Chapter 2 - Summary of the Paumacariya

CHAPTER II SUMMARY—1. The author commences his work with salutation to the Tirthankaras and declares to narrate the story of Padma (Paumacariyam) as it has come down traditionally. He mentions his name and speaks of the form and the style of his work. Then after giving the contents of the work he tells us again about the form and the style as well as the traditional way in which the story has been handed over. 2-4. Then follows a brief biography of Lord Mahavira, his arrival at mount Vipulagiri and the homage paid by king Srenika to the Lord. Next day Srenika again calls on Gautama (first Ganadhara of Lord Mahavira) and expresses his doubts in the Rama-story as it (Ramayana) has been popularised by the heretics. He requests Gautama to narrate the true story. Thereupon Gautama begins to relate the true story. He gives a brief account of the Universe, the Cycle of Time and the advent of fourteen Kulakaras. He recounts¹ the biography of Lord Rsabha, the establishment of three social orders (Ksatriya, Vaisya and Sudra), the assignment of the region of the Vijayardha mountain to Nami and Nemi, the episode of the battle of the two brothers, Bharata and Bahubali and the formation of the fourth social order, namely, the Brahmanas (Mahanas). 5. Thereafter Gautama narrates the origin of the Iksvaku, Soma and the Vidyadhara dynasties and their genealogies. He relates the biography of Lord Ajita, the installing of Meghavahana, a Vidyadhara king as the first ruler of Lankapuri as well as Patalankarapura, the episode of the death of the sons of Cakravartin Sagara and the origin of the Raksasa dynasty. 6. Gautama continues the narration with the installing of Vidyadhara Srikantha as the first king of Kiskindhipura situated in the Vanaradvipa. Amaraprabha, a descendant of Srikantha establishes Vanaravamsa, by adopting the figure of monkey as the emblem of his state. Then follows the wresting of Kiskindhipura and Lankapuri by 1. The main story commences with chapter 22.101 while the chapters preceding it contain the biographies of some Tirthankaras, the origin of various dynasties, the episodes or stories relating to some of the descendants of those dynasties, the early career of Ravana and the story of Anjanasundari. Here a passing reference has been made to them as they are dealt with in a separate chapter.

SUMMARY 19 Asanivega, a Vidyadhara ruler of Rathanupura from Vanara Kiskindhi and his Raksasa ally Sukesa respectively. Later on Malin, the son of Sukesa, reoccupies his ancestral Lanka. 7. Malin gets jealous of the growing power of Indra, the grandson of Asanivega and the son of Sahasrara. He attacks Indra but the latter slays him. Indra appoints Soma, Varuna, Kubera and Yama as governors of four quarters and installs Vaisravana (Vesamana or Dhanada 2.53) as ruler of Lanka. Sumalin the younger brother of Malin staying in terror at Patalamkarapura, gets blessed with a son, named Ratnasrava. The latter marries Kaikasi. She in due course gives birth to Dasamukha (Ravana), Bhanukarna (Kumbhakarna), Candranakha and Vibhisana. Ravana attains mastery over various lores (vidyas) to reoccupy his ancestral Lamka. 8. Gautama then relates the marriage of Mandodari and many other girls with Ravana and further describes the valorous feats of Ravana. He defeats Dhanada, subdues Bhuvanalankara elephant, conquers Yama and restores Kiskindhipura to Adityarajas, the son of Kiskindhi. 9. Next follows the narration of the kidnaping of Candranakha by Kharadusana, the hostility of Ravana with the son of Adityarajas namely, Vali for marrying the latter's sister and the resultant renouncement of the world by Vali, as well as the raising of the Astapada (Kailasa) mountain by Ravana to disturb the monk Vali and the former's discomfiture at the hands of the latter. 10. Ravana subjugates many Khecara chieftains and reaches Patala karapura. There he is greeted by Kharadusana. Further Ravana launches a war-campaign, imprisons Sahasrakirana, the Mahesvara king, and overpowers various other kings. 11. He stops the animal-sacrifice organised by Marutta (Maruya), the king of Rajagrha and marries the latter's daughter, Kanakaprabha. She gives birth to Krtacitra. 12-13. Ravana marries Krtacitra to Madhu, the prince of Mathura. Then he proceeds to Durlanghyapura and defeats Nalakubara. Uparambha, the wife of Nalakubara, had a design to secure the love of Ravana. At first Ravana accepted her proposal with a view to subjugate Nalakubara. But later he rejected her proposal, rubuked her and thus helped preserve her character. Thereafter Ravana conquers Indra, a Vidyadhara king. 14. Ravana pays homage to omniscient Anantavirya and accepts a vow not to enjoy with any lady without her prior consent.

