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’s version.
Page 130 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
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External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RĀMA-STORY 101 in marriage. The number of the girls here exceeds that of the PCR
by one (56.13). Then Rāma reaches the Suvela hill whose ruler
Suvela on being advised by Setu and Samudra joins Rāma
(53.13.9). When Vibhīṣaṇa advises to release Sītā, Rāvaṇa admits
that he is a slave of his senses but Indrajit instigates him for hostility.
A duel follows between both the brothers (57. 3-7). It additionally
mentions that Rāma challenges Rāvaṇa through Angada and asks
for conciliation, but Ravana ridicules the proposal of Rāma (58).
Rāma himself remembers of the Mahalocana (celestial god) when
Bhāmaṇḍala and Sugrīva are captured by the enemies (65.12). The
Khecara who puts forth the proposal of the bathwater of Viśalyā is
named Praticandra (68.1). Kaikeyī herself goes to Droṇamegha and
sends Visalyā asking her to marry Lakṣmaṇa (69.14-15). Here the
ministers support Mandodari when she requests Rāvaṇa to make
compromise with Rāma (70.3). Rāvaṇa sends his envoy to communi-
cate to Rāma that he is ready to abdicate his throne for him provided
Sītā is left with him (70.7). In other respects it agrees with the PCR.
The RPS calls Velandhara as an island, not a mountain It
mentions also the defeating of the lord of Suvelapura (p.142). There
is no mention of offering of any girls by Samudra. The king of
Hamsadvipa is called Suhaṃsa. Rāma is said to have promised the
kingdom of Lankā to Vibhīṣaṇa. The Vidyadhara who advises Rāma
to bring the bathwater of Viśalyā is named Saśiprabhā (p.149). Since
Visalya is already destined to be the wife of Lakṣmaṇa, hence she is
sent to Rāma without objection (p. 151). No mention of Angada's
interference with Rāvana's meditation is made and no dragging of
Mandodarī is referred to (p. 154). Rāvaṇa promises to Sītā that he
shall not kill Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa when she makes a request for the
same. Rāvana then promises to regard her as his daughter and tells
her that he will kill others, capture Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa and release
her (p. 155). Then follows the request of Mandodari. Here she
discloses to Rāvaṇa that Sītā is their abandoned child. But when she
talks of Nārāyaṇa and Partinārāyaṇa, Rāvana gets enraged and declares
war (p. 156). Here Lakṣmaṇa is said to have been favoured with
Siddhartha-vidya by the daughters of Candravardhana of the Vijayārdha
mountain (p. 158). In other respects it agrees with the PCR.
The TSP mentions the crossing of the sea through air. Samudra and
Setu, the kings of Velandhara are killed by Nala and Nila.
conquers Suvela, the chief of the Suvela mountain and Hamsaratha of
Hamsadvipa (Vol. IV. p. 273). Vibhīṣaṇa is made the king of Lankā
(p. 275). The Vidyadhara who advises for Visalya's medical aid is called
