Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
## Chapter 22: The Basis of the Padmacharita
This chapter discusses the basis of the Padmacharita. Ravishena himself, in the 41st and 42nd verses of the first chapter, mentions this as follows:
"This meaning, spoken by Vardhamana Jinendra, was received by Indrabhuiti, the Gautama Ganadhara. Then it was received by Sudharma, the son of Dharini, then by Prabhava, and then by the best speaker, the Anuttarvagmi, the great orator, Kitidhara Acharya. After that, Ravishena Acharya, having obtained their writings, made this effort manifest." (41-42)
In the 166th verse of the 123rd chapter, he also mentions this in the same way:
"The truth that was spoken by the revered Vardhamana Jinendra, who is worshipped by all the worlds, was spoken by Indrabhuiti, the Gautama Ganadhara, for Sudharma and Jambuswami. This was later revealed by his disciple, the Anuttarvagmi, the great orator, Kitidhara Muni. This account of the Padma Muni is a cause for welfare, for the growth of the meditation of the virtuous, and is the best auspiciousness." (166)
Here, one should understand that Kitidhara is referred to by the epithet Anuttarvagmi.
The self-born poet, in his Apabhramsha language 'Paumachariu', composed his work based on Ravishena's Padmacharita. Ravishena, while mentioning the basis of the literary tradition in the Padmacharita, wrote the 41st and 42nd verses in the first chapter. Keeping these verses in mind, the self-born poet also wrote the following verse:
"From the mouth of Vardhamana, this story of Rama has come."
1. While translating the 41st and 42nd verses of the first chapter, the reading 'tato'anuttarvagminam' was imagined for the sake of the meaning of the word Anuttarvagmi in the 167th verse of the 123rd chapter. However, all the manuscripts have the reading 'tato'anuttarvagminam'. Therefore, it seems appropriate to consider 'Anuttarvagminam' as an epithet of Kiti. 'Anuttarvagminam' means the best speaker. In the 167th verse of the 123rd chapter, one should understand that Kitidhara is referred to by this epithet Anuttarvagmi, because Kiti is not mentioned separately there. The self-born poet, in his Apabhramsha 'Paumachariu', also considered 'Anuttarvaae' as an epithet of Kitidhara in the phrase 'Kittinarena Anuttarvaae'. According to this correction, the reader should correct the translation of the 41st and 42nd verses of the first chapter. I am grateful to the honorable Dr. A.N. Upadhyaya for bringing this to my attention.