20 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM 15-19. He wages a battle with Varuna but his forces are overpowered by the enemy. Ultimately with the help of Pavananjaya, a Vanara king, he succeeds in making truce with Varuna. But during the truce Ravana keeps preparing for war. After some time, with the help of Hanu, the son of Pavananjaya, he defeats Varuna. Thereupon he becomes the sovereign of the three divisions of Bharatavarsa (tikhandahivo i.e. ardhacakravartin). 20. Here king Srenika requests Gautama to tell him about the great persons of the Jaina faith (Jinacakkaharana-uppatti), particularly about the origin and life of eighth Baladeva (i.e. Padma or Rama). Gautama then enumerates the birth-place, parentage, intervening period, age, height, etc. of the sixty-three illustrious persons (trisastisalakapurusa) 21-22. Gautama before relating the life of Rama, narrates the origin of Harivamsa and gives in brief the life-sketch of Tirthankara Munisuvrata who belonged to Harivamsa. He further tells us that Vasavaketu, a descendant of the same dynasty, ruling over Mithila begot a son, named Janaka on his wife Ila. He narrates the episodes of some Iksvaku rulers of Saketa, namely, Vajrabahu, Kirtidhara, Sukosala, Naghusa and Saudasa. He further enumerates their descendants up to Anaranya who begets two sons, Anantaratha and Dasaratha on his wife, Prthvi. When his elder son becomes a monk, Anaranya enthrones Dasaratha and he himself renounces the world. Dasaratha marries Aparajita and Sumitra. Main Story 23. Gautama continues to narrate that once Narada informs Dasaratha about the plot of Vibhisana to assassinate Dasaratha and Janaka for saving Ravana from being killed by the would-be son of Dasaratha. Janaka was to beget a daughter, Sita, who was destined to be the cause of Ravana's death. So Dasaratha and Janaka leave their territories and wander incognito. Now at Saketa an effigy of Dasaratha is instituted in the palace. Vibhisana goes to Saketa, cuts off the head of Dasaratha and returns to Lanka with satisfaction. 24. Dasaratha, along with Janaka happens to reach Kautukamangalapura. There princess Kaikeyi (Kegai), the daughter of Subhamati, selects Dasaratha as her husband in her svayamvara ceremony. Some disgruntled candidates give a fight in which Dasaratha emerges victorious on account of the dexterity of Kaikeyi in driving his war-chariot. Dasaratha marries her, returns to Saketa and grants her a boon in recognition of her war-services,

SUMMARY - 21 25. In due course Padma (Rama) is born to Aparajita, Laksmana (Lakkhana) to Sumitra and Bharata (Bharaha) as well as Satrughna (Sattuggha) to Kaikeyi. All of them receive general education and training in archery under preceptor Airakucchi. 26-27. Gautama continuing the story narrates that queen Videha (Videhi, Vaidehi or Videha), the wife of king Janaka of Mithila, gives birth to Sita and a son who is immediately abducted by a celestial being and is thrown into a garden. Khecara Candragati, the Vidyadhara king of Rathanupura, happens to see that babe. He takes it to his wife and adopts it as his own son, naming him as Bhamandala. Now it so happens that some Mleccha tribes of the Ardhabarbara country invade the territory of Janaka. He demands help from Dasaratha. The latter sends Rama and Laksmana who chase away the Mleccha hordes. Janaka gets pleased with the valour of Rama and he settles Sita's betrothal with the latter. 28. When Narada comes to know of this relation, he with a desire to see Sita, enters her palace. Sita gets frightened at the dreadful look of his matted hair and makes a cry of alarm. At this her warders have a scuffle with him and he flees away from there. Thus being insulted, he prepares a portrait of Sita and places it somewhere in the garden of Rathanupura to put her in trouble. When Bhamandala catches a glance of that portrait, he gets at once smitten with the flowery arrows of cupid. His father, Candragati, makes a plan to marry Bhamandala with Sita. He sends a Vidyadhara to Mithila. The latter, in the disguise of a horse, abducts Janaka to Rathanupura. Candragati demands Sita for his son but Janaka does not agree to break Sita's betrothal with Rama. Thereupon Candragati gives him a divine bow named Vajravarta and tells him that if Rama is really a mighty person he shall prove his prowess by stringing the bow. Then only he will be entitled to marry Sita. Janaka returns to Mithila with that bow and arranges for the svayamvara-ceremony. Out of many prospective princes Rama only emerges successful in stringing the bow. Laksmana also strings that bow and some Vidyadharas offer their daughters to him in marriage. At this moment Bharata becomes gloomy over his inferiority. Kaikeyi quickly guesses the cause of his depression and tries to remove his disgust. She through Dasaratha, requests Kanaka, the brother of Janaka to arrange for the svayamvara of his daughter, Subhadra. Immediately the ceremony is held and Subhadra selects Bharata. Thus Rama and Bharata marry Sita and Subhadra respectively and return to Sukosalapura (Saketa). 29. Gautama further relates that once on the occasion of a religious festival, Dasaratha sends the bath. water of Jina to his chief

