TODAY

A statue of tall and stout archer in quaint attire poised with his bow and arrow aiming skyward, stands on a pedestal in front of archaeological museum in Bagan. The statue, a little larger than life size, is supposed to be that of Pyusawhtee, the great archer of Myanmar chronicles. Who was Pyusawhtee and how was it that he became the third king of Bagan Dynasty?

Thamudarit, a nephew of Thu pyinnyarnargaseinda, the 27th and last king of Thayaykhittayar (Serikestra) Dynasty, founded Paukkan, the first Capital of Bagan Dynasty at a site known as Yonlut kyun in Thetkayit 29 (107 AD). Paukkan in those days must have been sparsely populated and thickly wooded and during the reign of king Thumudarit Kingdom of Paukkan was terrorized by four monsters: the Big Tiger, the Big Boar, the Big Flying Squirrel and the Big Bird. Then came Pyusawhtee to Paukkan and trampled on these four monsters and eliminated them.

Thadoeardeiksayarzar, descendant of a Thargiwin (Sakiyan) king of restored Tagaung Dynasty, had to abandon the capital as it was in a state of turmoil and was living incognito as a farmer in a village called Male. There a son was born to his wife and he was named Sawhtee. When Sawhtee was seven years old he was sent to a local hermitage for his education. The hermit was a master archer as well as an export physiologist and when he saw Sawhtee he predicted that the boy would one day become king of Paukkan.

As it was the custom of the time Sawhtee had to stay at the hermit’s abode, do the chores and learn the lessons taught to him by the Hermit. The Hermit taught Sawhtee not only the art of archery but also the 18 princely arts and Sawhtee learned, and practiced what was taught and couched to him by the Hermit. The training course lasted for nine years and now Sawhtee was a young man of sixteen, well trained in the art of archery and eighteen princely arts, fit and stout physically and full of self-confidence.
Sawhtee requested his parents to allow him to go to Paukkan and his parents remembering the predication of the Hermit readily granted his request. His father gave him the bejeweled bow and arrow he had held once and his mother told him to take good care of himself and Sawhtee went to Paukkan.

When Sawhtee arrived at Paukkan, he met an old Pyu couple and stayed with them. The old couple had no child of their own and they loved and cared Sawhtee as their own child and Pyusawhtee also treated the old couple as his own parents. Then one day Pyusawhtee asked the old couple to allow him to go out for a hunt and try his bow and arrow. The old couple warned Pyusawhtee of the danger of the four monsters that had been terrorizing the kingdom for twelve years. But Pyusawhtee leaving complete confidence in his bow and arrow and his mastery in the art of archery went out for the hunt.

The Big Tiger in the south, the Big Flying squirrel in the north and the Big Boar in the east were no match against the prowess of Pyusawhtee and all of them were shot dead and eliminated. Them Pyusawhtee turned to the west, the domain of the Big Bird. On the way he met a man leading seven young women and going in the same direction like himself. When Pyusawhtee enquiry the man about the purpose of the trip the man replied that he was on his way to provide the Big Bird with a meal and that the seven young women were to be the meal for the Big Bird. Pyusawhtee told the man not to worry about and to direct him to where the Big Bird could be found. The young women were overjoyed at being saved from the Big Bird and the man gladly directed Pyusawhtee to where the Big Bird could be found.

Pyusawhtee went there alone holding his bow and arrow ready in his hands. The Big Bird was sitting on a hillock and on seeing Pyusawhtee coming alone was much disappointed as the meal used to be seven persons. The Big Bird clapped its beak and flapped its wings in anger. That gave enough time to Pyusawhtee to take a good aim with his bow and arrow and with a thunderous twang from the bowstring Pyusawhtee shot the arrow at the Big Bird. The Big Bird was momentarily stunned by the hit and then fell down dead with a loud thud.

The man and young women rushed in to see what had happened and when they saw the Big Bird shot dead they were filled with wonder and delight. Pyusawhtee plucked one of the big feathers from the wing of the Big Bird and told the young women to carry it back to their king and report what they had seen. As the feather was big and heavy the seven young women had to carry it on their heads as they trudged back in single file. But when they could not carry it any longer the young women threw the feather down on to the ground. There is a place in Bagan known as Hnget Taung Pyit meaning ”Bird Feather Thrown”, supposed to be the place when the big feather was thrown down on to the ground by the young women and there is also a hillock in Bagan known as Hnget Pyit Taung meaning ”Bird Shot Hill” supposed to be the hill where the Big Bird was shot by Pyusawhtee.

When the young women arrived back at the place and reported what they had seen to king Thamudarit, king Thamudarit went out to see the Big Bird and meet the young archer. In the retinue of king Thamudarit was the king’s daughter Princess Thirisandardewi, a young woman of charm and beauty. At the scene Thamudarit met Pyusawhtee and saw the Big Bird Pyusawhtee had shot and killed. Pyusawhtee was a young man of sixteen, five taungs (seven and half feet) in height with a three taung (fifty four inch) chest. The beautiful young princess and the stout young archer met each other.

On enquiring Thamudarit found Pyusaw-htee to be a prince of royal blood. Pyusawhtee was invited to the palace, married to Princess Thirisandardewi and proclaimed as the heir apparent to the throne of Paukkan. As the four monsters that had been terrorizing Paukkan were trampled on Paukkan also came to be known as Arimaddana, ”Trampler on enemies.”

King Thamudrit passed away three years after Pyusawhtee had been proclaimed as Heir Apparent and Pyusawhtee was to ascend the throne of Paukkan. But the great archer did not forget the gratitude of his preceptor, the Hermit. He had stayed at the Hermits’ abode for nine years and the arts he now mastered were all taught to him by the Hermit. He invited the Hermit to Paukkan and offered him the throne. The Hermit became the second king of kingdom of Paukkan and he came to be known as Yathegyaung Min meaning ”Hermit turned Lay man king.” The Hermit became king at the age of ninety one in thetkayit 74 (152 AD), ruled for 15 years and passed away at the age of 106 in thetkayit 89 (176 AD).

Then only did Pyusawhtee ascended the throne of Paukkan. His chief queen was Thirisandardewi, the beautiful young princess he had met when she came along with her royal father to see the Big Bird he shot. Pyusawhtee was the third king of kingdom of Paukkan.

Pyusawhtee was a strong and upright king of high moral character. He became king at the age of 36 in Thetkayit 899 (167 AD), had a long reign of 75 years and passed away at the age of 110 in Thetkayit 164 (241 AD).

That was quite a long time ago in the early days of Bagan Dynasty and now in front of archaeological museum in Bagan stands a statue commemorating the great archer.

Ref: U Kala Yarzawingyi, Vol.I, pp.133 to 144,
Hman Nan Yarzawindawgyi, Vol.I, pp. 156 to 206,
U Ban Than; Myanmar Yarzawin , pp.25 to 26,
Story of Ancient Myanmar by Maung Maung,pp.49 to 55

Maung Maung