Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

SR No.: 022643
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: K R Chandra
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 672
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English & Book_Devnagari
File Size: 18 MB

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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAN
Obstructing of the sacrifice of Rāvana and his failure to achieve the desired goal is found in the Adhyātma Ramayana (6.10.4-35), Padmapurāņa (Uttara, 269 does not mention the performance of any sacrifice by Indrajit) and the Ananda Rāmāyaṇa (1.11.230-240). The Khotāni Rāmāyaṇa, Telugu Dvipāda Rāmāyana, Kannarese Torāve Rāmāyaṇa (6.42), Gujarātī Rāmāyana-sara, Kašmiri Rāmāyaṇa, Seri Rama, Reama Kera, Rāma Kiyena and the West-Acct. No. 3 also mention (Bulcke, p. 396) Rāvana's unsuccessful sacrifice.
It is important to note that the Rāmopākhyāna and the Raghuvamsa do not mention either of the sacrifices.
In the RāmaKiyena, Kumbhakarna is associated with a sacrifice undertaken for vitalising the power of his lance (mokşasakti). but it is destroyed by Hanumat and Angada (Bulcke, p. 392).
H. Rāvaņa's plan to set free Sitā:
According to the PCV, Rāvana after having achieved the Bahurupā-vidya frightens Sīta saying to her that she would willingly submit to him when her husband is killed by him. Distressed Sītā implores Rāvana to desist from ending the life of Rama and Bhāmandala and soon falls down on the ground in swoon (69.29). At the sight of this plight of Sītā, Rāvana becomes remorseful of his cruel deeds and decides to set her free, but after having defeated Rāma and Lakşmaņa so that he would escape from being charged as coward. Moreover he thinks that then he would become the sovereign of the whole Bhāratavarşa (69.58).
The VR does not refer to any such idea of Rāvana. On the contrary after the death of Indrajit, Rāvaņa plans to kill Sītā, but Supäráva prevents the former from committing such a sinful act (6 92.58f).
The TR also does nor refer to any such idea of Rāvana.
I. Rejection of Mandodari's request by Rāvana:
According to the PCV Mandodarī reminds Rāvana of the emergence of Rāma and Lakşmaņa as the Haladhara and the Vasudeva respectively and his (Prati-väsudeva's) destined death at the hands of Lakşmana. She further requests her husband to release Sītā to escape his ruin. Rāvana does not pay any heed to her words and orders his army to march forth to the battle field (70).
In the VR there is no direct reference to any request of Mandodarī. But at the time of bewailing the death of her husband,