Mahā Sena untranslated

Mahā Sena 01. A Deva living in Ketumatī Palace to the east of Vejayanta. At the request of Sakka and of members of the Saṅgha, led by Assagutta, he was born in the world of men as Nāgasena. Mil. 6f.

Mahā Sena 02. A Brahmin, friend of Vaṅganta, father of Sāriputta. He was poor, and, out of compassion for him, Sāriputta came to his house for alms. Twice Mahā Sena hid himself, having nothing to give, but, one day, receiving a bowl of rice porridge and a small piece of cloth, he thought of Sāriputta. The Elder had just risen from a jhāna, and, becoming aware of Mahā Sena’s desire, he visited him, and was given the porridge and the piece of cloth with a prayer from Mahā Sena, “May I realize the Truth you have seen.” After death, Mahā Sena was born as the novice and was called Vanavāsītissa. Dhp­a.ii.84.

Mahā Sena 03. Younger son of King Goṭhābhaya. He became king of Ceylon (334-361 CE.), and under the advice of his teacher Saṅghamitta and his minister Soṇa, he despoiled Mahā Vihāra and enriched Abhayagiri. He issued a decree that no one should give alms to the monks of Mahā Vihāra. But, later, his friend and minister, Meghavaṇṇābhaya, convinced him of his error, and he became a supporter of Mahā Vihāra. Soon after, however, he fell under the influence of a monk, named Tissa, and built Jetavana vihāra in the precincts of Mahā Vihāra, despite the protests of the monks. Tissa was later expelled from the Saṅgha. The king built the Maṇihīra, Gokaṇṇa, Erakāvilla, Kalandagāma, Migagāma, Gaṅgāsenakapabbata, Dhātusenapabbata, Kokavāta, Rūpārāma, and Hulapiṭṭhi vihāras and two nunneries Uttara and Abhaya. He also built sixteen tanks and a great canal called Pabbatanta. (Dpv.xxii.66-76; Mhv.xxxvii.1ff). Sirimeghavaṇṇa was the son of Mahā Sena. Cv.xxxvii.53.

Mahā Sena 04. A king of India who ruled in Pāṭaliputta. He fed one thousand monks daily; but, not satisfied with that, he went to Uttaramadhurā, where he labored in disguise, giving alms with the wages so earned. Cv.xcii.23ff.

Mahā Sena 05. A king of Pāṭaliputta. He and his sister worked with their own hands and gave alms to 500 monks from Piyaṅgudīpa, among whom was Mahā Sīva (8). The monk wished that they should see their alms being eaten by the monks in Piyaṅgudīpa. Ras.i.72f.