Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

Author(s): K R Chandra
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa

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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
queen through his chamberlain. His queen does not receive the sacred water in time. Dasaratha rebukes the chamberlain for the delay. The chamberlain with his trembling limbs explains to Dasaratha that his pitiable old age handicapped him in the quick delivery of the bathwater. At this the heart of Dasaratha gets moved and he develops a feeling of detachment. After some days monk Sarvasattvahita happens to arrive there. Dasaratha pays his obeisance to him, listens to the religious discourse and returns to his palace.
30. Now Bhamandala being afflicted with the pangs of separation from Sita starts for Saketa. In the way as soon as he reaches Vidarbhanagara (Viyabbhanayara), he remembers his previous birth and comes to know that Sītā is his sister. He then along with his father, Candragati goes to Saketa and pays homage to Sarvasattvahita. Candragati becomes a disciple of Sarvasattvahita. At that time Dasaratha also happens to come over there with his family members and listens to the previous life-accounts of Candragati and Bhamandala narrated by the monk. Dasaratha then embraces Bhamaṇḍala. On getting news from Dasaratha, Janaka and his wife also come over there and feel happy to see their son. All of them return to their respective places.
31. Once Daśaratha listens to the account of his previous birth from Muni Sarvasattvahita and gets enlightened. He informs his ministers about his decision to enthrone Rama and renounce the world. At this Bharata also desires to become a monk. Kaikeyi gets perturbed to learn it. She finds it impossible for her to live in separation from both her husband and son. She thinks of a plan to keep Bharata tied to the worldly life. She requests her husband to fulfil her boon by coronanating Bharata as the king of Saketa. Dasaratha readily gives his consent and informs of the same to Rama and Lakṣmaņa. When Bharata learns it he expresses his unwillingness in transgressing over the right of his elder brother. Thereupon Rama decides to leave the territory for removing the scruples of Bharata and keeping up the honour of the words of his father given to Kaikeyi. Lakṣmaṇa first gets agitated by this decision, but he pacifies himself with the idea that he shall not interfere in the work of the elders. When Rama departs from Sāketa, Sītā and Lakṣmaņa also accompany him.
32. Rama along with Sītā and Lakṣmaņa proceeds towards the west, enters the Pariyātra forest, crosses the river Gambhīrā and sojourns on its bank. There in Saketa Dasaratha coronates Bharata and himself renounces the world. Consequently Aparajita and Sumitra get very much aggrieved on account of their separation