Story Of Rama In Jain Literature

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Saraswati Pustak Bhandar

Page 51

Pauma-Cariya of Vimala Suri
333
CANTO XLVI :
Ravana tries to win Sta with sweet words. Sitä scolds him. Arriving at Lanka he keeps Sua in Devaramana park and goes home. Sitä takes a vow of not taking food until she gets good news about Rama. The news of Duṣaṇa's death throws Lanka into grief. Ravana pacifics Candraṇakha saying that he would take revenge by putting the enemies to death. Ravana then enters his chamber. Mandodari, his principal queen, learns of Ravana's deep passion for Sita. She suggests to him to rape Sitä and thus satisfy his passion. He explains to her how owing to a particular vow he cannot enjoy love-sports with a woman against her will. He asks Mandodal to go and persuade Sita to accept his love. She, accompanied by young women, goes to Sita and tries to persuade her. But Sitä is as firm as a rock. Rāvaṇa comes there personally, makes a fresh attempt to win her love, but to no effect. He then tries to intimidate her with lions etc. created by magic but in vain. Next day Vibhisana comes to know of Sita's misery, exhorts his elder brother to refrain from evil act but Ravana is adamant. He then sits in his car along with Sitā and takes her to an Udyäna on Puspa-giri. He keeps Sita in a part of Padma-udyana covered with Aśoka trees. She is humoured by young damsels but Sita is dejected and indifferent to what happens around her. Ravana is informed of this. He is all the more anxious and love-sick.
Vibhisana holding consultations with the ministers creates by magic a very strong rampart round Lanka (Construction of a Rampart by Magic)
CANTO XLVII :
A sky-rover, Sahasagati by name, took form of Sugriva, the king of Kişkindhi, with a view to seducing Tara, the wife of Sugrīva,15 and thus deprived the real Sugriva of his throne. Sugrīva seeks the help of Hanumat. He comes with his army to his aid. But finding no difference between the two Sugrivas he goes back, then Sugriva knowing of the might of Rama and Lakṣmaṇa secks their aid. Rama assures him that he would accomplish his object but in turn requests him to trace Sitā, Sugriva makes a vow that if he does not trace Sitä within seven days he would burn himself to death. Then he takes the two brothers to Kişkindhi. In the fight Sugriva is wounded by the 'alleged Sugriva'. Rama, unable to distinguish between the two Sugrivas does not use his weapon. Knowing why Rama kept silent Sugriva again challenges the alleged' Sugriva. Rama obstructs him. At Rama's sight the supernatural lore of the sky-rover vanishes, and he regains his original form as Sahasagati. Rama showers arrows on him who falls dead on the ground. Sugriva honours the two 45 This incident of Maya-Sugriva strongly reminds us of the story of Ahalya whose chastity was violated by Indra in the guise of Gautama, her husband. Of course, here Sutara recognises the Impostor before he seduces her.
46 Rama kills the impostor in a straight fight. In the Ramayana of Valmiki, Räma is shown to have slain Välin treacherously which act lowers him in our estimate.
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