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Veḷusumana

A general of Duṭṭhagāmaṇī. He was the son of Vasabha, a householder of Kuṭumbiyaṅgaṇagāma in Girijanapada. When the child was born, two friends of Vasabha, Vela and Sumana, came with gifts, and the boy was given their two names. When Veḷusumana grew up, he went to live with Sumana, governor of Girijanapada, and broke in a horse with which everyone else had failed. Sumana therefore gave him one hundred thousand and sent him to Kākavaṇṇatissa's court (Mhv.xxiii.68 ff).

When Vihāradevī wished to drink water in which had been washed the sword that cut off the head of Nandasārathi, Eḷāra’s chief warrior, Veḷusumana was entrusted with the task of killing Nandasārathi. He therefore went to Anurādhapura, where he became friendly with the keeper of the king’s state horse, Vāha. One day he took the horse to bathe in the Kadamba-nadī, and, after announcing his name, rode away on him. Elarā sent Nandasārathi in pursuit. Veḷusumana stood concealed behind a thicket, on a mound called Nigrodhasāla, with drawn sword, and as Nandasārathi rode past quickly, he was transfixed by Veḷusumana's sword (Mhv.xxii.51 ff; MT. 440 f).

Veḷusumana took a prominent part in the capture of Vijitapura (Mhv.xxv.25). See also Ras.ii.6 f. and 97 f. where the details differ.