Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra

by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words

This page describes Lakshmana’s household which is the tenth part of chapter VIII of the English translation of the Jain Ramayana, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. This Jain Ramayana contains the biographies of Rama, Lakshmana, Ravana, Naminatha, Harishena-cakravartin and Jaya-cakravartin: all included in the list of 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.

Part 10: Lakṣmaṇa’s household

Now, in the city Ratnapura, an ornament of the south row on Mt. Vaitāḍhya, there was a king Ratnaratha. He had a grown daughter, named Manoramā (Charming), also charming in form, by Candramukhī. As the king was considering, “To whom must this maiden be given?” Nārada approached and said, “She is worthy of Lakṣmaṇa.” Ratnaratha’s daughter, angered because of family enmity, instructed the servants by lifting an eyebrow, “Beat this clown.” Clever Nārada saw that they had got up with the intention of beating him, flew up like a bird, and went to Lakṣmaṇa. Nārada made a picture of the girl on canvas, showed it to Lakṣmaṇa, and related his own acts fully. Lakṣmaṇa fell in love at sight of her picture at once and went there with Rāma, surrounded by Rakṣases and Vidyādharas. Quickly conquered by Saumitri, Ratnaratha gave the maiden Śrīdāmā to Rāma and Manoramā to Lakṣmaṇa. After conquering all the south row of Vaitāḍhya, the two Rāghavas returned to Ayodhyā and continued directing the earth.

In Lakṣmaṇa’s household there were sixteen thousand women. Among them were eight chief-queens: Viśalyā, Rūpavatī, Vanamālā, Kalyāṇamālikā, Ratimālikā, Jitapadmā, Abhayavatī, and Manoramā, the eighth. There were two hundred and fifty sons and among these were eight born of the chief-queens: Śrīdhara, son of Viśalyā; Pṛthvītilaka, son of Rūpavatī; the son of Vanamālā, named Arjuna; Śrīkeśin, son of Jitapadmā; Maṅgala, son of Kalyāṇā; Supārśvakīrti, son of Manoramā; Vimala, son of Ratimālā; and Satyakīrtika, son of Abhayavatī.

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