22 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM queen through his chamberlain. His queen does not receive the sacred water in time. Dasaratha rebukes the chamberlain for the delay. The chamberlain with his trembling limbs explains to Dasaratha that his pitiable old age handicapped him in the quick delivery of the bathwater. At this the heart of Dasaratha gets moved and he develops a feeling of detachment. After some days monk Sarvasattvahita happens to arrive there. Dasaratha pays his obeisance to him, listens to the religious discourse and returns to his palace. 30. Now Bhamandala being afflicted with the pangs of separation from Sita starts for Saketa. In the way as soon as he reaches Vidarbhanagara (Viyabbhanayara), he remembers his previous birth and comes to know that Sita is his sister. He then along with his father, Candragati goes to Saketa and pays homage to Sarvasattvahita. Candragati becomes a disciple of Sarvasattvahita. At that time Dasaratha also happens to come over there with his family members and listens to the previous life-accounts of Candragati and Bhamandala narrated by the monk. Dasaratha then embraces Bhamandala. On getting news from Dasaratha, Janaka and his wife also come over there and feel happy to see their son. All of them return to their respective places. 31. Once Dasaratha listens to the account of his previous birth. from Muni Sarvasattvahita and gets enlightened. He informs his ministers about his decision to enthrone Rama and renounce the world. At this Bharata also desires to become a monk. Kaikeyi gets perturbed to learn it. She finds it impossible for her to live in separation from both her husband and son. She thinks of a plan to keep Bharata tied to the worldly life. She requests her husband to fulfil her boon by coronanating Bharata as the king of Saketa. Dasaratha readily gives his consent and informs of the same to Rama and Laksmana. When Bharata learns it he expresses his unwillingness in transgressing over the right of his elder brother. Thereupon Rama decides to leave the territory for removing the scruples of Bharata and keeping up the honour of the words of his father given to Kaikeyi. Laksmana first gets agitated by this decision, but he pacifies himself with the idea that he shall not interfere in the work of the elders. When Rama departs from Saketa, Sita and Laksmana also accompany him. 32. Rama along with Sita and Laksmana proceeds towards the west, enters the Pariyatra forest, crosses the river Gambhira and sojourns on its bank. There in Saketa Dasaratha coronates Bharata. and himself renounces the world. Consequently Aparajita and Sumitra get very much aggrieved on account of their separation

