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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
According to the Ramopakhyana, when Vaiśravana knew of his father's (Pulastya but now Viśravas) anger he appointed three Rākṣasīs— Puspotkață, Raka and Mālinī as the attendants (paricārikāḥ) of Viśravas who begot Kumbhakarņa and Daśagrīva on the first, Vibhiṣaṇa on the third and Khara and Surpanakha as twins on the second Rākṣasĩ (MB, 3.275).
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The PCR mentions Ratnaśrava as the only son of Sumalin (7.133). The PCS agrees with the PCR and mentions the incident of naming of Daśagrīva in his boyhood (9.4). The RPS follows the PCS. The TSP agrees with the PCR. According to the UP (68.8-13) and the MP (70.4) Pulastya is the great grandson of Sahsragrīva. Pulastya begets Ravana on Meghaśrī. According to the Vasudevahindi, Vimśatigrīva has four wives Devavarņinī, Vakraja, Kekasī and Puspotkaṭā.1 Devavarnini's sons are Soma, Yama, Varuna and Veśravana. Kekasi has Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhiṣana, Trijata and Surpanakha. Vakrajā has Mahodara, Mahāhasta, Mahāpārsva2, Khara and Āsālikā; and Puspotkață has Trisāra, Duḥsāra, Vidyutjihva and Kumbhināsā.
(v) Acquisition of vidyas by
Ravana:-According to the PCV (7.99-173), once Daśamukha having observed the splendid paraphernalia of Vaisravana soaring in the sky in the Puspakavimāna came to know of the past history of Lanka from his mother. Then he decided to regain the lost glory. He went to the Bhima forest along with his brothers, performed penances there and mastered various vidyās (supernatural powers) such as Ākāśagāminī, Kāmadāyinī, Kāmagāmī etc. (54 in all) Kumbhakarna acquired Nidrāņī etc. (five in all) and Vibhiṣana Siddhartha etc. (four in all).
At that time the Yakṣa lord established Svayamprabhapura for their habitation. Once Sumalin advised Daśamukha to restore the lost glory and to reoccupy their ancestral Lankapurī.
According to the VR, Kaikasi once having observed the splendour of Vaiśravana advised Daśagrīva to attain the prowess like that of Vaisravana (7.9.43). Then Daśagrīva, Kumbhakarṇa and Vibhīṣaṇa went to Muni Gokarna's Asrama and performed austerities. Brahma granted to Rāvana the boons of immortality from one and all except from the human beings and of changing his shape to his desires (7.10.25). Vibhiṣaṇa was favoured with the boon of
1. In the VR Puspotkață is the daughter of Sumalin and the sister of Kaikasi (7.5,40) and Suparsva is mentioned as the son of Sumalin.
2. Ibid.
