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[Full title: Section IX: The abandoning of Sita; (E) Renouncing the World]

(i) The acceptance of monkhood by the principal eight sons of Laksmana: According to the Paumacariya, once Kanakaratha, the Khecara lord of Kancananagara arranges 'svayamvara' ceremony for his daughters, Mandakini and Candramukhi. They select Lavana and Ankusa as their husbands respectively. The eight principal sons of Laksmana out of 250 in all, take it as an affront and fight with Lavana and Ankusa. The ministers of Rama intervene and avert the disaster. Then the eight sons of Laksmana accept monkhood under Mahabalamuni (106). The names of these eight sons are: Sridhara (of Visalya), Prthvitilaka (of Rupamati). Mangalanilaya (of Kalyanamala), Arjunavrksa (of Vanamala), Srikesin (of Ratimala), Vimalaprabha ( of Jitapadma ), Sarvakirti (of Abhayamati) and Suparsvakirti (of Manorama). These eight sons are born of eight queens of Laksmana. Visalya¹ is the chief queen of Laksmana among his 16000 wives (91). The Valmiki Ramayana does not mention any marriage of Kusa and Lava. Laksmana has one wife only (Urmila). He has two sons, Angada and Candraketu (7.102.2). They are installed as the kings of Angadiyapuri in the Karupatha country (7.102.8) and Candrakantapuri in the Malla country (7.102.9) respectively. These countries are said to have been conquered by Rama for them (his nephews), The Paumacariya mentions Bhagavati instead of Abhayamati as one of the eight queens of Laksmana. It mentions 17000 (94.17) wives of Laksmana (94.23). The Trishashti Shalaka Purusha-caritra does not mention any fight between the sons of Rama and those of Laksmana (IV. p. 341). It mentions Vimala, Srikesin and Satyakirti as the names of the sons of Laksmana born of Ratimala, Jitapadma and Abhayavati respectively (IV. p. 313). The Ramapurana of Bhattaraka Somasena. follows the Paumacariya but mentions Hemaratha in place of Kanakaratha (p. 195) and Mrgalocana in place of Candramukhi. There is no mention of any quarrel between the sons of Laksmana and those of Rama (p. 195). The Uttara-purana mentions the same number of wives of Laksmana as in the Paumacariya (68.666f) and Prthvisundari as the chief queen (68.704). The Mahapurana refers to Prthvisundara as the first son of Laksmana begot on Prthvsiundari (79.9.8). He is made the king of Varanasi after the death of Laksmana. 1. The Paumacariya mentions at 20.187 Prabhavati as the chief queen. The Paumacariya also mentions the same name at 20.228. 8

114 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM (ii) Death of Laksmana:-According to the Paumacariya, in the course of time Bhamandala dies on being struck with the lightning (107). SriSaila (Hanumat) enthrones his son and then along with his wives renounces the world. He attains emancipation (108). Once two celestial beings, Ratnacula and Manicula conjure up a scene of bereavement at Saketapuri as if the women are mourning the death of Rama, to test the mutual deep affection of Rama and Laksmana. Laksmana gets shocked with the news of the sudden demise of Rama and dies instantly (109-110). Laksmana lived 11975 years¹ (114.29). According to the Ramapurana of Bhattaraka Somasena. Hanumat attains emancipation on the Tungagiri (p.196) and only one celestial being creates the scene of Rama's death (p.196). The Trishashti Shalaka Purusha-caritra metions Laksmana's age to be of 12000 years (IV. p. 347). There is no mention of Bhamandala in the Valmiki Ramayana Hanumat's marriage is not referred to but at 6.125.44. Bharata is said to have offered 16 girls to Hanumat when the latter took to Ayodhya the message of Rama's return from Lanka. He is blessed with a boon by Rama on the occasion of the latter's Mahaprasthana to the effect that the former should live in the world as long as the Rama story lasts (7.108.31). As regards