SUMMARY 23 from their husband and sons. Kaikeyi is unable to bear the agony of her co-wives. She sends Bharata and follows him to call Rama back. When she meets Rama, she weeps, implores the latter to forgive her, asks him to return to Saketa and occupy the throne. But Rama does not return. He coronates Bharata there in the forest itself and proceeds towards the south. Bharata goes back to Saketa and waits for the day of Rama's coming back when he will accept ordination throwing off the burden of kingdom. 33. Rama on his way comes across the hermitages of recluses, traverses the Citrakuta hill, enters the territory of Avanti and proceeds to Dasapura. Laksmana there subdues Simhodara, the king of Ujjain and restores Dasapura to the latter's feudatory, Vajrakarna Laksmana promises to marry later the maids offered to him by both the kings. Rama then reaches Kuvavadda (Kuvarapura) on his way to Malayagiri. 34. There Laksmana promises to Kalyanamala, the princess of that town (living in the disguise of a male) to rescue her father, Balikhilya from the capitivity of the Mleccha chief Rudrabhuti and to marry her later. Proceeding further they cross the river Narmada and enter the Vindhya forest. There they have an encounter with Rudrabhuti, the chief of the Kagonanda tribe. Laksmana subdues him and gets Balikhilya released from his captivity. 35. Then traversing the region of the river Tapti they enter Arunagrama and go to the residence of Brahmin Kapila to quench the thirst of Sita. When Kapila insults them for polluting his sacred house, they decide never to take shelter in the house of any one but to sojourn outside a settlement. Then they repair to the forest. There they stay in the colony of Ramapura, conjured up specially for them by Vinayaka Pootana, a Yaksa lord. 36. After some days as they resume their journey, the Yaksa presents Rama, Laksmana and Sita with a necklace, a pair of earrings and a braid-jewel respectively. He gives them a lute also. They reach Vijayapura which was ruled by Mahidhara. Laksmana rescues princess Vanamala who was about to commit suicide losing all her long-cherished hopes of marrying the former. Laksmana promises to marry her. 37. Rama and Laksmana come to know that Bharata is attacked by Ativirya, the king of Nandyavartapura. They move to the battlefield and imprison Ativirya by the trick of disguising themselves as dancing girls. Ativirva renounces the world.

24 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM 38. His son, Vijayaratha accepts the suzerainty of Bharata, engages his sister Ratimala to Laksmana and marries his other sister Vijayasundari to Bharata. Rama along with Laksmana and Sita return to Vijayapura. From there they reach Ksemanjalipura (Khemanjalipura). There Laksmana wins the hand of Jitapadma, the daughter of king Satrudamana. 39. From there they proceed to Vamsagiri and protect two monks, Desabhusana and Kulabhusana from a calamity (uvasagga) brought upon them by a celestial being. Another celestial being, Garudadhipati appears there and promises to Rama and Laksmana his help in difficulty. 40. Suraprabha, the king of Vamsasthalapura greets Rama and constructs many Jina-shrines on that hill at the request of Rama. The hill comes to be known as Ramagiri. 41. Thereafter they resume their journey and enter the Dandakaranya. Two monks, Sugupti and Trigupti arrive there. They worship these monks and offer alms to them. In the meanwhile a diseased vulture (Jatayu = Giddha, Jadagi or Jadau) falls down there. It gets cured by the touch of the foot-wash-water of the monks. The monks entrust it to Siti and depart from there. 42. Rama along with Sita and Laksmana reaches the river Krauncarava and sojourns there. 43. Once Laksmana curiously proceeds towards the direction from which some fragrant smell gushes forth. He comes across a grove of bamboos and sees there a divine sword. He lifts it up and as soon as he cuts off the thicket, a severed head falls out of it. He soon repairs to Rama and acquaints him with the sad incident. Now Candranakha, the sister of Ravana with the hope of calling on her son Sambuka who had entered the Dandakaranya to obtain a divine sword, called Suryahasa, by performing some penance, gets stunned to find there her son slain. While in search of the murderer she gets a glance of the handsome figures of Rama and Laksmana. Being smitten with cupid's arrows she transforms herself into a young and beautiful lady and proposes to marry Rama, At this Rama and Laksmana are taken aback. Not finding any favour from them she gets enraged and returns to Patalamkarapura. 44. She instigates her husband, Kharadusana to take revenge upon the murderers of their son and further gives a false report that she had, with great difficulty, rescued herself from being molested by them. Kharadusanna sends a message to Ravana and himself proceeds

