Story Of Rama In Jain Literature

SR No.: 022775
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Saraswati Pustak Bhandar
Publication Year: 1990
Total Pages: 278
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 27 MB

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Story of Rama in Jain Literature
They all then thought of some plan to win back Sitä from the Lord of Lanka. On Angada's advice? Rāma decided to send Anuman as an envoy to Ravana. He was instructed to meet Vibhiṣaṇa, the plous brother of Ravana and do all that was in Rama's interests. Anuman, accompanied by Manovega. Vijaya, Kumuda, Ravigata and other Vidyadhara Princes left for and soon reached Lanka. He met Vibhiṣaṇa, told him Rama's message and added that a vast army consisting of 508400000 human beings and 35000000 Vidyadharas had gathered round his banner and that he would easily destroy Ravana. He further told him to take him (Anuman) to Rāvana. Vibhiṣana introduced Anuman to Rāvana. Anuman conveyed the message of Rama to Rāvana asking him to return honourably Sitá. Rāvana was very firm. He claimed to possess her by right, as all ratnas, especially a stri-ratna, belong to a king. When Anuman again pleaded for the return of Rama's wife, Rāvana told him that he had abducted Sita as Janaka had given her in marriage to Rama without his consent. Anumän pointed out to him that there was no bravery in abducting a helpless woman. Rāvana was enraged at hearing those words and asked him to clear out. He would let him escape scotfree only because an envoy is not to be killed.
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Kumbhakarna and other heroes shouted at him. Vibhfşana persuaded him to go away peacefully. Anuman first saw Sitä in that park and then went to Rāma and reported to him the failure of his mission. Rama thereupon mobilised his forces and went to Citrakuta. He spent the rainy season there.
Now once a messenger from Välin came to Rāma and told him that Välin was willing to act as his envoy, humiliate Ravana and bring Sita back on condition that he would stop accepting Sugriva and Antla-putra (1.e. Anuman) as his servants. Rāma then consulted his counsellors. On the advice32 tendered by Angada, Rāma decided to annihilate Valin, the enemy of his ally Sugriva. And with that object in view he sent with that envoy his own with the message that Välin should first give him as a gift his elephant called Mahāmegha and go with him to Lanka and then only he would give thought to his proposal of rejecting Sugriva and Anuman as his servants. Valin was infuriated at that message and threw
29. He says: "There are three types of kings: 1) Lobhavijayah', 2) Dharmavijayah' and 3) 'Asuravijayah'; the first is to be won by 'Dana', second by `Saman' and the third by `Bheda' and 'Dandana'. Rāvana belongs to the third type as he is 'nica' and 'Krurakarmakṛt'. Bheda and 'Danda' should be employed in his case. But better for us not to violate the proper order - 'Krama'. First we should try Saman." This three-fold classification is found in Kautilya's Arthasåstra : read in this connection Book 12 ch. 1 ("Invaders are of three kinds : a just conqueror, a demonlike conqueror, and a greedy conqueror").
30. Mamaiva sarvaratnani striratnam tu viseṣatah v. 416a.
31. See vv. 423 and 424.
32. He says: There are three kinds of kings: hostile, friendly and neutral (Satruh-mitramudasina iti bhupästrayo matah ). Rāvana is our enemy: Välin is the enemy of our friend. It is therefore right to annihilate Välin first.