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 632 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
632 (of 671)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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LITERARY EVALUATION 603 Ravana's overflowing pride and enthusiasm and his uncontrolled
wrath have been brought out in his retorts under-mining the advice
of Vibh墨峁峁嘺 and in his counter challenges to Lak峁a峁嘺 at
73.13-23.
to
tolerate
At 8.68-84 in connection with Kumbhakar峁嘺's plundering the
country of Vai艣rava峁嘺 there is a spirited warning of the messenger
sent to Sumalin by 痴补颈艣谤补惫补苍补. This warning verges on
threatening. Naturally R膩va峁嘺's spirited youth does not
it because Lanka was his hereditary possession which was usurped
by Vai艣rava峁嘺
痴补颈艣谤补惫补苍补.
deprecates
He angrily retorts and
He even raises his sword to sever off the head of the messenger but
Vibh墨峁峁嘺 saves the situation.
Such hot exchange of words between the messenger of a king on
one hand and another king or his army head on the other is an usual
feature preceding a war at 37.19-25; 53.129f and 65.12-34.
Non-compliance with the messages frequently lead to a call for
battle. In such calls there is a vigorous display of caurage and enthu-
siasm in the belligerent parties.
At 8.89-92, 12.82-87 and 70.63-71 there are brisk preparations for
battle by Vaisrava峁嘺, Indra and R膩va峁嘺's soldiers respectively. Then
follow their marchings and consequently fierce battles between the
Soldiers
parties concerned. These are the spots of heroic sentiment.
are thrilled and enthused at the very name of war. At the final call
they at once rush to the battlefield with a positive will. The fierce
weapons they are equipped with, the sky rending cheers that they raise,
the music of the trumpets and the wardrums, their fearful march which
sometimes is said to throw into chaos the entire earth鈥攁ll these are
vividly described.
At 56.27-44 and 57.1-27 there is similar description of marching
soldiers of Ravana and R膩ma respectively. Here merely a long list of
proper names is appended.
The descriptions of the war scenes at above places are realistic
and concrete but all are based on the same pattern.
At 61.32-42 there is a fierce neck to neck fight between the
armies of the Vanaras and the R膩k峁sas. Various critical positions
arising in the battlefield follow in a pictursque succession. Some
soldier entangled in a serious fight catches his sword between his teeth
and girlds up his loins with both his hands. Soldiers challenge one
