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92
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAN
second time (6.67), to liberate Sitā. Then follows the request of Prahasta (here as a son of Răvaņa ) to return Sītā and to fight against Rama if the latter desires so even after the release of Sita (6.6-10). There is no reference to the battle with Hasta. Rāma's climbing on the Suvela is referred to, but the duel between Sugrīva and Rāvana does not find any mention (6. 11.). It additionally states that Rāma discharges an arrow (6. 13) and makes the parasol and the diadem of Rāvana as well as the earrings of Mandodari fall down. Mandodarī again requests Rāvana to give up Sita (6.14) and to bow down his head to the feet of Bhagavān Rāma (6. 15). Then follows the mediatory work of Arigada who first requests Rāvana to become considerate enough to return Sitā to Rama, the incarnate God (6. 20). Once more Mandodarī tries to set Rāvana right but in vain (6 35-37). Then follows the battle. There is no mention of the seizing of Sugrīva and Bhāmandala. First of all Hanumat inflicts a crushing defeat on Meghanāda (Indrajit 6. 63) Angada's fight is also mentioned (6. 44). Thereafter Malyavat makes a vain effort to dissuade Ravana from nursing enmity with Rāma (6. 48). Now Laksmana is wounded by a Sakti (6.54). Then follows Kumbhakarna's turn, who is ultimately killed by Rāma (6. 71) as in the VR. Here Rama only and not Lakşmaņa gets enmeshed of his own accord with the serpent nooses of Meghanāda (6. 74). On that occasion Garuda who is sent by Devarsi (Nārada) releases Rāmu from the serpent-nooses. Thus the TR also does not follow the same sequence as found in the VR. As stated above Lakşmana is wounded before the death of Kumbhakarna. In the PCV also Kumbhakarna is captured after the wounding of Lakşmaņa (See further).
The Rāmopākhyāna agrees with the VR, but it does not mention the severing of imaginary head of Rāma, the efforts of Malyavat to set right Ravana and the duel between Rāvana and Sugrīva (MB, 3. 284-287). Here Vibhişana kills Prahasta while Hasta is not mentioned. Prahasta is the first casualty here as in the PCV. Then Sugrīva is seized by Kumbhakarna (ch. 286).
The Raghuvañía does not mention all the episodes of the VR. After referring to the imaginary head of Rama and Trijatā's efforts to console Sītā, it states that Rama and Lakşmaņa are captured
1. In the VR Angada straightway thunders a warning to Rāvana, but in the
TR first of all he uses sweet words for the well-being of Rāvaņa himself. In the PCV Hanumat went as a mediator when he took the finger-ring of Rāma to Sita.
