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 88

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RAMA-STORY
59
the side of the river Mandakini and reach Pañcapsara. From there they go to the bank of Godāvarī (Pañcavați) and sojourn there.
C. Account of Rāma's Journey :
A brief comparative account of the important incidents during their journey is given below.
According to the PCV, Ráma along with Lakşmana and Sītā enters the territory of Avanti (33.11), leaving behind the Citrakūta hill and reach Daśapura. Lakşmaņa subdues Siṁhodara, the king of Ujjeni (capital of Avanti) and rescues Vajrakarņa, the lord of Daśapura from the captivity of Simhodara, the overlord of Vajrakarna. Lakşmana accepts the girls offered to him in marriage by both the kings. From there they go to the town of Kūvavadda (33.148) and promise prince Kalyānamālal to get his father (Valikhilya) released from the clutches of Rudrabhūti, the Mleccha chief of the Kāgonanda tribe. Proceeding further they cross the river Narmadā and enter the Vindhya forest (34.34). Lakşmaņa subdues Rudrabhūti and rescues Vālikhilya (34.51). Further traversing the forest and the land of Tāpī they reach Aruņagrāma and go to the house of Kapila, an orthodox Brahmin, to quench the thirst of Sitā. Unfortunately being insulted by that orthodox Brahmin (35.9) they repair to the forest. A Yakşa, Potana by name, greets them and conjures up a divine colony called Ramapuri (35.26) for their sojourn. Unknowingly Kapila approaches them with the hope of gaining some wealth. He is welcomed and offered great wealth by Rāma. Kapila then becomes a layman of the Jaina faith. Yaksa Potana presents Rāma, Lakşmaņa and Sītă with a necklace, a pair of earring (cūņāmaņi), a braid-jewel and a lute when they depart from Rāmapuri (36.4-6). In due course they reach Vijayapura. Lakşmaņa gives his consent to marry Vanamāla, the daughter of Mahīdhara, king of that town (36.35). Further on getting the news of the attack of Ativīrya, the ruler of Nandyāvartapura, on their brother Bharata, they go to the battle-field and subdue Ativīrya by means of a stratagem. Ativīrya accepts the suzerainty of Bharata (37.64-65). Vijayaratha, the son of Ativīrya engages his sister Ratimālā to Lakşmaņa and marries Vijayasundarī to Bharata (38.1,8). Resuning his journey Rama along with Sītā and Lakşmaņa reaches Kșemañjali. pura. Lakşmana wins the hand of Jitapadmā, the princess of that place by withstanding a severe test proposed by her father, king Satrudamana (38.44). Proceeding further they ward off the calamity (uvasagga) caused by some celestial being to disturb the two monks,
1. Really a princess in the disguise of a prince (34.23).