is from my brother Vijaya, King of Sri Lanka. It asks me to come there and be king after his death. But I'm old now and cannot go. So one of you must go to the rich and beautiful island of Sri Lanka, belonging to my brother. After his death you will be king of that fair land."

Sumitta's youngest son, Prince Panduvasdev, said that he would go.

So he took with him thirty-two sons of ministers, and dressed as monks, they set sail. They landed safely in Sri Lanka and travelled towards the city.

Now, one of Vijaya's ministers had asked a fortune-teller when the Prince would arrive from India. The fortune-teller had said, "In seven days."

The prince and his men, dressed as monks, reached the city on the seventh day. When the minister saw them, he knew that it was the Prince and his men.

So he called the other ministers, and bestowed the kingdom on Panduvasdev. But the King had no queen.

In India, there was a king who had many daughters. His youngest daughter was called Princess Baddha. Her skin was of a golden colour, and she was very beautiful.

In another state of India, there lived seven princes. They sent precious gifts to this king, asking him to give Princess Baddha in marriage. But he could not choose between the seven princes. Also the fortune-tellers had said that the Princess would make a long journey, and become queen of a beautiful country.

So her father put her on a ship with thirty two women friends, and set the ship on the river Ganges. Then he had told the seven princes that whoever could catch the ship could have the princess as his wife.

The seven princes in their ships rowed with all their might. But the ship carrying the princess was faster than any of them. The wind caught its broad sails, and carried it along, till it could not be seen any longer. At last the ship reached Sri Lanka.

The Princess and her friends, dressed like nuns, travelled towards the city.

Meanwhile, one of King Panduvasdev's ministers had been told by a fortune-teller that an Indian Princess would reach the city in seven days.

The Princess and her friends, dressed like nuns, reached the city on the seventh day. So the minister knew who they were, and brought them to the king.

When the king saw the beautiful princess, he fell in love with her. So he made her his queen. Her friends became the wives of the king's friends. King Panduvasdev and Queen Baddha lived happily for many years.

- From the Mahavamsa

- Retold by Asha Senevirathne