SUMMARY 25 with his army to the site of the incident. Laksmana proceeds to meet the enemy, asking Rama who was scheduled to stay with Sita, to come to his help if he makes a lion's roar. In the meanwhile Ravana also arrives there. As soon as he catches sight of the beautiful figure of Sita. he gets overpowered by cupid. By the power of his lores he recognises Sita and comes to know the signal of danger proposed by Laksmana. He utters a lion's roar. At this signal Rama leaves Sita under the protection of Jatayu and hastens to help his brother. Taking advantage of the situation, Ravana immediately removes Sita by force, overpowers the intimidating Jatayu and speeds up towards Lanka in his aerial-car (Puspaka-Vimana). As he is conscious of his vow of not enjoying with any lady without her consent, he makes no attempt to rape her. When Rama reaches the site of the battle-field, Laksmana gets surprised to find his brother there. He at once sends him back with a caution to safeguard Sita. When Rama returns, he does not find Sita there. While searching for Sita he finds Jatayu in a precarious condition. Jatayu dies there and Rama bewails the loss of Sita. 45. There, by chance, Laksmana gets an ally in Vidyadhara Viradhita, an enemy of Kharadusana. He kills Kharadusana and takes Viradhita to Rama. Laksmana now comes to know of the sad incident. Viradhita commissions his soldiers to make search for Sita, but in vain. In the meanwhile Ravana in his flight is interrupted by Khecara Ratnajatin. The former overpowers the latter by seizing his lores and resumes his flight with Sita who is all the time crying very bitterly. There Viradhita escorts Rama and Laksmana to Patalamkarapura. They defeat Sunda, the other son of Candranakha and occupy his palace. Sunda and his mother flee away to Lanka. 46. Ravana also reaches Lauka and keeps Sita in the Devaramana park. Sita takes an oath to observe abstinence from food until she gets some news about her husband. Ravana goes to his palace, consoles Candranakha and sends his wife, Mandodari to persuade Sita to marry him. Mandodari's attempts prove futile. Ravana also fails in frightening Sita by conjuring up many terrible objects. Vibhisana gives a sympathetic ear to the grief of Sita. He requests Ravana to desist from such an indecent behaviour but in vain. Ravana then arranges for her residence under the Asoka trees growing abundantly in the Padmavaraudyana. Finding Ravana completely drowned in the ocean of sensual lust, Vibhisana gets Lankapuri fully prepared for any emergency. 47. Gautama continues to narrate that Sugriva, the Vanara king of Kiskindhipura, along with his minister, Jambunada goes to Patalankarapura to seek help from Rama. Jambunada tells Rama that

26 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM some Danava in the disguise of Sugriva wants to establish sexual relations with Sutara, the wife of Sugriva. He further continues that Hanu's help was sought to chase away the sham Sugriva, but he was in a fix for he could not recognise the real Sugriva. He further implores Rama's help. Rama agrees to help Sugriva and the latter reciprocates with a promise to find out Sita as soon as possible. All of them then go to Kiskindhipura. In the first duel between both the Sugrivas, the real one is overpowered because Rama could not distinguish between. the real and the sham. During the next duel as soon as Rama appears on the scene, the sham Sugriva loses his lore and appears in the real figure of Sahasagati. Rama kills nim with his arrows and restores Sutara to Sugriva. Then the daughters of Sugriva try to please Rama but Rama in separation of Sita does not find any pleasure with them and passes time in grief. 48. Sugriva forgets his promise in merriment with his wife. Laksmana rebukes Sugriva and makes him alert on his duty. The latter now sends his soldiers in all the quarters and an envoy to Bhamandala with a letter from Rama. He also goes in search of Sita. He meets Ratnajatin on the Kambudvipa and takes him to Rama. Ratnajatin informs Rama that Sita has been kidnapped by Ravana. All the Vanaras get stupefied hearing the name of Ravana and express their disinclination at withstanding the powerful forces of Ravana. When Rama and Laksmana encourage them, Jambunada informs Rama of the prophecy made by monk Anantavirya that one who lifts up the Kotisila will be the slayer of Ravana. Laksmana immediately goes to Sindhudesa, raises up the proposed slab and comes back. 49. Hanu is called to Kiskindhipura and appointed for persuading Ravana to release Sita. Rama gives him his finger-ring to be handed over to Sita and asks him to bring her braid-jewel. Hanu departs from there with a band of warriors. 50. On his way he overpowers his maternal grandfather, Mahendrarajan, the king of Mahendranagara to take revenge of his mother's banishment by the latter. 51. At the advice of Hanu, Mahendrarajan along with his wife and son, Pratisurya goes to Rama and meets his daughter, Anjana, the mother of Hanu. Hanu proceeds further and meets Gandharva, the king of Dadhimukha island and informs him about the death of Sahasagati. Gandharva takes his daughters to marry them to the killer of Sahasagati as fore-told by a sooth-sayer.

