40
Ram Khamhaeng made of it an offering unto Phra
Mahathen (Mahathera ), the Arch-priest, the scholar
who studied the Tripitaka unto its end, the head of
his order, and above every other teacher in his realm.
He came here from Sithammarat. In the midst of
that forest monastery is a temple-building that is
large, lofty and exceeding fair. It has an eighteen-
cubit image standing erect.31
The city of Sukhodaya was fully described. To
the East of the city, there were temples where lived
venerable teachers. Towards bed's foot (north),2
there was a market, also zprasat and groves of coco-
anut. Toward bed's head (south) the country pros-
pered, if they were neglected, the country declined.
Justice was administered with proper discretion
during the reign of Ram Khamhen. If there was any
quarrel, the king would try to get at the truth and
decide the case righteously for his subjects. Like
the Indian king Asoka, the king could be approached
by all his subjects. He laid it down that 'if folk
aggrieved within town or city have controversies or
matters that distress them within and cramp their
hearts, which they would declare unto their lord and
prince,—there is no difficulty.5 In that case, his
order was: " Go ring the bell which has been hung
1. Journal of Siam Society, 1909, p. 28.
2. It reminds us of the Indian custom of lying down with
foot to the north and head to the South.