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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAN
happiness for her when she met her brother (30. 80). Simhendu's sister prevented her husband from attacking her brother and thus paved the way for the safety of her brother?
Place of daughter-in-law:-A daughter-in-law duly observed the customs of the family and a mother-in-law duly endeared the former. Sītā first bowed to her father-in-law, then to her mother-in-law and after having obtained their permission, she accompanied Rama in exile (31.103-104). Aparajitā did not forget Sitā when she made a sorrowful review of the possible sufferings of Rāma (78.5). Añjanā duly obeyed her mother-in-law and left home when she was blamed and exiled by the latter (17.8). Vimuci and his wife got duly distressed with the kidnapping of their daughter-in-law (30.63).
Thus the Paumacariyan reveals that the members of the family constituted the nucleus of the society in which all were bound by mutual affection and love. The safe running of the family depended upon the fact how the members discharged their duties and remained sincere to their responsibilities. This primary unit of society i.e. the family trained its members to make them play active part in society for their social and political welfare. It was here that the members learned discipline, and formed their character, shaped their conduct and made their life beneficial. The individual saw himself as a son, a brother, a husband and a father or a daughter, a sister, a wife and a mother. Every one gained knowledge by his own experiences and thus could see to his and his fellow's advancement. Further the individual contributed towards the welfare of society by developing the qualities of affection, love, friendship, respect, reverence, faithfulness, sincerity, liberality, spendthriftness, modesty, courage, temperance and freedom. Here one suffered and enjoyed, fell down and rose up and thus prepared for developing himself into a complete social and political personality.
Joint family-system:-The joint family was the characteristic feature of the ancient Indian society. The PCV reveals that Dasaratha's family consisted of his wives, sons and daughters-in-law and they lived together. After the return of Rāma from Larkā, he and his brothers, lived together with their sons and daughters-in-law. All the members shared jointly the weal and woe of their family on different occasions.
B. Relationship. The following family relationships are referred to in the Paumacariya:
Whenever there is an opportunity of joy or sorrow in the family on occasion of some social function or religious festivity or political
1. 77, 96-98.