SUMMARY 27 52. Hanu on his way to Lanka kills Vajramukha, the chief guard of the rampart of Lankapuri and wins the love of Lamkasundari, the daughter of Vajramukha. • 53. Gautama continues to narrate to Srenika that next day Hanu enters Laukapuri, meets Vibhisana and learns from him about the obstinacy of Ravana. He enters Padma-udyana, hands over the ring to Sita and delivers the message of Rama. In the meanwhile Mandodari happens to arrive there. She deprecates Hanu for siding with Rama. Mandodari Sita rebukes Mandodari for uttering abusive words. quarrels with Sita but Hanu intervenes and Mandodari has to depart from there with a sorry figure. At the request of Hanu, Sita breaks her fast by taking food, but denies to accompany him for she does not think it proper on a chaste lady's part to go along with a third person whosoever he might be. She hands over her braid-jewel and tells him At the time of his that she will go along with Rama and nobody else. He departure Hanu has an encounter with the soldiers of Ravana. He further overpowers them and upsets the whole garden in anger. damaging various constructions reaches the palace of Ravana. Indrajit soon nooses him and produces him before Ravana. Ravana abuses Hanu for his deplorable alliance. the contrary rebukes Ravana for his malicious intentions. Ravana orders his warriors to harass Hanu, but the latter tears asunder the nooses and flees away to Kiskindhipura after damaging the palace of Ravana and various other buildings. Hanu on 54. After reaching Kiskindhipura Hanu hands over the braid-jewel and conveys the message of Sita to Rama. On the fifth day of the dark fortnight of Margasirsa, Rama along with Laksmana and the army of the Vanaras proceeds towards Lanka. On the way Samudra, the king Samudra of Velandharapura is conquered by Nala, a Vanara chiel. offers his daughters to Laksmana. The army of Rama reaches HamsaRama dvipa lying in the vicinity of Lanka, situated in the sea. conquers Hamsarath a, the chief of that island and encamps there. A fresh message is sent by Rama to Bhamandala. 55. Now in Lanka the war-drum is beaten to face the enemy. Vibhisana tries to dissuade Ravana from waging war. Indrajit retorts Vibhisana for his cowardice. There follow a hot exchange of words and a physical duel between Ravana and Vibhisana. Ravana exiles Vibhisana who with his meagre force of soldiers seeks Rama's shelter. In the meanwhile Bhamandala also arrives there with his army. 56-58. In the ensuing battle between the armies of the Raksasas and the Vanaras, Hasta and Prahasta, the two Raksasa generals are slain by Nala and Nila, the Vanara generals.

28 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMAGARIYAM 59. The battle continues and this time Bhamandala and Sugriva are noosed by Indrajit and Meghavahana, the sons of Ravana. At this discomfiture as soon as Laksmana remembers the celestial Garudadhipati, the latter appears there and provides them with divine lores, chariots and weapons. 60. With the help of these war-appliances, Bhamandala and Sugriva are rescued from the enemy. 61. Now Indrajit and Bhanukarna are captured by Laksmana and Rama respectively. Following that Laksmana is struck in the chest by the missile (Amoghavijaya) hurled by Ravana. He faints and falls down on the ground. 62. Ravana repairs to Lanka while Rama gets overpowered with depression. Jambata (Jambunada) consoles Rama and advises him to find out some remedy for Laksmana before the sun-rise. A temporary war-colony is erected and Laksmana is removed to that place. 63. In the meanwhile Khecara Candramandala arrives there. He requests Rama to procure the bath-water of Visalya, the daughter of Dronamegha for the recovery of Laksmana. 64. Accordingly Bhamandala, Hanu and Angada, the son of Sugriva proceed to Bharata and apprise him of their need. Bharata sends for Visalya but in vain. Then Kaikeyi herself goes to her brother (Dronamegha) and sends the latter's daughter escorted by Hanu, Angada and Bhamandala to the war-colony of Rama. Visalya cures Laksmana as well as other wounded soldiers. 65. Now Ravana through his envoy offers to Rama to have a peace-treaty on the condition that the latter should not demand Sita and for that he will get a part of the territory of Ravana. Rama straightway rejects the proposal. 66. Ravana then performs meditation in the shrine of Jina Santi for attaining mastery over Bahurupa Vidya, a very powerful and unvanquishable lore. 67. Getting this opportunity the Vanara warriors cause confusion in the city of Lanka. 68. Angada tries to disturb Ravana in his meditation but in vain. Ravana succeeds in his undertaking. 69. Then he approaches Sita and frightens her with the power of his lores and the spectacle of his strong army. At this Sita gets depressed. She requests Ravana not to kill Rama and Bhamandala

