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 58

SUMMARY
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and soon faints down on the ground. At this Rāvana feels remorseful of his own cruelty and determines to restore Sitā to Rāma but only after defeating the latter, for he thought that people would take him for a coward if he submitted.
70-73. Ravana visits his weapon-hall. Mandodarī reminds him of his vow and his destined death at the hands of Lakşmana, the Prativasudeva. Ravana, without paying any heed to the words of his wife, leads his army to the battle-field. A gruesome battle follows in which various missiles and counter missiles are hurled from both the sides. Lakşmana severs the head and the arms of Rāvana but to his surprise he finds that they go on multiplying as many times as he cuts them off. It was happening due to the power of Rāvapa's Bahurupa-Vidya. Ultimately Rāvana hurls his disc (Cakraratna) at Lakşmaņa. But instead of killing Laksmana, the disc begins to obey his commands. Vibhișana once more tries to persuade Rāvana to restore Sita to Rāma but in vain. Finally Rāvana is slain with the disc hurled at him by Lakşmaņa, in the afternoon of the eleventh day of the dark fortnight of the month of Jyeștha.
74. Vibhīşaņa and Ravana's wives mourn the death of Rāvapa.
75. Rāma and others perform the funeral rites of Rāvana. On that occasion monk Aprameyabala arrives there. He attains omniscience and delivers a religious discourse. Indrajit, Ghanavāhana, Bhanukarņa, Mandodarī, Candranakha and many others renounce the world.
76. Rāma along with Lakşmaņa enters the city of Lanka, meets Sīta and takes her along with him.
77. Rāma then goes to the palace of Ravana and consoles Sumálin, Málavanta, Ratnāśrava and Vibhișana, the grandfather, grand uncle, father and brother of Rāvana respectively. At the request of the wife of Vibhișana, Rama visits her palace. He refuses to become the king of Larkā when a request to this effect is made by Vibhișana because the former considers himself to be a subject of Bharata. After some days Rāma and Lakşmaņa send for all those girls who were engaged to them during their journey and duly marry them there.
78. In due course Nārada delivers to them a message of grief of Aparājitā and Sumitrā.
79. Consequently Rāma along with Sītā, Laksmana, many Khecaras and Rākşasas returns to Sāketa driving in the PuşpakaVimāna. There Rama, Lakşmaņa and Sitā are accorded a warm welcome by Bharata and their mothers.