The inscription is engraved around four sides of the smoothed upper surface of a stone seat (āsana). It was discovered in the jungle some two hundred yards to the east of the ruin known as Ran-kot-vehera in Poḷonnaruva. The inscription consists of six lines and dates from the reign of Niśśaṅka-Malla (1187-1196 A.D.). It gives an account of some of Niśśaṅka-Malla’s acts, before identifying the seat as the one which the king occupied to watch the construction of the Ruvanväli-dāgaba at Poḷonnaruva. Wickremasinghe notes that the stone-seat inscription must be earlier than the Galpota inscription (IN03081) because the latter post-dates the completion of the Ruvanväli-dāgaba. This dāgaba was built to a height of eighty cubits and adorned with a golden pinnacle, from which it gets its present name: Ran-kot-vehera (‘golden-spire-monastery’).
Prosperity! His Majesty Siri–San̆gabo Vīra–rāja Niśśaṁka–Malla Kālin̆ga–Cakravartī freed the Island of Laṅkā from the thorns [of lawlessness] and restored peace to living beings. He remitted taxes for five years for the benefit of the people of Laṅkā who had been distressed by the inordinate exactions of former kings. And giving [to the people] five tulābhāras every year, as well as bestowing [on them] titles, [divel-]lands, serfs, cattle, permanent grants, heritages, gold, jewels, clothes, ornaments, and such [other kinds of] wealth in abundance, he made them prosperous. He abolished for all times taxes on chēna cultivation and gave security to living beings in forests and large tanks. In his own country and in foreign lands he established many alms-houses and maintained the giving of abundant alms. He made tours through the three kingdoms [of Ceylon] and inspected lands and villages, including all places difficult of access. [In this way] he promoted the welfare of the State and the Church.
Then, being desirous of martial contests, he proceeded to Dambadiva (India), attended by his fourfold army, and sought single combats, &c. Finding none, but seeing ‘the golden fingers’, the royal maidens, and other tribute that were sent by the suppliant kings of Cōḍa, Pāṇḍya, and other countries, he raised columns of victory and returned to the Island of Laṅkā, where he is now ruling in accordance with the ten principles of regal duty. And as such, His Majesty was pleased to sit on this seat, carved out of a single stone, and watch the [progress of] work whilst superintending the building of the Ruvanväli–dāgaba.
Other versions
Republished in: Müller, Edward. (1883). Ancient Inscriptions in Ceylon. London: Trubner & Co., pp. 67, 101-102 and 135, no. 151.
His Excellency, the illustrious overlord Sangabo Wîrarâja Nissanka Malla of Kalinga;—who restored peace to Ceylon, and brought it under one sceptre (umbrella);—who remitted five years’ taxes for the people of Lanka afflicted by the unbounded taxation of former kings, and by yearly giving five times his own weight in metals, and much property, including titles, villages, slaves, cattle . . . . . . and gold, and jewels, and clothes, and ornaments, made them happy;—who for ever remitted royal dues;—who even in the woods and difficult places rendered living things secure;—who at home and abroad built many resthouses and gave great largesses;—who travelled through the three kingdoms, and inspected all inaccessible and despised districts and lands;—who increased religion;—who from the lust of war went with his four-fold army to Dambudiwa, and demanded soldiers, and when he did not receive the army harassed the princes of Cola and Pâṇḍi and other places, and having looked at the rings and virgins they sent as gifts, and put up pillars of victory, returned to Lakdiwa, and reigned with the ten kingly virtues;—(He) used to sit on this throne made of a single stone, and was pleased to watch the work when he was building the Ruwan-wæli Dâgaba.