Part 6: Founding of Campā

(See Appendix I)

“I shall make a city elsewhere,” and the king instructed experts in architecture to look for a suitable place. Looking everywhere for a suitable place, the architects saw somewhere in the district a large campaka tree. They said: “It is not in a garden. No stream is apparent here. It is not encircled by a basin of water. Nevertheless, it has a wonderful appearance. Oh! the great number of large branches. Oh! the wonderful leaves and creepers. Oh! the abundance of blossoms. Oh! the fragrance of the blossoms. Oh! the one umbrellaship of its shade, surpassing an umbrella. Oh! its suitability for rest. Oh! everything in fact is there. As this campaka, the home of Śrī, is lovely naturally, doubtless a city here will be so.”

They described the place as it was, suitable for the establishment of a city, adorned by the campaka like earnest money of Śrī. The king had the city Campā—with the name of the campaka—built quickly. For there is accomplishment from the (mere) order of kings. Then Śreṇika’s son, accompanied by his brothers, went to the city Campā with army and transport and ruled the earth.