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 56 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
56 (of 671)
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SUMMARY 27 52. Hanu on his way to La峁卥膩 kills Vajramukha, the chief guard
of the rampart of Lank膩pur墨 and wins the love of La峁僰膩sundar末, the
daughter of Vajramukha.
鈥�
53. Gautama continues to narrate to 艢re峁噄ka that next day Hanu
enters Lauk膩pur墨, meets Vibhi峁峁嘺 and learns from him about the
obstinacy of Ravana. He enters Padma-udy膩na, hands over the ring
to S墨t膩 and delivers the message of 搁腻尘补. In the meanwhile Mandodar墨
happens to arrive there. She deprecates Hanu for siding with 搁腻尘补.
Mandodari
S墨t膩 rebukes Mandodar墨 for uttering abusive words.
quarrels with S墨t膩 but Hanu intervenes and Mandodari has to depart
from there with a sorry figure. At the request of Hanu, Sit盲 breaks
her fast by taking food, but denies to accompany him for she does not
think it proper on a chaste lady's part to go along with a third person
whosoever he might be. She hands over her braid-jewel and tells him
At the time of his
that she will go along with 搁腻尘补 and nobody else.
He
departure Hanu has an encounter with the soldiers of R膩va峁嘺.
He further
overpowers them and upsets the whole garden in anger.
damaging various constructions reaches the palace of R膩vana. Indrajit
soon nooses him and produces him before R膩vana. R膩vana abuses
Hanu for his deplorable alliance.
the contrary rebukes
R膩vana for his malicious intentions. Ravana orders his warriors to
harass Hanu, but the latter tears asunder the nooses and flees away to
Ki峁indhipura after damaging the palace of R膩va峁嘺 and various other
buildings.
Hanu on
54. After reaching Ki峁indhipura Hanu hands over the braid-jewel
and conveys the message of S墨t膩 to 搁腻尘补. On the fifth day of the dark
fortnight of M膩rga艣墨r峁, 搁腻尘补 along with Lak峁a峁嘺 and the army of
the V膩naras proceeds towards Lank膩. On the way Samudra, the king
Samudra
of Velandharapura is conquered by Nala, a V膩nara chiel.
offers his daughters to Lak峁a峁嘺. The army of Rama reaches Hamsa-
搁腻尘补
dvipa lying in the vicinity of Lanka, situated in the sea.
conquers Ha峁僺arath a, the chief of that island and encamps there.
A fresh message is sent by 搁腻尘补 to Bh膩ma峁囜笉ala.
55. Now in Lank膩 the war-drum is beaten to face the enemy.
Vibhi峁峁嘺 tries to dissuade R膩vana from waging war. Indrajit retorts
Vibhi峁峁嘺 for his cowardice. There follow a hot exchange of words and
a physical duel between R膩va峁嘺 and Vibh墨峁峁嘺. R膩va峁嘺 exiles
Vibh墨峁峁嘺 who with his meagre force of soldiers seeks 搁腻尘补's shelter.
In the meanwhile Bh膩ma峁囜笉ala also arrives there with his army.
56-58. In the ensuing battle between the armies of the R膩k峁sas
and the V膩naras, Hasta and Prahasta, the two R膩k峁sa generals are
slain by Nala and Nila, the V盲nara generals.
