LECTURE No. XXI: THE DOWN FALL OF BAGAN AND MONK ENVOY OF BAGAN

LECTURE NO. XXI

THE DOWN FALL OF BAGAN AND MONK ENVOY OF BAGAN

(CONTD)

1.        Peace dialogue between the Chinese Emperor and the Bagan monk envoy was apt, pertinent and effective. The Khan explained to the monk envoy that the purpose of sending his soldiers and Lamas to Bagan was not military but religious – to propogate Mahayana Buddhism.

2.        Monk envoy Shin Dithapamauk aptly replied as follows: “The warriors and lamas can survive only when they have supply of paddy for their food. Now wven Manmar monks have left and deserted Bagan. There is no paddy. They are eating toddy fruits for their survival, and so they will die of dysenstry. In that case your Imperial Majesty’s purpose will never be fulfilled.”

“Oh, Great Imperial Dispenser of Justice, The gardener pours water on his plantation for growth. He does not pinch the buddings. When the water on Tampadipa [Bagan]. It is a small country but Buddhism flourishes there.”

“Your Imperial Majesty, art thou not Bodhisattha [the future Buddha]? Thou shalt not destroy the Buddha sasana of Gotama Buddha. So many are the countries your Imperial Majesty hath conquered. So vast are your Domains. Tampadipa is a small country but it has the Buddha sasana, which is flourishing. So Bodhisattha adores it. Do not send warriors into it. We will now grow crops. Come in, only after crops have been grown.”

Being convincingly carried away by the art of the monk envoy’s masterful speech, the great Khan delightfully gave his reply as follows:

“Oh Great learned monk, what you say contains those that are for my benefit. Oh, monk, go home and call back the run-away monks. Grow crops. After growing crops, send a messenger to me.

Thus ended the peace talk between Kubhai Khan and Shin Dithapamauk. In the summer of A.D. 1286 the Myanmarpeace mission returned home. The Tartar soldiers and lamas were already with drawn from Myanmarsoil.

The dedication of the rewards

So pleased was King Narathihapate with the monk envoy’s accomplishment of his peace assignment thet he showered rewards upon the latter 400 pes [land measurement] of monsoon paddy land at Hanlin, 400 pes of farmland at Anyeint and Amyint and many farm workes and cattle were presented to the monk envoy who dedicated them all to Pan Put Yat zedi Pagoda for the support of the Three Jewels [The Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha]

The record on stone.

The stone inscription which the monk envoy set up was found in a Kala Kyaung monastery near Mingala Zedi Pagodam Bagan. It records the account of the account of the despatch of the peace missionm the dialogue between Kubhai Khan and Shin Dithapamauk and the dedication of the rewards to religion. The said stone inscription Registred No 110 is now on display at Bagan Archaeological site Museum.