Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

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

Page 56

SUMMARY
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52. Hanu on his way to Laikā kills Vajramukha, the chief guard of the rampart of Laikāpuri and wins the love of Laikāsundarī, the daughter of Vajramukha.
53. Gautama continues to narrate to śreņika that next day Hanu enters Laikāpurī, meets Vibhișaņa and learns from him about the obstinacy of Rāvaņa. He enters Padma-udyāna, hands over the ring to Sītā and delivers the message of Rāma. In the meanwhile Mandodarī happens to arrive there. She deprecates Hanu for siding with Rāma. Sītā rebukes Mandodarī for uttering abusive words. Mandodarī quarrels with Sitā but Hanu intervenes and Mand odarī has to depart from there with a sorry figure. At the request of Hanu, Sītā breaks her fast by taking food, but denies to accompany him for she does not think it proper on a chaste lady's part to go along with a third person whosoever he might be. She hands over her braid-jewel and tells him that she will go along with Rāma and nobody else. At the time of his departure Hanu has an encounter with the soldiers of Rāvana. He overpowers them and upsets the whole garden in anger. He further damaging various constructions reaches the palace of Rāvana. Indrajit soon nooses him and produces him before Rāvana. Rāvana abuses Hanu for his deplorable alliance. Hanu on the contrary rebukes Rāvana for his malicious intentions. Rāvana orders his warriors to harass Hanu, but the latter tears asunder the nooses and flees away to Kişkindhipura after damaging the palace of Rāvana and various other buildings.
54. After reaching Kiskindhipura Hanu hands over the braid-jewel and conveys the message of Sītā to Rāma. On the fifth day of the dark fortnight of Mārgaśīrṣa, Rāma along with Lakşmaņa and the army of the Vānaras proceeds towards Lankā. On the way Samudra, the king of Velandharapura is conquered by Nala, a Vānara chiel. Samudra offers his daughters to Laksmana. The army of Rāma reaches Haṁsadvīpa lying in the vicinity of Laikā, situated in the sea. Rāma conquers Hamsarath a, the chief of that island and encamps there. A fresh message is sent by Rama to Bhamandala.
55. Now in Laukā the war-drum is beaten to face the enemy. Vibhisaņa tries to dissuade Rāvana from waging war. Indrajit retorts Vibhīşana for his cowardice. There follow a hot exchange of words and a physical duel between Rāvana and Vibhișana. Rāvana exiles Vibhișana who with his meagre force of soldiers seeks Rama's shelter, In the meanwhile Bhāmandala also arrives there with his army.
56-58. In the ensuing battle between the armies of the Rakşasas and the Vanaras, Hasta and Prahasta, the two Rākşasa generals are slain by Nala and Nīla, the Vánara generals.