SUMMARY 29 and soon faints down on the ground. At this Ravana feels remorseful of his own cruelty and determines to restore Sita to Rama but only after defeating the latter, for he thought that people would take him for a coward if he submitted. 70-73. Ravana visits his weapon-hall. Mandodari reminds him of his vow and his destined death at the hands of Laksmana, the Prativasudeva. Ravana, without paying any heed to the words of his wife, leads his army to the battle-field. A gruesome battle follows in which various missiles and counter missiles are hurled from both the sides. Laksmana severs the head and the arms of Ravana but to his surprise he finds that they go on multiplying as many times as he cuts them off. It was happening due to the power of Ravana's Bahurupa-Vidya. Ultimately Ravana hurls his disc (Cakraratna) at Laksmana. But instead of killing Laksmana, the disc begins to obey his commands. Vibhisana once more tries to persuade Ravana to restore Sita to Rama but in vain. Finally Ravana is slain with the disc hurled at him by Laksmana, in the afternoon of the eleventh day of the dark fortnight of the month of Jyestha. 74. Vibhisana and Ravana's wives mourn the death of Ravana. 75. Rama and others perform the funeral rites of Ravana, On that occasion monk Aprameyabala arrives there. He attains omniscience and delivers a religious discourse. Indrajit, Ghanavahana, Bhanukarna, Mandodari, Candranakha and many others renounce the world. 76, Rama along with Laksmana enters the city of Lanka, meets Sita and takes her along with him. 77. Rama then goes to the palace of Ravana and consoles Sumalin, Malavanta, Ratnasrava and Vibhisana, the grandfather, grand uncle, father and brother of Ravana respectively. At the request of the wife of Vibhisana, Rama visits her palace. He refuses to become the king of Lanka when a request to this effect is made by Vibhisana because the former considers himself to be a subject of Bharata. After some days Rama and Laksmana send for all those girls who were engaged to them during their journey and duly marry them there. 78. In due course Narada delivers to them a message of grief of Aparajita and Sumitra. 79. Consequently Rama along with Sita, Laksmana, many Khecaras and Raksasas returns to Saketa driving in the PuspakaVimana. There Rama, Laksmana and Sita are accorded a warm welcome by Bharata and their mothers.

30 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM to the 80-84. As the days pass, Bharata again develops an intense desire for renunciation. Rama tries to keep him attached worldly life but in vain. On that very day the elephant Trilokamandana (Bhuvanalamkara) who was associated with Bharata in his previous birth, remembers his previous life and muses over the ephemeral nature of the world. On that occasion two monks, Desabhusana and Kulabhusana arrive there. All the members of the royal family attend their religious discourse. Bharata and Kaikeyi renounce the world and in due course attain salvation. That elephant also performs austerities and attains some celestial existence. 85. In due course at the suggestion of Rama, Laksmana is coronated as the king of Ayodhya. Rama, Sita and Visalya are also consecrated. Vibhisana, Sugriva, Maruti (Hanu), Pratisurya, Nila, Candrodaranandana, (Viradhita), Ratnajatin and Bhamandala are recognised as the rulers of Trikutasikhara (Laika), Kiskindhipura, Sripura (Sriparvata), Hanuruhapura, Rksapura, Patalamkarapura, Devopagitanagara and Rathanupura respectively. 86-89. Then Rama declares Satrughna to be the king of Mathura. ' which was being ruled by Madhu. Satrughna leads his army to Mathura, defeats king Madhu, kills his son Lavana and occupies Mathura. 90. Laksmana demands Manorama in marriage but Ratnaratha, her father, ruler of Ratnapura rejects the proposal. Thereupon a battle issues between them. Manorama intervenes and stops the battle. She and her sister Sridama are married to Laksmana and Rama respectively. 91. Following that Laksmana launches a war-campaign, conquers various rulers and becomes (Ardhacakravartin) the master of seven jewels. 92-96. In due course Sita becomes pregnant. She expresses her longing for paying a visit to various Jina temples. Accordingly Rama arranges for a religious ceremony and sojourns in a garden outside the city. There some of his officers inform him that the people are suspicious of the character of Sita on account of her staying with Ravana for a very long period of time and are further questioning his (Rama's) wisdom in accepting Sita. Rama calls for Laksmana and expresses his decision to abandon Sita. Laksmana opposes it but in vain. Rama commissions Krtantavadana, the General of his army to carry Sita to the terrible forest of Simhaninada, situated beyond the river Ganges under the pretext of escorting her to the sacred mountain Sammeta for

