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610
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
rooted unrest in life which is like rainbow, foam or bubble. She blames her own karmas. She is established in quietude. Inspite of Rama's request to her to continue worldly life, she renounces it.
At 108.23f Hanu is led to the feeling of detachment on observing the dark sky devoid of any splendour in absence of stars and moon. He realises that death is all pervading, that men are taken in a trap laid by women as the elephants are entrapped by sheelephants. The world is like a fruit of Kimpaka seemingly beautiful but bitter in taste1.
At 113.44-52 Rama realises his folly when he recovers from madness which was rooted in the delusion of excessive affection for Lakṣmaṇa. He at once realises the falseness of human relations and gets enlightened. The feeling of 'nirveda' intensifies and he renounces the world.
There are several spots where a defeat (13.44-47) or even a triumph (4.49-51) and a sense of despair (75.80-82; 82.12) or frustration at the unholy human nature (39.96; 105.108) leads to the feeling of nirveda. The scenes at such spots finally gives an effect of quietude though the sentiment is not gradually and elaborately worked out.
The poet seems to be quite at home in working out the sentiment of quietude. It is here that he has poured out the striking similes and metaphors.
Figures of Speech
The work is resplendant with Upamās (similes) and Rupakas (metaphors). Those occurring in the preceding section have been already pointed out. Some other striking similes and metaphors as well as fancies can be noted as follows:
Upama :-The head that is not devoted to the religion is like the covering of a coconut (1.20) and the tongue that does not praise religion is only a knife having the sharp edge of evil speech (1.25). Anjana in her anguish is like a lotus struck with snow-fall (16.59),
1. महिला करेणुयाणं, लुद्धो घरवारिनियल पडिबद्धो । अणुहव तत्थ दुक्खं, पुरिसगो वम्महासत्तो ॥ पासेण पंजरे य, बज्झन्ति चउप्पया य पक्खी य । इह जुवइपंजरेणं, बद्धा पुरिसा किलिस्सन्ति ||
किंपाग फलसरिच्छा, भोगा पमुहे हवन्ति गुणमहुरा । ते चैव उ परिणामे, जायन्ति विसमविससरिसा ।। १०८.२६-३१
