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

Page 177

The Rāmāyana Version of Puşpadanta
159
The Arrival of Nárada and the Mental Distraction of Råvana. SANDHI LXXII :
Ravana with Mārica drove in his Puşpaka Vimāna, arrived at Varanasi and saw there that 'vana' and the blooming youth of Sitā. And he thought to himself that Vidhi is clever in bringing about the union of equals. 23
Struck with her charms he decided to abduct her deceitfully; with that aim in view he asked Mārica to assume the form of a deer and help him in the execution of his plan. Marica had to carry out his master's order. He changed his form as directed and went near Sitā, who was fascinated by its sight and asked Råma to get the golden-deer for her. Rama pursued the deer in order to catch it. But it duped him and tempted him to a far off distance and ultimately vanished jumping high up in the sky. Rāma breathing heavily stood there, lost in amazement. The illusion-deer l.e., Marsca reported to his master how he had successfully duped Rāma. Rävana then assumed the form of Rama and holding the golden deer in his hand approached Sita and told her how he caught the deer, and asked her to divert her mind with it. Then as it was getting rather dark he asked her to get in his palanquin-like vimāna and he produced an illusion that he was riding a horse. He carried her to Lankā, and made her stay in his Nandana-vana park. Then discarding his guise he revealed his true form to that poor Sita. Sitā then realized her misfortune, and fainted. As he was afraid of losing his Ambara-căriņi vidyā25 by dallying with an unwilling woman, Rāvana did not rape Sitä. He however asked some Vidyadharis to persuade Sita to making love to him. They first brought her back to consciousness, when she thought that it would have been better if she had died. She then asked them about the king and the city. One of them told her that it was the mighty king Rāvana and the celebrated city Lankā. And she recommended her to respond to Rāvana's love and thus become his principal queen. Sitā however paid no attention to her foolish advice. She resolved that she would take food only on getting good news of her Rāma. And that she would resort to Sallekhana2 fast and meet her death if she failed to get any good news of him. About that time Ravana obtained the Cakra indicating his status of an Ardha-Cakrin.
22.
Rāvana's reply is very brief, pointed and forceful. We have, in fact, in this whole Kadavaka a number of Subhāşitas, e.g.. 379 fa af ffi , beats and अलसह सिरि दुरेण पवच्चइ । Viht samasanjoya-viyakkhanu Here (Kadavaka 4) we have an excellent description of the movements of an antelope. A lore, which enables one to move through the air. 'A mortal emaciation', 'act of emaciation or fasts which would lead to death."