Paumchariu Part 1

SR No.: 002523
Original Sutra Author: Swayambhudev
Author: H C Bhayani
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 1953
Total Pages: 458
Language: Sanskrit, English
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 11 MB

Page 84

INTRODUCTION
Tribhuvana deemed it necessary to supply them. This naturally poses a problem for us: How is it that both the epics of Svayambhū stood in need of supplementation? Was Svayambhū forced to leave them incomplete in spite of his original design or was it that these portions-i.e, the subject-matter thereof-added by others being unacceptable to Svayambhū, were left out by him intentionally and hence the two epics, in their original unextended form were complete from his point of view?
Opposite opinions on this point have been expressed by scholars. Jain' thinks that PC. was complete from Svayambhū's viewpoint, so that the portion added by Tribhuvana has no more value than that of interpolation. On the other hand he considers RC. in its original form to have remained incomplete possibly because of Svayambhu's unexpected death, so that the performance of Tribhuvana regarding RC. was necessary to bring the work to completion. The additions, on the other hand, made to RC. by Yasahkirti are considered by Jain as interpolations.
Premi, on the other hand, takes the view that both the epics in their unextended form were complete according to Svayambhū's plan. The additions made by Tribhuvana to PC. as well as RC. were not desired by Svayambhū to be included in them. The additions made by Yasahkirti might have been designed, according to Premi, to make good the passages that were possibly found missing or damaged in the MS. of RC. in his possession.
For judging the plausibility of these views it is essential to critically evaluate whatever scanty evidence is available to us mostly from the Praśasti and colophon stanzas.
In this connection the Stanza given in the beginning of the 100. Sandhi (or it may be considered to be at the end of the 99. Sandhi) of RC. is very important. It has not been interpreted correctly either by Jain or by Premi. Jain just gives the purport of the stanza. He says", "At the end of Sandhi 99 of the Harivarśapurāna, we have a verse telling us that the poet proceeded to compose the Harivansapurāna after having finished the Paümocariu and yet another work of great merit Suddhayacaria. This information precludes us from imagining that his Paümacariu was interrupted by any calamity like death'.
According to Premi the Stanza in question was written by Tribhuvana and not by Svayambhū as Jain is inclined to think. He says", "इस (९९ वी ) सन्धिके अन्तमें एक पद्य है जिसमें कहा है कि पउमचरिउ या सुव्वयचरिउ बनाकर अब मैं हरिवंशकी रचनामें प्रवृत्त होता हूँ, सरस्वतीदेवी मुझे सुस्थिरता देवें । निश्चय ही यह पद्य त्रिभुवन स्वयंभुका लिखा हुआ हैं और इसमें वे कहते हैं कि पउमचरिउ की अर्थात् उसके शेष भागकी रचना तो में कर चुका हूँ, उसके बाद अब मैं हरिवंशमें अर्थात उसके भी शेषमें हाथ लगाता हूँ। यदि इस पद्य को हम त्रिभुवनका न मानें तो फिर इस स्थानमें इसकी कोई सार्थकता ही नहीं रह जाती । हरिवंशकी ९९ सन्धियाँ बना चुकने पर स्वयंभुदेव यह कैसे कह सकते हैं कि पउमचरिउ बनाकर अब में हरिवंश ब
Both these scholars have failed to understand the words
(1) Jain, 1935, 71-72. (2) Premi. 1942, 376-377, 380-382. (3) Appendix I, 65. It reads:
Kāüņa Pomacariyaṁ, Suddhayacariyam ca guna-gan' agghaviyam 1
Harivamsa-moha-haine Sarassai sudhiya-deha vya (4) Jain, 1935, 71. (5) Premi. 1942, 378.