Paumacariu

Summary

The article offers a synopsis of the Yuddha‑kāṇḍa (war book) of Svayambhūdeva’s *Paumacariu*, a Jain retelling of the Rāmāyaṇa. Unlike the Valmiki epic, the Jain version reinterprets characters and events to reflect Jain ethical principles, notably non‑violence and karma. The narrative opens with Vibhīṣaṇa, Ravana’s virtuous brother, who warns his king of the impending disaster caused by abducting Sītā. When Ravana refuses to return her, Vibhīṣaṇa defects to Rāma’s camp, symbolising the triumph of righteousness over familial loyalty. Rāma sends his nephew Aṅgada to Ravana’s court as an emissary; the arrogant demon king scorns the peace proposal, leading to war. The two armies assemble on the battlefield; the author describes the ranks of rākṣasas, monkeys, bears and vidyādharas, emphasising their magical weapons and the cosmic scale of the conflict. Early in the battle, Lakṣmaṇa is struck by Ravana’s shakti (spear) and falls unconscious; he is revived when the princess Viśalyā brings a vessel of elixir. The narrative pays special attention to healing rituals and magical herbs, illustrating Jain interest in medicine and compassion. Ravana then undertakes meditation to acquire the magical power *bahurūpiṇī* (ability to assume many forms) and multiplies himself, terrorising Rāma’s forces. Ultimately, the Jain version diverges markedly from the Valmiki epic: it is Lakṣmaṇa, not Rāma, who kills Ravana. As the *Rama in Jainism* article notes, in Jain narratives “Lakshmana kills Ravana… and Vibhishana is crowned King of Lanka. Rama… becomes a Jain monk and attains moksha”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama_in_Jainism#:~:text=Ravana%27s%20younger%20brother%2C%20Vibhishana%20%2C,Sita%20was%20born%20in%20heaven. This variation preserves Rāma’s vow of non‑violence, allowing him to remain ethically pure. After the battle, Rāma abdicates and becomes a monk; Lakṣmaṇa and Ravana are reborn in hell due to their violence, underlining karmic consequences. The article also highlights the literary qualities of Svayambhūdeva’s work: his use of Prakrit metres, vivid descriptions of warriors and landscapes, and incorporation of dialogues exploring dharma and renunciation. By recasting familiar episodes through a Jain lens, *Paumacariu* affirms central Jain values such as ahimsa, asceticism and the relativity of truth. The summary underscores how Vibhīṣaṇa’s loyalty to righteousness, Aṅgada’s mission, magical battles, Lakṣmaṇa’s injury and revival, and Ravana’s defeat all serve to illustrate the moral that even heroic violence carries karmic consequences. The Jain retelling thus offers an ethical counter-narrative to mainstream versions of the Rāmāyaṇa, emphasising compassion and self-restraint while maintaining narrative excitement.