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 99

70
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
Ravana passes over Pampa and arrives at Lanka1. He first puts her in his harem (3.54.13), not in any park. Here Rāvana is said to have commissioned eight Rakṣasas to work as spies in the Janasthana and to kill Rama and Lakṣmana (3.54.18-29). He implores Sītā to become his wife. He shows her the wealth and the splendour of Lanka (3.35). Sītā rebukes him. Rāvana threatens to kill her in a year if she does not yield to him. He appoints the Rākṣasīs having hateful figures to take her to Aśokavātikā and to guard her there (3.56). There is no reference to Mandodari's advice to use force on Sītā. At one place before the expulsion of Vibhīṣaṇa from Lanka, Mahāpārsva requests Ravana to use force2 on Sītā but Rāvaņa declines to do so on account of the fear of a curse of Brahma that he (Ravana) will die if he uses force on any unwilling woman (6.13). Ravana was cursed to that effect when he had once molested Puñjikasthala. There is no mention. of Ravana's request to Mandodari to persuade Sītā to yield to him. In the Sundarakanda Hanumat is said to have secretly observed that Rāvana along with the ladies of his harem went to Sītā and tried to seduce her by putting various allurements before her. Sita bitterly condemns him (5.18,20); that various Rākṣasīs tried to frighten Sītā with their ugly and hideous forms (5.24) but Sītā did not yield even at the risk of her life (5.25.3). It does not refer directly to the intervention of Vibhīṣaṇa, but Sītā is said to have told Hanumat that once Kala, the daughter of Vibhiṣaṇa informed her that Vibhiṣaņa requested Rāvani to release her (Sita) but Ravana did not pay any heed to it (5.37. 9-11).
According to the TR Ravana approaches Sitä in the disguise of a yati (Jati ken veṣa 3.28). While taking her away by force, Ravana in his heart happily bows to her feet (mana mahu carana vandi sukha mānā). The account of the Jatayu agrees with VR. On the way Sitä drops her clothes on a hill where some monkeys were sitting. Sītā was taken to the Aśoka-vana of Lanka (3.29). It does not mention the
1.
There is no reference to the intervention of Ratnajațin of Kambudvipa to rescue Sită from Rāvaṇa. But Sūpārsva, the son of Sampati (and nephew of Jatayu) is said to have let Ravana pass freely when the former was in search of food on the sea-shore-side of the Mahendragiri. Supărśva first thought of killing them for his food but he gave way to them when Ravana implored for the same (4.59.13-18). The Kambudvipa of the PCV and Kabandha of the VR has some similarity in name. (See Sec. 5E).
2. Also see 5.20.6 (evam caivamakāmaṁ tvam na ca sprakṣyämi Maithili). 3. The PCV does not refer to any such secret observation by Hanumat.
4. In the interpolated section of the VR (5.54. after 7.37) it is stated that Ravana guarded Sita as his mother.