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 202 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
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External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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INTERVENING STORIES 173 (Vasubhūti) proceeding on his tour reached Kaumudīnagarī. There
he got attracted to the beauty of the princess, therefore, the king of that
city punished him. Then that Tāpasa passing through miserable rebirths
was reborn as a son in an unfortunate family. His father died at an
early age and his mother was abducted by a Mleccha. He again became
a Tāpasa and then became a Jyotiṣkadeva, named Analaprabha. When
he heard Kevalin Anantavīrya saying that Deśabhūṣaṇa and
Kulabhuṣaṇa would attain omniscience, he created calamity to intimi-
date them.
The PCR (39.81-225) agrees with the PCV. The PCS (33) calls
the Senapati as Bhillarāja. Anuddhara's later births are not mentioned
and he is directly said to have been born as Amaraketu (Analaprabha).
The TSP (IV. p. 234) and the RPS (p. 112f) agree with the PCV.
39. The previous birth of the Mleccha Senapati or the story of
two Farmer Brothers and a Bird :
Padma (Rama) having listened to the preceding story requested
Deśabhūṣaṇa to tell him the reason that led to the rescue of the
Senapati by the two monks (Udita and Mudita) from the tortures of the
Mleccha. Then the monk narrated the story (39.67-72) elucidating the
fruits of saving one's life.
Two farmer brothers once purchased a bird from a fowler and
saved its life. She was to be killed by the fowler for his food. That
bird was reborn as the chief of the Mlecchas and those two farmers
Udita and Mudita.
The PCR (39. 136-143) names the two brothers as Surapa and
Karṣaka and not as two farmers.1 The PCS (33. 1) follows the PCR.
It mentions the Mlecchāddhipati as Bhillarāja. The TSP (IV. p. 334)
refers to a deer in place of the bird. The RPS (p. 113) follows the
PCR and the TSP both.
40. The previous birth of Jatayu or the story of Daṇḍaka:
In the Dandakāranya when Rāma enquired about the previous
birth of the vulture (Jaṭāyu), Muni Trigupti related the story explaining
(41.18-37) the consequences of executing the monks.
1. The PCV. 39.68 reads Jakkhaṭṭhāṇanivāsī, sahoyarā karisayā do vi' while
the PCR, 39.137 reads 'surapa� kārṣakaścāstām yakṣasthane sahodarau'. It
is a clear evidence of artificial names adopted by Raviṣena for 'sahoyarā
karisaya'-the farmer brothers of the PCV.
