Paumacariya (critical study)
by K. R. Chandra | 1970 | 238,015 words
This is an English study of the Paumacariya: the earliest Jain version of Rama's life story, written in Prakrit by Vimalasuri dating to the 4th century AD. In this text, Rama (referred to as Padma) is depicted with lotus-like eyes and a blooming face. The Paumacariya places emphasis on the human aspects of characters rooted in Jain values, contrast...
VIII.9. Rejection of Mandodari’s request by Ravana
[Full title: Section VIII: The killing of Ravana; (I) Rejection of Mandodari’s request by Ravana]
According to the Paumacariya Mandodari reminds Ravana of the emergence of Rama and Laksmana as the Haladhara and the Vasudeva respectively and his (Prati-vasudeva's) destined death at the hands of Laksmana. She further requests her husband to release Sita to escape his ruin. Ravana does not pay any heed to her words and orders his army to march forth to the battle field (70). In the Valmiki Ramayana there is no direct reference to any request of Mandodari. But at the time of bewailing the death of her husband,
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RAMA-STORY 99 Mandodari utters that she had requested Ravana after the ruining of Lanki by Hanumat, to desist from harbouring enmity with Rama, but Ravana did not accept her proposal. Here she is said to have considered Rama as an incarnation of Visnu (6.111.13) and the abduction of Sita (mentioned as Sri) as the cause of the death of her husband (ibid 23). In the Gaudiya and the N.W. versions of the Valmiki Ramayana, Mandodari is said to have appealed to Ravana after the slaying of Prahasta, to stop the battle and to give up Sita saying that Rama was superior to all the ordinary human beings (Rama-katha; by Dr. C. Bulke (First Edition)., p. 378). In the Ramcharitmanas Mandodari is found to be requesting Ravana not less than four times1 for giving up Sita (5.35; 6.6; 6.14&6.37) saying that she reminds Ravana of Rama was the God incarnate and at 6.6. the mission of Rama to relieve the earth from the burden (of the sinners 2). At 5.35 i.e. after the ruining of Lanka by Hanumat she had requested Ravana for the first time. of the In the Adhyatma Ramayana just after the destruction Yajna of Ravana (6.10.36f) Mandodari tells Ravana that Rama is an in carnation of God and further requests him to give up Sita. Thereupon Ravana decides to be killed by Rama to attain emancipation (ibid 58). Tne Ananda Ramayana also agrees with it (1.11. 241-145).