the death of Laksmana it is narrated that once Kala, the god of death, goes to Rama and asks for a secret meeting with him to convey to him the message of Maharsi Atibala (7.103.2). There it is decided that if any third person overhears them he should be killed. Accordingly Laksmana is installed as the guard. on the door to ward off the entry of any third At that time person. Durvasa Rsi comes there and threatens to curse Rama and his whole family to death if he is not given permission to see Rama. Laksmana prefers his own death to the destruction of the whole family. So he disturbs Rama's secret talk (7.105). Rama does not kill Laksmana but exiles him (7.106.13). Laksmana then performs meditation on the bank of the Sarayu river. At that time Indra lifts up Laksmana and takes him to heaven 'tridivam' (7.106.17). For the son of Hanumat see the story of Hanumat under "Intervening Stories." The interpolated Lavakusakanda of Ramcharitmanas agrees with the Valmiki Ramayana According to Brahmapurana Hanumat learns on the occasion of the horse sacrifice that Sita has been abandoned by Rama. He proceeds to Godavari to perform penances (ch. 154). According to the Rama Kiyena Hanumat renounces the world. (Rama-katha; by Dr. C. Bulke (First Edition)., p. 652, fn. 2). 1. Paumacariya, 119.50.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RAMA-STORY 115 (iii) Accepting of monkhood by Lavana and Ankusa:-According to the Paumacariya, Lavana and Ankusa get dejected with the worldly miseries on account of the sudden death of Laksmana and the distress of the whole family. Thereafter they accept asceticism (110.41). (iv) Attack on Rama's territory:-Rama becomes mad on account of being overwhelmed with the grief of the loss of his father and his brother Laksmana. At such a time Vajramalin and Ratnarakna, who are the sons of Sunda and the grandsons of Candranakha attack Rama (113.19). The timely help of two celestial beings (Krtantavadana and Jatayu who had already died) makes the invaders flee away. These two celestial beings also help in removing the madness of Rama. Rama realises his folly and performs the last rites of the dead body of Laksmana. He offers his kingdom to Satrughna but the latter declines the offer and wishes to renounce the world along with him (113.68f). son enthrones the (v) Rama's Nirvana:-Rama of Lavana (114.1) and himself accepts asceticism under Suvratamuni (114.15). At that time Satrughna, Sugriva, Vibhisana, Nala, Nila and Viradhita also renounce the world. Many ladies also accept nunhood under Arya Srimati (114.1). Sugriva and Vibhisana are said to have enthroned their sons Angada and Subhusana as the kings of Kiskindhipura and Lankapuri (114.4) respectively. Satrughna enthrones his elder son at Mathura (114.18). Rama as a mendicant reaches the place of Kotisila and performs meditation there. The Prati-indra (Sita as a celestial being) attempts to distract and perturb him in vain (117.5f). Then Rama attains omniscience on the 12th day of the bright Magha. In course of time Rama attains Nirvana, final liberation (118.89). Rama lived for 17000 years (118.86). He had 8000 wives among them Sita, Prabhavati, Ratinibha and Sridama were his queens 麓91.18). According to the Valmiki Ramayana, after the death of Laksmana, Rama intends to lead the forest life and therefore (7.107.2) he offers the crown of Kosala to Bharata¹ but the latter declines the offer. Then Rama installs Kusa as the king of Kusavati (Southern Kosala) and Lava as the king of Sravasti (Uttarakosala 7.108. 4 & 5) (7.107.17). It does not refer to Rama's madness or any attack on his territory. The Valmiki Ramayana mentions two sons of Bharata viz. Taksa and Puskala (7.100.6). Bharata 2 conquers the Gandharvas (7.100.10 to 101.2) and 1. According to the Paumacariya Bharata renounces the world. 2. The Paumacariya does not mention any son of Bharata.