SUMMARY 31 the purpose of visiting the Jina shrines. The general leaves her behind in the forest as he was ordered to do. Sita screams there in agony and terror. Vajrajangha, the king of Pondariyapura, happens to pass by that way and listens to the pitiable cry of Sita. He approaches her, consoles her, escorts her to his capital and looks after her as a brother. 97-100. In course of time Sita gives birth to two sons, Lavana and Ankusa (Anangalavana and Mayanankusa). They receive education under Ksullaka Siddhartha (Siddhattho nama cellao). Lavana marries Sasicula, the daughter of Vajrajangha while Ankusa marries Kanakamala, the daughter of king Prthu of Prthvipura after defeating him in the battle. Then they conquer various countries and return to Pondariyapura. Thereafter learning from Narada about their mother's miserable fate and getting it corroborated from their mother they attack Saketa despite Sita's opposition. In the ensuing battle the weapons of Rama and Laksmana become ineffective against Lavana and Ankusa, hence the formers get depressed. At this Siddhartha and Narada intervene and acquaint them with the parentage of Lavana and Ankusa. Rama along with Laksmana greets his sons and returns to Saketapuri along with them. 101-105. Rama at the request of Sugriva, Vibhisana and Hanu, agrees to accept Sita provided she convinces the public of her chastity. Sita is then brought to Saketa. She rebukes Rama for his cruel behaviour. Rama expresses his helplessness and arranges for a fireordeal in which Sita emerges successful. Rama implores her to forgive him and to live with him. Sita consoles Rama but does not like to get re-entangled into the worldly miseries. She renounces the world and becomes a nun. Krtantavadana also renounces the world. In course of time Sita is born as a Prati-Indra of the Acyuta, a celestial region. 106-108. Gautama narrates the svayamvara-ceremony of Mandakini and Candramukhi. They select Lavana and Ankusa as their spouses respectively. At this eight sons of Laksmana feel depressed and consequently renounce the world. Then follows the demise of Bhamandala, the initiation of Hanu and his wives and the emancipation of Hanu. 109-118. Gautama continues to narrate that once two curious celestial beings descend at Saketa for testing the deep mutual affection of Rama and Laksmana. They conjure up a situation as if the ladies of the harem are bewailing the death of Rama. At this Laksmana receives great shock and dies instantly. This incident inspires Lavana and Ankusa to renounce the world. Rama being overpowered with

82 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM grief becomes mad and wanders about carrying the dead body of Laksmana. Seeking this opportunity the sons of Raksasa Sunda invade Saketa but they are chased away by other two celestial beings namely, Krtantavadana and Jatayu. The same celestials restore Rama to sanity. Thereupon Rama realises the truth about the worldly things. He performs the last rites of the dead body of Laksmana, enthrones the son of Lavana and renounces the world. along with Satrughna, Vibhisana, Sugriva, Nala, Nila, Viradhita and many others. In course of time he attains clairvoyance (Avadhijnana). He repairs to the forest and observes various penances. He breaks his fast there with the food offered by Pratinandi, the king of the city of Syandanasthali (Sandanathali). During the course of his spiritual elevation, Sita, the Prati-Indra tries to distract him from meditation to mar his progress and thus to cause his rebirth into her own abode, but in vain. Consequently Rama attains omniscience. He gets emancipated after leading ascetic life for a period of twenty-five years.