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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RAMA-STORY
SECTION IX
THE ABANDONING OF SITA
103
A. Back to Ayodhyā:
(i) Last Rites of Ravana:-Vibhīṣana getting bereaved at the death of his brother, makes an attempt to commit suicide with a dagger, but Rāma intervenes and saves his life. Then follows the mourning of the death of Ravana by Vibhiṣapa and the wives of Ravana (74). Rama consoles them. Vibhīṣaṇa performs the final rites of Rāvana. On that occasion Muni Aprameyabala arrives there. He ordinates Indrajit, Ghanavahana, Bhānukarna and Marica. Mandodari, Candranakha and other wives of Ravana also accept nunhood under Arya Samyamaśrī (75).
(ii) Meeting Sita:-Rama goes to Sită and accepts her (76). He along with Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā stays in the palace of Vibhiṣaṇa. Rama is offered the crown of Lanka by Vibhiṣaṇa, but he declines the offer. All the girls who were engaged to them during their journey are then sent for and Rama and Lakṣmaṇa marry them (77).
(iii) Back to Ayodhya:-Narada brings a message of Aparajita's suffering and requests Rāma to return to Ayodhya. Accordingly a messenger is sent in advance to Bharata. Rama along with Laksmana and Sītā driving in Puspakavimāna accompanied by the Khecara chiefs and showing the important places of their sojourn to Sita, returns to Ayodhya. Bharata and his mothers receive them heartily (78.79).
The VR does not mention any attempt of Vibhiṣaṇa to commit suicide (6.10.9). Vibhīṣana denies to perform the last rites of Ravana on account of the latter's wickedness, but Rama convinces him to do the same.
First Rama sends Hanumat to convey the news of his victory to Sită. Then Vibhiṣaṇa brings Sītā to Rāma (6.112-114).
Vibhīṣana is made the king of Lanka by Rama (6.112.9).
According to the VR Indrajit and Kumbhakarna are killed in the battle. There is no mention as regards the renouncing of the world by the wives of Ravana and no reference to any other marriage of Rama and Lakṣmaṇa.
Rama does not accept Sitä at once. He doubts her character for her long association with Ravaņa. Sītā enters the fire1 and proves her
1. Bulcke is of the opinion that the fire test did not find mention in the Adi Ramayana (Bulcke, p. 398).
| SR No. | 022643 |
| Book Title | Critical Study Of Paumacariyam |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | K R Chandra |
| Publisher | Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa |
| Publication Year | 1970 |
| Total Pages | 672 |
| Language | English, Sanskrit |
| Classification | Book_English & Book_Devnagari |
| File Size | 18 MB |