116 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM makes his sons the kings of Taksasila and Puskalavati, newly established after their names, respectively. Satrughna¹ also enthrones his sons Subahu and Satrughati as the kings of Mathura and Vaidisa respectively (7.108.10). He leaves Mathura and goes to Ayodhya. Sugriva transfers his kingdom to Angada (son of Vali 7.108.23) and goes to Rama. Rama advises Vibhisana to continue as the king of Lanka and advises Hanumat to live long in the world. Then Rama along with Bharata, Satrughna, the ladies of the harem and many others proceeds towards the river. Sarayu on a Mahaprasthana (7.109). Brahma appears and eulogises Rama as an incarnation of Visnu (7.110.8). Rama along with his brothers enters the divine spirit of Visnu (Ibid, 12). The Vanaras and the Rksas enter their divine abodes. Sugriva enters the solar orbit (Ibid, 21). The rest of the people attain heaven (tridivam 7.110.25). Rama's age is mentioned to be 11000 years (7.104 12). Except Sita no other wife of Rama is referred to. The interpolated Lavakusakanda of the Ramcharitmanas agrees in its essentials with the Valmiki Ramayana According to Brahmapurana (ch 154) Rama remembers of Sita and proceeds to the river Godavari for observing penances. The Ananda Ramayana though does not mention many wives of Rama but there are references to many married women who want to establish sexual relations with Rama. Rama declines their proposal and promises to marry them in his next birth, when he would be born as Krsna. Here Rama tells that he will have 16000 wives in his future life (7.4.21-47). Four Brahmin girls who were kidnapped by Dundubhi and other 16000 women request for marriage (7.11.52-73 and 7.12), but Rama declines to marry them now, with the same promise for future. According to the Naradapurana (Pu. ch. 79) and the Padmapurana (Pata, ch. 100) Vibhisana is imprisoned by the Dravadians. Rama gets him released (Rama-katha; by Dr. C. Bulke (First Edition)., p. 415). The Ananda Ramayana mentions. that when Vibhisana is defeated by the grandson of Kumbhakarna. Rama goes to Lanka and restores Lanka to Vibhisana after defeating the grandsons of Kumbhakarna (7.4.80-85). According to Rama Kiyena, Ravana's son imprisons Vibhisana. Bharata and Satrughna get him 1. The Paumacariya does not refer to any son of Satrughna. 2. In the southern version Manthara refers to many would-be wives of Rama, Valmiki Ramayana Ke Tina Patha,

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RAMA-STORY 117 released (Rama-katha; by Dr. C. Bulke (First Edition)., p. 414). According to the Seratakanda and the Seri Rama, Sita and Rama after their reunion perform penances (Rama-katha; by Dr. C. Bulke (First Edition)., p. 455). According to the Dasaratha Jataka, Rama is said to have ruled for 16000 years. 鈥� The Paumacariya agrees with the Paumacariya The Paumacariu agrees with the Paumacariya leaving out some details. The Trishashti Shalaka Purusha-caritra (IV. p. 345) mentions that the sons of Sunda, Indrajit and other hostile Vidyadharas attack Ayodhya. Rama's age is said to be of 15000 years (IV. p. 352). The son of Lavana is named as Anangadeva (IV. p. 347). According to the Ramapurana of Bhattaraka Somasena., Lavana and Ankusa attain emancipation on Pavagiri (p. 197). The sons of Indrajit and Kumbhakarna assist Sunda in attacking Saketapuri (p. 197). Rama attains emancipation on the Tungagiri (p. 200). The son of Lavana is called Anangalavana (p. 198). According to the Uttara-purana Rama's age is 13000 years (67.150). The Mahapurana agrees with it (69.13). The Uttara-purana does not mention Rama's madness. Rama and Laksmana migrate to Vara nasi after handing over the reign of Ayodhya to Bharata and Satrughna (68.688). Here Rama after the death of Laksmana enthrones the eldest son of Laksmana begot on Prthvisundari (Uttara-purana, 68.704). Out of the eight sons of Sita, seven become monks while the eighth, the youngest, Ajitanjaya is made the king of Mithila (68.706) Thereafter Rama along with his 180 sons, Sugriva, Anumat and Vibhisana take to asceticism (68.711). Rama and Anumat get emancipation on the Sammeta (68.721). The number of the wives of Rama is the same as in the Paumacariya (Uttara-purana, 68.666f ). The Mahapurana (79.9; 79.12-14) agrees with the Uttara-purana