Essay name: Paumacariya (critical study)
Author:
K. R. Chandra
Affiliation: Research institute of Prakrit, Jainology and Ahimsa Vaishali
This is a critical study of the Paumacariya: the earliest Jain version of Rama's life story, written in Prakrit by Vimalasuri dating to the 4th century AD. In this text, Rama (referred to as Padma) is depicted with lotus-like eyes and a blooming face. The Paumacariya places emphasis on the human aspects of characters rooted in Jain values, contrasting with the divine portrayal in Valmiki鈥檚 version.
Page 126 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE R膧MA-STORY F. 搁腻惫补峁嘺's offer for a peace treaty with R膩ma : 97 According to the PCV after the recovery of Lak峁a峁嘺 from
wounds, 搁腻惫补峁嘺 is advised by his ministers to liberate S墨t膩 and to
sign a peace treaty with R膩ma (65.6). But 搁腻惫补苍补 disregards their
counsel and offers to R膩ma through his envoy some parts of his
territory provided he (R膩ma) releases his (搁腻惫补峁嘺's) relatives and
搁腻惫补苍补
foregoes S墨t膩's return. R膩ma rejects the offer and warns
of the fatal consequences if S墨t膩 is not released (65.20).
In the VR there is no mention of it. In the TR it is stated that
Prahasta (R盲膩vana's son) had, before the commencement of the battle,
requested Ravana to give up S墨t膩 for restoring peace (6.9-10) at
搁腻惫补峁嘺
home.
The Mah膩n膩峁璦ka鹿 refers to the sending of a 鈥榙奴ta' by 搁腻惫补峁嘺 for
demanded the 'parasu'
making truce with R膩ma. 搁腻惫补苍补 had
(Jamadagnya) for returning S墨t膩, but R膩ma disagreed.
In the Khot膩n墨 R膩m膩ya峁嘺 it is said that 搁腻惫补苍补 after having
been wounded in the battle offered to pay royal toll to R膩ma and for
that the latter did not kill the former (Bulcke, p. 395).
G. Acquiring of Bahurup膩 Vidy膩 by 搁腻惫补峁嘺 :
According to the PCV, 搁腻惫补苍补, after his proposal being turned
down by R膩ma, starts meditating in the Jina temple to acquire
unvanquishable Bahurup膩-vidy膩 for defeating R膩ma (66). The
Vanaras cause terror in La峁卥膩 by torturing the citizens (67). A峁単ada
disturbs 搁腻惫补峁嘺 and drags Mandodar墨 to impede 搁腻惫补峁嘺's success.
But 搁腻惫补峁嘺 remains devoted and attains the desired goal (68).
In the VR there is no reference to the performance of any auste-
rity by Ravana for attaining any supernatural power. The perfor-
mance of a sacrifice by Indrajit and its destruction by Lak峁a峁嘺 has
already been referred to. The north-west version of VR mentions,
after the slaying of Indrajit, the meditation by 搁腻惫补苍补, the mischief
of the Vanaras to perturb him, the dragging of Mandodar墨 by Angada
and the incomplete sacrifice of 搁腻惫补峁嘺 (Bulcke, p. 380).
The TR mentions the performing of a Yaj帽a by Indrajit as in the
VR. It additionally refers to the sacrifice of 搁腻惫补峁嘺 and its being
foiled by Hanumat and Angada who were sent by R膩ma after the
death of Indrajit to do so (6. 85). Here 搁腻惫补峁嘺's wives are dragged
and 搁腻惫补峁嘺 is kicked.
1, Madhusudana's version (Bulcke,p. 195).
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