________________
190
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAN
Kuberadattā, the daughter of merchant, Kubera was being betrothed to Sridatta, the son of Vaisravana and Goutamā, Candracula along with Vijaya made an attempt to kidnap her. The king, on being reported by Kubera, ordered his guards to punish both of the culprits to death. The chief minister in tervened and took them to the Vanagiri. There he met Muni Mahābala who predicted that the culprits would be reborn as Balabhadra and Nārāyana. The minister then saved their lives by initiating them into the ascetic order. Once Muni Candracūla on seeing the prowess of Narayana Puruşottama resolved to have the same prowess. After their death Vijaya and Candracula were reborn as Suvarnacula and Manicula in the Sanatkumāra heaven. From there they descended and were reborn as Rāma and Lakşmaņa respectively (UP, 67.89.147). The MP (69.4-12) mentions that Srīdatta was the son of Gautama and Vaiśravaņā. Kuberadattā is said to have been kidnapped by Candracūla.
Sita's previous birth :-The story of Sita's previous birth is narrated separately. Princess Manimati, the daughter of king Amitavega of Alakāpuri was performing penanceson the Vijayārdha mountain. Rāvana reached there and tried to seize her Vidyas (supernatural powers). She resolved to be reborn as the daughter of Rāvana and to become the cause of his death in future (UP, 68.13-17). Therefore she was reborn as the daughter of Mandodari, The MP (70.6) agrees with it.
Rāvana's previous birth :-King Naradeva of Nāgapura once met Ganadhara Ananta and got initiated under him. On seeing the prowess of Capalavega, a Vidyādhara king, he resolved to enjoy the same prowess. After his death he was reborn in heaven and from there he descended as Daśānana being the son of Pulastya and Meghaśrī of Lanka (UP, 68.1-12). The MP (70.2) agrees with it.
The previous birth of Sita in the VR:-The Valmiki Ramāyana (7.17) states that Vedavati was the daughter of Brahmarşi Kusadhvaja, the son of Bphaspati. She was demanded in marriage by the Devas, Gandharvas, Yakşas, Rākşasas and the Pannagas, but her father refused their proposal because he wanted to marry her to Vişnu. Sambha, the lord of the Daityas got enraged by this refusal and he killed her father. Her mother also died along with her father. Then Vedavati commenced to observe
