# Bayinnaung's Bell Inscription

Bayinnaung's Bell Inscription is a bilingual inscription found on a bell which was cast by King Bayinnaung of Toungoo dynasty and hung in the middle of a road in Bago, Burma (Myanmar), during the rule of king Bayinnaung from 1554 to 1581. It is written in Burmese and Mon. The bell was first taken to Mrauk U, Arakan, Burma. In 1825 it was taken to India by Bheem Singh and now it hangs in a Hindu temple, Bhim Ghanta (also called 84 Mann Temple), QJJ9+J77, Bakner, Uttar Pradesh 207123, India.

## Print publications

The inscriptions were first translated and published in English in 1838 in the Journal of the Asiatic Society No. 76. April. But the copied of the texts and the translations were much mistaken. In 2022 Nai Bee Htaw Monzel read and translated the Mon part and it was published in Amartdein Journal Vol. 14 in July 2022.

## The text and English translation by Nai Bee Htaw Monzel

{1} ။ ။ On this Bhadrakalpa (world) after the Lord Buddha Kukkuson (Kukusanda), the Lord Buddha Konāgium (Konagamana), the Lord Buddha Kassapa (Kasyapa) and their religions were passed the Lord Buddha Mahā Gotama (Gautama) appeared.
After the Lord Buddha Mahā Gotama attained parinirvana 2095 years passed, In the Sakka year 913 (=CE 1552) a king who with three qualities, included Tyā Guna; being in faith without change, Satya Guna; after refutation like Sarit being on stone, Sura Guna; having a quality like indakhilo tree that was unmovable,
having three kinds of courage, included Mattrî Satti; having courage which is a good intention, Ussaha Satti; having diligence which is a completion, Pabhūwa Satti; having courage which is punished for the justice,
being qualified in the four stratagems included Sama-upaya; qualification of keeping calm, Danda-upaya; qualification of attacking others, Dāna-upaya; qualification of distributing favors to others, Bheda-upaya; qualification of destroyed others’ evil-friends,
Having five kinds of strength, included Abhijātya-bala; having a strength of nobility, Dasa-bala, having a strength of numerous relatives and followers, Bhoga-bala; having a strength of the rich, possessed many elephants, horses, and properties, Bhāhu-bala; having a strength which is skillful more than others, Ñāna-bala; having a strength which is intelligent that knowing right and wrong,
After having entirely adequate of those qualities, (the king) conquered all the kingdoms of Ketumatî, Srikhettarā, Arimaddapūra, Sāyāwadî, Parantappa, Tintwan, Salan.
Due to serving the religion, (the king) let his brother the lord of Prome, Sadow Dammarājā, be a commander in chief, the lord of Bagan, the lord of Sāyāwatî, the lord of Parantap, the lord of Tawthwan, the lord of Salan, boat-army with ship and boat of state, together with soldiers and chiefs marched from Prome. The king himself was in the middle. The king brother Min Sarî Jauya Kyaw Htin the lord of Mattam, the king brother Min Rai Sîgasū the lord of Ketumatî, those two persons were on the right-hand side. The king's son Min Rai Kyaw Jwā, the lord of Dala Sari Jauya Nurathā, and the lord of Kolaya Min Rai Sankhayā, those three persons were on the left-hand side.
On the 5th waxing day of Chaitra, Pisces, Aansā, Sunday, after the sun rises – –, Lakmih, Tray, Atathakadî, the army of elephants, cavalry, infantry with the masses of soldiers and military commanders who had the same mission marched from Prome.
On the 3rd waning day of Chaitra, Pisces, Aansā 15, Saturday the king arrived with a force at Ba Cah. The king of Monland also marched with the army of elephants, cavalry, and infantry with the masses of soldiers and military commanders and arrived with a force at Ba Cah. On that day the two kings fought each other. The king of Monland mounted on an elephant Cet Chan and fought the king's army. All Burman and Shan (soldiers) ran away.
The king remained on the head of the elephant without moving. “If I am the person who has to serve the religion in Monland, may I get the victory in this war!” that the king made a vow, then, the king fought elephant with the king of Monland. (The king's elephant) Uposattha lifted Cet Chan and pushed. (Cet Chan) fell. Uposattha's tusk was broken off one cubit. Cet Chan and the king of Monland got up and ran away. The king victoried over the great battle and conquered the kingdom of Hamsawatî which was an area with three Mon regions: Pācina region, Majchima region and Pacchima region.
(The king) put ministers, high and low rank of military men under his power. Thieves, robbers, and enemies that like a thorn were cleared. Unlawful taxes like poison trees were removed. The pagodas’ properties, the Dhammas’ properties, and the monasteries’ properties that like a hot iron would not be taken/taxed by ministers, high and low rank of military men. Even the king did not take it.
(The king) has a clean mind like a Kuson flower to all being. When (he) gives a judicial decision, (it is) like the king of hell doing his work without leaving behind. When (he) gives property, position to minister, high and low rank of military men, (it is) like the moon rising and big and small stars are shining. He takes responsibility for all being like the earth bearing all life without discrimination. He gives happiness of ears and eyes to men and women citizens like the Lord Indra rules his two realms and gives happiness of ears and eyes to men and women celestial being. He did not destroy any rule and custom from former kings, and he rules the kingdom of Hamsawatî and kingdom of Burma peacefully.
One day on the month of Sārada (the king) in his mind of generosity, precepts, and charity he thought that when I rule this kingdom, any of person who is strong/in power when they do not get justice, they inform me, and I give them justice. Any person who is weak/not in power when they do not get justice, (they) cannot inform me, they lose.
For person who are weak/ not in power, due to give them justice, I will cast a bell and hang it in the middle of a road. Anyone who did not get justice, they come and strike the bell. The sound of which reaching me, I will give them the justice. That the king thought. With the mind of sympathy and want to release people from suffering (he cast a bell) with a thousand vis of bronze.
In the Sakka year 9(14)၊ Phālguna Sanwachaw, the thirteenth waxing day of Mārgasira, Monday, Bhadrātitthî, Lakdhanu, after rising of the sun 3 hours two Pāt, Triyan, Brabhati, Nawan, Buddhawā, the king let cast a bell and hang it in the middle of a road.
From the time of the bell was hang, when people did not get justice (they) strike the bell, the sound of which has been heard by (the king). The king can give justice to people. From then on people have got happiness. Rāmanñdesa has certainly prospered. The king rules the kingdom of Srî Hamsawatî.
Later, if this bell is broken, for the benefit of people let repair it. The benefit of what I have made it and giving justice to people, in the future, with the sound of teaching like the sound of a bell, all being in the three worlds who did not get law/Dhamma and living in sin such as ignorance, may I get law/justice.
Man Dhamma, the writer.