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| Sunday, 30 November 2003 |
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Chariots of fire Sel lipi by Gotobhaya Swasthi Shree! Thus says his sacred Majesty, the gracious Great King, glorious Chakravarthi, King of the Kings of Maya, Pihiti and Ruhuna, Mahoora of the Vanniala-aeththo and ruler of all lands from Yapapatuna to Sampanthota: It has come to the attention of the Maha Wasala that, in the thun-korale, a huge cobra had climbed onto a ratha carrying children from Rambukkana to Kegalle. It appears that the ratha had stopped at a wayside place of refreshment, at which point the serpent had climbed in unobserved. A teacher of the children had noticed the reptile when it started tugging at her garment. The charioteer, noticing the commotion, had stopped his vehicle. The teacher and her charges had then leapt, screaming, from the chariot. The charioteer had then taken up his cudgel and dealt a blow to the head of the cobra, thereby killing it. A grave question has arisen from this incident. Why, in the first place, did this serpent, known to be among the wisest of all beasts, think it fit to climb onto one of these rathas which ply the mang-maavath, the highways and byways of this magnificent realm, taking people to and fro? For it is with the greatest of trepidation that even the bravest of the citizens of this sublime kingdom climb onto one of these all-encompassing chariots. The charioteers are known to be erratic of temperament, flogging the horses that drag their vehicles to the very limits, as they careen along the roads. Actually what is happening is that the beasts of the jungle are attempting to ride on these murderous rathas because the alternative is too dangerous. If they tried to travel on the roads, they might be killed by speeding chariots. The serpent aforementioned was really a harbinger of things to come. In the future we will see jackals, monkeys and crocodiles riding in public rathas (several already do so in disguise, in expensive private vehicles brought from the Parangi lands, on their way to the audience hall). They may even be joined by leopards and elephants. The unfortunate passengers on both private-owned rathas and on the dreaded langama chariots might complain that, in addition to the perils of travel at present, they will be forced to face the dangers of wild beasts, not to mention having to be squashed in between animals as well as between humans. However, they should take heart that the hazards they already face dwarf the threat of being eaten alive or mauled. In fact, this could well prove to be a blessing in disguise. Hitherto, few of the Parangis who visit the shores of this resplendent isle have travelled on public rathas, preferring luxurious chariots especially meant for them. Now, as more and more of these Parangis come here to spend their much-needed kahapanas, they can perhaps be tempted to travel with the indigenous population because of the chance to see our wild animals in our chariots. This will ultimately make travel more comfortable for all concerned. Therefore, the Maha Vasala hereby decrees that, henceforth no animal, whether a wild beast or otherwise, shall be debarred from travelling on public rathas on the public mang-mawath. Furthermore, no charioteer or in fact any other traveller in such a vehicle, shall cause any such animal to be done to death. The previously mentioned charioteer, who killed the cobra, is hereby sentenced to death by being cast into a pit full of snakes. So, by rights, should all the other charioteers who drive their rathas promiscuously on the public mang-mawath, but to do so would leave no charioteers to transport travellers. Swasthi Shree! This rock edict is made on this last day of Ravi of the month of IL of the Year of the Saka Era 1930. |
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