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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RAMA-STORY
73
he suspects the safety of Sitā and both the brothers speed up towards the Aśrama and find that Sītā is not there (3.60). Further in search of Sītā they meet Jațāyu who is in a precarious condition. He informs Rama that Rāvana has kidnapped Sītā and has gone towards the south. Saying so he dies then and there. Rāma and Lakşmaņa proceed further to the west and then to the south. They enter the dense Kroñcāranya (3.69.5) and reach the aśrama of Mātanga (3.69.8). There they encounter Ayomukhī Rākṣasi. Lakşmaņa disfigures her. Then proceeding further they meet a dreadful Rākşasa or Dānava Kabandha” (3.69.27,43). Both the brothers fight with him and cut off his limbs. He tells them that he was cursed to this state by Sthūlasirarsi (3.71.4). He further advises them to go to Sugrīva who will help them in recovering Sītā (3.72), Rāma arrives at Padmāsarovara. (3.74.3), meets Śabari and proceeds towards the Rşyamūka hill (3.75).
Thus we find that Ayomukhī, Mātaiga, Pampā and Śabari of the VR do not find mention in the PCV. The Rāmopākhyāna also does not refer to Ayomukhi, the Mātaiga-āśrama and Sabari (MB 3.279,280). The other recensions of VR except the southern one do not mention Ayomukhi (Bulcke p.330).
The TR agrees with the VR. About Jaçãyu it tells us that he assumed the form of Hari at the time of his death and was granted Haridhāma by Ráma (3.32-33). It does not mention Matarga-āśrama and Ayomukhi. Further Sabarī, not Kabandha, requests Rāma to go to Pampā and make friends with Sugrīva (3.36).
The PCR agrees with the PCV. The PCS additionally mentions that Viradhita was installed as the king of his paternal kingdom of Alaukārapura (40.18.6) by Rāma. The TSP and the RPS follow the PCS in this respect. The PCS further mentions that when Rāma becomes hopeless and dejected about the recovery of Sītā, two Caraña munis console him by the way of delivering a religious discourse (39.3-10)
According to the Vasudevahindi the Jațāyu tells Rāma that Rāvana has kidnapped Sītā. Then Rāma and Lakşmaņa proceed toward the Kişkindhigiri.
1. In the PCV there is a reference to the river Kroñcaravā (Kuñcaravā) flowing
into the heart of the dense forest of Dandakāranya (42.5.14.5) (See Sec. 5A). 2. It reminds us of Ratnajațin (PCV 45.32) of Kambudyipa whom Sugriva meets
in search of Sita. Sugriva takes him to Rama. He informs Rāma of the kidnapping of Sita by Rāvaņa (See Sec.6D).
