Paumacariu
Summary
This instalment of Svayambhudeva’s *Paumacariu* (a Jain retelling of the Rāmāyaṇa) recounts episodes from the Vidyādhara Kāṇḍa. The narrative opens with the proud rākṣasa king Rāvaṇa asking whether any hero is mightier than himself. He is told that Vali, the son of Suryarava, is considered the most powerful warrior in the three worlds and has attained samyaktva (right belief) and vowed never to bow before anyone except a Jina. A courtier advises Rāvaṇa not to provoke Vali because their dynasties have been friends since the days of Śrikantha and have shared joys and sorrows together. While Rāvaṇa travels to marry Tanudari, his sister Candranakhī is abducted by Khara and Dūṣaṇa, who kill Candrodara and occupy Pātāla Laṅkā. Upon returning and hearing of the attack, Rāvaṇa becomes enraged and prepares to march against the offenders, but his wife Mandodarī persuades him to avoid war. Instead she sends the magicians Māyā and Mārīca to solemnise the marriage of Candranakhī with Khara and to crown Khara as king of Pātāla Laṅkā. Rāvaṇa then sends a messenger to Vali to recall the bonds of friendship and advise him to pay respects. Vali rudely rejects the overture and invites Rāvaṇa to salute him or fight. In the ensuing duel Vali lifts Rāvaṇa along with his aerial chariot and humiliates him; when Rāvaṇa’s pride is quelled Vali voluntarily relinquishes his throne in favour of his brother Sugrīva and joins the monastic order. Sugrīva becomes Rāvaṇa’s ally. He gives his sister Śrīprabhā in marriage to Rāvaṇa, grants half of Vali’s kingdom to Vali’s son Śaśikirāṇa and sends Vali’s other sons, Nāla and Nīla, to rule Kiskupura. Sugrīva himself marries Sutarā, the daughter of the Northern Range king Jvalanāśikha, and fathers two sons by her, Aṅga and Aṅgada. The narrative thus ends with the re‑establishment of alliances and the absorption of former enemies into the rākṣasa realm. Svayambhudeva presents these events in a manner that emphasises humility, friendship and the Jain ideals of non‑violence and right faith. By showing Vali attaining samyaktva and renouncing his throne, the poem contrasts the heroic values of Jaina ethics with the pride and aggression of worldly rulers. This section sets the stage for subsequent episodes in which the Jaina Rāma (Pauma) and his allies continue their righteous quest.
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Conclusion
The *Paumacariu* adapts the Rāmāyaṇa into a Jain moral framework. In this segment Rāvaṇa’s arrogance is humbled by Vali’s ascetic renunciation, while alliances forged through marriage and mutual respect replace violent conquest. Svayambhudeva underscores the Jain virtues of right belief, humility and non‑violence, suggesting that true heroism lies in self‑restraint and loyalty rather than brute strength. The episode thus illustrates how ancient epic material can be reinterpreted to convey distinct ethical teachings.