Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
## English Translation:
6
Padma Purana
bows to the opinion. The implication is that there is doubt and controversy regarding the time of composition of the Prakrit Paumachari. It is only certain that Udyotan Suri, in his work called Kuvalayamala, which he completed in Saka Samvat 700, Vikrama Samvat 835, mentions both Ravishena's work and Paumachari. Therefore, it can be said with certainty that Paumachari was composed before Vikrama Samvat 835.
This chronological information leaves the precedence of the Padma Purana and Paumachari undecided. Therefore, it cannot be said with certainty who translated whose work. Pandit Nathuramji Premi had some thoughts on this in an article titled "Padmacharit and Paumachari" published in 1942 in Anekant, year 5, Kiran 1-2, and later in his "Jain Literature and History" [First Edition 1942, Second Edition 1956]. The editor of the present work has mentioned the important points that Premiji has made on this subject in his introduction. But the important discussion that Premiji has made in his article, which sheds some light on the precedence of the two works, has been completely forgotten here. In short, Premiji has pointed out three things. One is that there are many examples in ancient Jain literature of translations from Prakrit to Sanskrit, but there are no examples of translations from Sanskrit to Prakrit on such a large scale. Secondly, the Paumachari is concise, while the Padma Purana is detailed. And thirdly, the story of the origin of the 'Man' [Brahmin] found in Ravishena's Padma Purana [4, 122] suggests its Prakrit source, because the word 'Mahan' is Prakrit and its etymology can only be understood from the Prakrit expression 'Mahan' mat marose, as found in the Prakrit Paumachari. The word 'Mahan' is not accepted in Sanskrit, nor is there any use of this word in the Ravishena sect or tradition. On the contrary, this word is used extensively in Prakrit Jain Agam texts. This leads us to believe that Ravishenacharya has retained it as it is in Sanskrit based on the Paumachari. This subject is not to be overlooked, but deserves special attention and further study.
1
One aspect of the comparative study of the two works is that while Ravishena's work is entirely Digambara tradition, what is the sectarian arrangement of Vimalsuri's Paumachari? Some scholars have studied the Paumachari from this perspective. As a result, there are some things in the text that are in line with the Digambara tradition, some with the Svetambara tradition, and some that are contrary to both, possibly pointing to a third tradition. These have been mentioned in the introduction.
In addition to these, the new points that have come to our attention are as follows:
1. In Paumachari 2,22, Lord Mahavira is said to have come from the womb of Trisaladevi. As follows:
Tassa ya bahugunakaliya bhajja tisallatti ruva-sampanna. Tie gabbhammi jino ayaao charim-samayami. || 2,22
This is completely in line with the Digambara tradition, but only partially agrees with the Svetambara tradition, as there is also mention of the Lord coming from the womb of Devananda.
2. In Paumachari 2,36-37, it is said that after Lord Mahavira attained Kevalgyan, he preached and wandered to the Vipulachal mountain. As follows:
Evam so muni-vasaho atta-maha-padihere parierio. Viharai jinid bhanu bohinto bhavia-kamalai. || Aya-vihui sahio gana ganaharasyala-sangha parierio. Viharanto cichay patto viul-giridam mahaviro. || 2,36-37