Paumacariu

Summary

This instalment of the Paumacariu, a Jain retelling of the Ramayana composed by Svayambhudeva in the Prakrit language, presents a segment of the epic from a Jain perspective. In Jain adaptations, the hero Rama (called Pauma or Padma) and his brothers are portrayed as virtuous princes who follow the vows of non‑violence and later renounce the world. The villain Ravana is not a demon but a powerful human king whose aggression stems from karmic delusion, and Sita is an embodiment of virtue. The narrative emphasises ethical conduct over martial prowess. In this episode the author describes the events leading up to Sita’s abduction and the consequent search by Rama and Lakshmana. The text often digresses into didactic passages explaining the karmic consequences of anger, pride and cruelty, and the benefits of charity and self‑restraint. Svayambhudeva integrates Jain cosmology, referring to previous births of the characters and their karmic entanglements. For example, he explains that Ravana’s present arrogance results from past misdeeds and that his eventual downfall is inevitable. The story also features dialogues in which sages instruct the protagonists on the impermanence of worldly pleasures and the importance of equanimity. At the culmination of the episode, Sita’s unwavering fidelity is praised, and the narrative points forward to the eventual resolution of the conflict. The style combines narrative prose with lyrical descriptions and uses metaphors drawn from nature and quotidian life. Although the plot parallels the Hindu Ramayana, the Paumacariu transforms the epic into a vehicle for Jain ethical teachings, stressing non‑violence, asceticism and the possibility of liberation. The article concludes with a “to be continued” note, indicating that the narrative will carry on in future issues.