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 303

274
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
on
was composed certainly not later than the 6th century of Vikrama era. i. e. between 443 and 543 A. D. He further the linguistic evidence of the work surmises that it would not be surprising if the works dates probably one or two centuries still earlier because its Mahārāṣṭri language inherits some traits of Pali and many more of Ardhamāgadhi1.
A survey of Paumacariyam reveals that its language is well developed Mahārāṣṭrī with some influence of Apabhramśa on it. The date of Panmacariyam is fixed as the last quarter of the 5th century A. D. Therefore, it is possible that Vasudevahindi was composed earlier than Paumacariyam.
Besides that we find that certain intervening stories of PCV have their source in the Vasudevahindi because some points in these stories of the PCV are not clear and are left out as well-known to the readers as follows:
The Ikṣvāku Vamsa is said to have originated with Adityayasas but it is not mentioned why it was called Ikṣvāku Vamsa. The VH explains this point.2
Vimalasūri merely refers to the episode of the battle between the sons of king Śrīṣeņa at 15.19 considering as it was well-known. This story is fully narrated in the VH.3
In the story of the origin of Hari Vamsa, it is not stated expressly that Hari became the king of Campanagari and the circumstances under which he, who had no relations with Campanagari, was installed as the king of that city. These two missing points are clear in the Vasudevahindi.4
In the story of Sañjayanta, and Vidyuddamṣṭra, the PCV does not mention the causes which led to the torturing of the former by the latter. This point is clear in the VH.5
Besides that, the stories of the 'Origin of Brahmaņas' and the 'Origin of Animal Sacrifice" seem to be in their original setting in the VH while the PCV has borrowed them from there and affected some alterations and omissions. In the former story the introduction of the
1. Vasudevahindi (Guj. Tr.), Int. pp. 2. & 15-30.
2. See Supra, Origin of Various Dynasties, Ch. 5.
3. See Supra, Ch. 4 no. 63.
4. Ibid, no. 20'
5. Ibid. no. 21.
6. Ibid. no. 16.
7. Ibid. no. 17.