The Journey

කෝට්ටේ සිට කැලණිය දක්වා

From Kotte to Kelaniya

The poem is a single flight. Twenty passages carry the starling from a royal palace, through night and dawn, over mountains and rivers, to the shrine of a god. Choose any stop to begin reading there.

ආසී
The Invocation
Every classical Sinhala poem opens with a blessing. Here the poet turns to greet the starling who will carry his message.
Verse 1Begin here →
සැපදුක් විමසුම්
Greetings & Inquiry
The poet praises the starling's beauty and asks, as a good host would, whether her journey here was safe and easy.
Verses 2–3Begin here →
කටයුතු නිදෙස්
The Errand
After a word on true friendship, the poet names the task: carry a message to the god Vibhishana at Kelaniya.
Verses 4–5Begin here →
ජයවද්දන පුර වැනුම්
The City of Jayawardhanapura
A dazzling portrait of Jayawardhanapura Kotte, the capital: its moat, gates, gardens, mansions and the women of the city.
Verses 6–14Begin here →
ගමන් පිරුම
Setting Out
Choosing the auspicious hour to leave, and the good omens that greet the traveller on the road.
Verses 15–16Begin here →
දළදා වැනුම
The Tooth Relic
The starling is told to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic, kept in its three-storey shrine at Kotte.
Verse 17Begin here →
රජ දැක්ම
Before the King
The golden-spired palace, and King Parakramabahu VI seated on his lion throne. The bird must take the king's leave.
Verses 18–20Begin here →
නික්මුම
Departure
As moonlight opens the night lilies, the starling finally takes wing from the city.
Verse 21Begin here →
නිසා වැනුම්
The Night
A night's rest at a Hindu kovil: camphor smoke, conch calls and Tamil hymns, all described with warmth.
Verse 22Begin here →
උදා වැනුම්
Dawn
Morning breezes and the rising sun wake the starling for the long day's flight.
Verses 23–24Begin here →
මග වැනුම්
The Road
The longest stretch: mountains, sea, paddy fields, lotus lakes and forest, all seen from the starling's wings.
Verses 25–42Begin here →
කැලණි නදී වැනුම්
The Kelani River
Shaded riverbanks, bathing women, and naga maidens playing the veena and singing the Buddha's virtues.
Verses 43–45Begin here →
සැඳෑ වැනුම්
Evening
A long, glowing sunset: women playing in the river, the red sky, and the first moonrise.
Verses 46–52Begin here →
කැලණි පුර වැනුම්
The City of Kelaniya
At last the starling reaches Kelaniya, shining under the moon with lamps and festivals.
Verses 53–58Begin here →
පින්කම් වැනුම්
Worship at the Temple
A pilgrimage through Kelaniya's great temple: its Buddha images and stupa, recalling the Buddha's third visit to Lanka.
Verses 59–71Begin here →
දෙව් මැඳුරු වැනුම්
The God's Shrine
Entering the shrine of the deity: music, offerings and dancers who move like celestial nymphs.
Verses 72–76Begin here →
විබිසණ දෙව් වැනුම්
Vibhishana, the God
Fifteen verses portray the deity from crown to feet, ending with his legendary role as Ravana's wise brother.
Verses 77–92Begin here →
අස්න
The Message
The heart of the poem: the plea that Vibhishana grant a son to Princess Ulakudaya Devi, daughter of the king.
Verses 93–107Begin here →
ආසී
Closing Blessing
A closing blessing: may the starling return safely, her task done.
Verse 108Begin here →
පුරාණ සන්නයේ අගට යෙදුණු කවි
The Colophon
Three verses added in the old commentary: when the poem was made, why, and who inspired it.
Verses 109–111Begin here →

කෝට්ටේ සිට කැලණිය දක්වා

ආසී

සැපදුක් විමසුම්

කටයුතු නිදෙස්

ජයවද්දන පුර වැනුම්

ගමන් පිරුම

දළදා වැනුම

රජ දැක්ම

නික්මුම

නිසා වැනුම්

උදා වැනුම්

මග වැනුම්

කැලණි නදී වැනුම්

සැඳෑ වැනුම්

කැලණි පුර වැනුම්

පින්කම් වැනුම්

දෙව් මැඳුරු වැනුම්

විබිසණ දෙව් වැනුම්

අස්න

ආසී

පුරාණ සන්නයේ අගට යෙදුණු කවි