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 93 of: Paumacariya (critical study)
93 (of 671)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
64
A CRITICAL STUDY OF paumacARIYAM
son,
it (43.27). Lak峁a峁嘺 immediately returns and reports the matter to
R膩ma. When Candranakh膩 comes there, she finds her
艢补尘产奴办补
killed who was performing penance in that thicket to obtain that
divine sword (3.29). Bereaved Candranakh膩 sets out in search of
the culprit and as soon as she catches sight of those handsome
princes, she forgets her wrath on account of being enamoured
of them. She transforms herself into a young girl and starts weeping.
S墨t膩 consoles her. Candranakh膩 introduces herself as a destitute girl
and requests R膩ma to
marry her. At this both the brothers are
stunned. Finding no reply from them, Candranakh膩 gets disappointed
and retraces to her home (43 47).
In the VR 艢ambuka has no relation to Candran akh膩 (艢奴rpa峁嘺-
kh膩). The episode of the death of Samb奴ka is narrated in the Uttara-
k膩峁囜笉a (73-76). Here 艢ambuka is a 艢奴dra who performs penances to attain
heaven (7.76.2). His penance against the religious code is considered to
be the cause of the untimely death of the son of a Brahmin (7.74.28).
Hence R膩ma searches out 艢ambuka who was performing penances
hanging from a tree with his head downwards near a pond situated in
the northern side of the Saiv膩la hill (south of the Vindhyas) 鹿 and severs
his head with a sword (7.75.9; 7.76.4). The Brahmin boy is auto-
matically restored to life.
According to the VR Surpanakh膩 happens to be at Pa帽cava峁璱
casually (yad峁沜chay膩 3.17.5). She in her charming disguise requests
Rama and then Lak峁a峁嘺 to marry her. When neither of them
agrees to her proposal she threatens to devour S墨t膩. At R膩ma's bea-
con Lak峁a峁嘺 cuts off her ears and nose (3.18.21). Disfigured Sur-
pa峁嘺kh膩 crying bitterly goes away from there in wrath.
The TR does not give any account of 艢补尘产奴办补. 艢奴rpa峁嘺kh膩
discloses her real ferocious form when Lak峁a峁嘺 insults her. At this
S墨t膩 gets frightened R膩ma makes a sign to Lak峁a峁嘺 to cut her nose
and ears (3. 17). The interpolated Lavaku艣ak膩峁囜笉a of the TR follows
the VR as regards the slaying of 艢补尘产奴办补 by R膩ma.
The
As regards the episodes of meeting Ja峁亂u, murder of 艢补尘产奴办补
and displeasure of Candranakh膩, the PCR agrees with the PCV.
TSP agrees with the PCV but with some alterations. It does not
mention the river Kar峁嘺rav膩. 艢补尘产奴办补 is referred to be hanging with
his head down and his legs tied to a banyan tree. Candranakh膩
introduces herself to R膩ma as a princess from Avanti and the widow
of a Khecara (IV. p. 241). The Vasudevahindi does not refer to the
1. The Tilaka 峁玨a (7.75.13).
