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 158 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
158 (of 671)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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INTERVENING STORIES 129 breath. He used to devour living beings, oppress gods and destroy
hermitages (6.60,61; 7.10.39f).
In the TR the same diabolic traits of Kumbhakarna have been
mentioned (1.180).
(viii) Defeating Vai艣ravana and Yama:-According to the PCV,
Bh膩nukar峁嘺 started plundering the territory of Dhanada
(Vai艣ravana of Lanka) by kidnapping women, wealth and
domestic animals (8.66). Then Vai艣ravana sent an envoy to Sum膩lin
to prevent his grandson from nefarious activities, but R膩vana after
insulting the envoy challenged Vai艣ravana for a battle. Before the
ensuing of the battle on the Gu帽javara mountain, Vai艣rava峁嘺 having
realised the futility of a battle with R膩va峁嘺, the son of his mother's
sister, wanted to avert it, but R膩vana did not agree. In the battle
R膩vana routed the Yak峁 soldiers, wounded Vai艣ravana and took
possession of his Puspakavim膩na. Vai艣rava峁嘺 was removed by his
soldiers to Yak峁pura. After recovery he renounced the world
(8.128).
Further R膩va峁嘺 subdued Bhuvan膩la峁僰膩ra elephant in the valley of
Sammeta艣ikhara (8.212-225) and encamped there.
In the meanwhile Vanara Ki峁indhi who had also taken shelter
along with Suke艣a in P膩t膩lankarapura begot two sons namely Aditya-
r膩ja and Rk峁r膩ja (6.214). On attaining suitable age they attacked
Yama who was the Lokap膩la of the South ruling at Ki峁indhipura,
to regain their ancestral kingdom. Unfortunately they got impri-
soned and were exposed to hellish tortures鹿 by the Yama. Then a
Khecara approached R膩va峁嘺 sojourning on the Sammeta and request-
ed him to assist the release of the V膩nara princes. Accordingly
R膩vana defeated Yama, installed Adityar膩ja and 峁歬峁r膩ja as the
kings of Ki峁indhipura and 峁歬峁pura respectively. Thereafter R膩va峁嘺
went to his ancestral Lank膩puri (8.227-285) and ruled there.
According to the VR, after being favoured with the boons R膩va峁嘺
was advised by his grandmaternal father Sum膩lin to take back Lank膩
from Dhanada (Vai艣rava峁嘺). First R膩va峁嘺 declined to demand Lank膩-
puri from his own elder stepbrother but on being further advised by
Dhanada for the same.
Prahasta, he sent him (Prahasta) to
transferred Lanka's
Dhanada
crown
to
at the
father
advice of his
R膩vana and
he
himself made
Kail膩艣a as
1. Kar膩viya ya niray膩 Jame峁嘺 Veya峁囜箛im膩iy膩 bahave...naraesu kaya
办补测补苍迟别峁嘺尘-8.232-233.
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