Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

SR No.: 022643
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

Page 218

INTERVENING STORIES
189
as Rāvana. Śrībhūti (Purohita) who was killed by Svayambhū was reborn as a celestial being and from there as Khecara Punarvasu? who died with a resolve to get a certain girl.2 Svayambhū was the enemy of Śrībhūti, hence the latter as Lakşmaņa killed Rāvana. Vegavati had once falsely blamed Muni Sudarśana of keeping company with a woman, but ultimately she had to admit her fault to free the monk from the false charges. Therefore, she as Sítā was first censured and then she was proved to be pure and faultless on account of her confession.
The PCR (106. 10-184, 207-231) mentions Ksemapura as Kșetranagara, Yajñavalkya as Yajňavali. While describing the rebirths of Vasudatta and Śrīkänta it refers to their two more rebirths viz., as leopards and wolves in place of deer. Gunamati is mentioned as Gunavati, Vajrakañcu, Svayambhū and Vegavati are called Vajrakambu, Sambhū and Vedavati respectively. It mentions that the woman about whom Vedavatī spread false news was really the sister of Muni Sudarśana. She was being instructed in the religion by the muni and Vedavati took her to have been illicitly associated with the monk. The PCS (84. 2-22) agrees with the PCR, but cuts short the story by dropping some rebirths viz. Padmaruci as Nayanānanda and a god, Sricandra as Indra and Śrībhūti as Prabhāsakunda. It does not refer to some animal-births of the characters.
The RPS (ch. 31) follows the PCR it mentions the name of the mother of Vrsabhad hvaja as Sridattā. Here Vedavati resolved to be reborn as Sambhu's daughter to take revenge upon him. It calls Sudarśana of the PCR as a nun. The TSP (IV p. 336) mentions Gunamati as Gunavati. It does not mention various animal-rebirths of Vasudatta and Śrīkānta. It gives here the story of Anarigasundari (Višalya) and Punarvasu (Śrībhūti Laksmana).3 Gunavati's brother, Guņadhara is said to have been reborn as Kundalamandita4 and thereafter as Bhãmandala.
The Uttarapuräņa and the Mahapurāņa relate different stories about the previous births of Rāma, Lakşmaņa, Sítā and Rāvana as follows :
Rāma and Lakşmaņa :-Prajapati, the king of Ratnapura had begot on his wife Guņakāntă a son, Candracūla. He and his friend Vijaya, the son of a minister were notorious. Once when
1. See Višalya's rebirth-story. 2. Ibid, Anangasarā. 3. See the story of the previous birth of Visalyā. 4. See the story of the previous births of Kundalamandita.