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68
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAN
bairu hathi karaom/prabhu sara prāna tajern bhava taraum S. 23.). Ravana requests Mārīca once only and Mārīca also thinks it auspicious to be killed by Rāma=Hari (3. 26). Further at the advice of Rāma, Sítā enters into the fire and manifests a shadow Sīta when Laksmana is away from there to collect some bulbs and fruits for their food (Prabhu pada dhari hiyam anala samānī, nija pratibimba rākhi taham Sítā 3. 23). Marica at the time of his death is said to have been granted a good state of existence by Rāma (muni durlabha gati dinni, nija Pada dinha 3. 27).
The PCR agrees with the PCV but additionally mentions that Ravana uttered 'Rama, Rama' in his lion's roar (44. 78). The PCS refers to Khara and Düşaņa (37. 2. 10) as two persons and husbands of Candranakhā. She is mentioned to have assumed her hideous form (37. 1) and Lakşmana is said to have raised the Sürahasa sword against her (37.2). Khara marched to punish the culprits while Düşana sent a message to Rāvana (37. 1. 2). It (37. 14-15) also mentions Trisiras of the VR. Rāvana was in advance tempted by the beauty of Sitā which was communicated to him through the message of Dūşaņa (38. 1). The RPS agrees with the PCV. According to the TSP, Candranakhā informs Rāvana (IV. p. 243) and requests him to help Kharadasaņa, She also excites him referring to the beauty of Sītā. The latter is said to have compelled Rāma to go to the help of Lakşmaņa. Triširas is also mentioned (IV. p. 246).
The Vasudevahindi agrees with the VR. But in it Khara and Dūşana are sons of Surpanakhā (Suppana). It does net mention the sending of the 14 Rākşasas or the army of 14000 soldiers or the message of Akampana. Mārīca is requested by Ravana? once only.
The Uttara purāna and the Mahāpurāna do not contain these episodes. They relate the abduction of Sītā as follows. Nārada instigates Rāvana to kidnap the beautiful Sítā. Rāvaņa decides to do so and plans to kill Rama and Lakşmaņa whose rising glory was becoming unbearable to him (UP. 68. 91-114; MP. 71. 1-3). It is also said that Rāvana kidnapped Sītā for he was not invited by Janaka on the occasion of her marriage with Rāma. The MP states that Rāvana could not tolerate the wedding of Sītā to Rāma because Janaka and Dasaratha were his (Rāvana's) vassals (kirkarau) and Sita was previously promised to him (Rāvana) by Janaka (74. 12).
In the UP the plan adopted by Rāvana for kidnapping Sitā differs from that of the PCV but it agrees with the VR with some additions,
1. Rāvana is called Rāmana.
