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 72

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RAMA-STORY
43
In the TR Sunayanā is called the chief queen of Janaka (Janaka patamahiși 1.124). The brother of Janaka is Kuśaketu. In other respects it agrees with the VR (1.325).
In the Purānas?, Sita's father is named Sīradhvaja whose brother's name is the same as found in the VR and Bhanumat is mentioned as the son of Siradhvaja. But the Bhagavata Purāņa (9.13.21) mentions Kusadhvaja as the son, not the brother of Sīradhvaja and Bhānumat is said to be the fourth descendant in the line of Kušadhvaja. The Kalika Purana (38.11,12,32) refers to two sons and one daughter of Janaka. Thus the tradition of the PCV is generally supported by the Purānas that Janaka had a son.
According to the Anandarāmāyaṇa, Sumedhā is the chief queen of Janaka (1. 3. 98; 5.2.25).
The PCR and the RPS agree with the PCV, but the name of the mother of Janaka is stated to be Vipula (PCR, 21. 53, RPS, p. 81). The PCR (28.259) and the BPS (p. 93) mention Lokasundarī instead of Subhadrā. The PCS (21.10,3) names the father of Janaka as Candraketu and does not refer to any brother of Janaka (21. 13-14). The TSP (IV. p. 204) follows the PCV, In the Vasudevahindi (1. p. 241) the name of the wife of Janaka is Dhāriņīdevī, but there is no mention of the brother and the son of Janaka.
According to the UP (67. 167) the name of the wife of Janaka is Vasudhădevī. No son or brother of Janaka is referred to. The MP (69. 14-15; 70. 8-9) follows the UP.
B. Birth of Sitā:
According to PCV, Sītā is born of Videhā, the wife of Janaka (26.75). But in the VR, Janaka while ploughing the land finds a female child emanated from the land. She is named as Sītā (1.66. 13-14) and adopted as his own daughter by Janaka though she is not born of his wife (sthapiteyamayonijā 1. 66. 15). In the TR also she is called the daughter of the land (avanikumārī 2.64 ; dharani sutā
There are some works which do not give any hint to the supernatural birth of Sitā. In the Rāmopākhyāna (MB, 3.274.9) she is merely called the daughter of Janaka (Videharājo Janakaḥ Sītā tasyātmajā
1. Vn. Pu. 4.5.39; Vy. Pu. 2.28.18. 2. Aha să suhaṁ pasūya, duhiyä puttani ca tattha Vaidehi. 3. Atha me krtataḥ kşetram larigaladutthita tataḥ; Ksetra sodh ayatā labdha
namna Siteli visruta bhūtaladutthită să tu vyavardhata mamātmaja.