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114
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAW
(ii) Death of Laksmana:-According to the PCV, in the course of time Bhāmandala dies on being struck with the lightning (107). Śriśaila (Hanumat) enthrones his son and then along with his wives renounces the world. He attains emancipation (108). Once two celestial beings, Ratnacūla and Manicūla conjure up a scene of bereavement at Saketapuri as if the women are mourning the death of Rāma, to test the mutual deep affection of Rāma and Laksmana. Lakşmana gets shocked with the news of the sudden demise of Rama and dies instantly (109-110). Lakşmaņa lived 11975 years? (114.29).
According to the RPS Hanumat attains emancipation on the Tungagiri (p.196) and only one celestial being creates the scene of Rāma's death (p.196).
The TSP metions Lakṣmaṇa's age to be of 12000 years (IV. p. 347).
There is no mention of Bhamandala in the VR. Hanumat's marriage is not referred to but at 6.125.44. Bharata is said to have offered 16 girls to Hanumat when the latter took to Ayodhyā the message of Rāma's return from Larka. He is blessed with a boon by Rāma on the occasion of the latter's Mahāprasthāna to the effect that the former should live in the world as long as the Rama story lasts (7.108.31). As regards the death of Lakşmaņa it is narrated that once Kāla, the god of death, goes to Rāma and asks for a secret meeting with him to convey to him the message of Maharși Atibala (7.103.2). There it is decided that if any third person overhears them he should be killed. Accordingly Lakşmaņa is installed as the guard on the door to ward off the entry of any third person. At that time Durvāsā Rși comes there and threatens to curse Rāma and his whole family to death if he is not given permission to see Rāma. Lakşmaņa prefers his own death to the destruction of the whole family. So he disturbs Rāma's secret talk (7.105). Rāma does not kill Lakşmaņa but exiles him (7.106.13). Lakşmana then performs meditation on the bank of the Sarayū river. At that time Indra lifts up Lakşmaņa and takes him to heaven 'tridivarii' (7.106.17). For the son of Hanumat see the story of Hanumat under "Intervening Stories.” The interpolated Lavakusakānda of TR agrees with the VR.
According to Brahmapurāņa Hanumat learns on the occasion of the horse sacrifice that Sītā has been abandoned by Rāma. He proceeds to Godāvarī to perform penances (ch. 154). According to the Rāma Kiyena Hanumat renounces the world. (Bulcke, p. 652, fn. 2).
1. PCR, 119.50.
