The Life of Padma, Volume 2 (Murty Classical Library of India) - Hardcover

Svayambhudeva

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0674271238 ISBN 13: 9780674271234

Publisher: Harvard University Press, 2023

Synopsis

The first English translation of the oldest extant work in Apabhramsha, a literary language from medieval India, recounting the story of the Ramayana.<br /><br />The Life of Padma, or the Paümacariu, is a richly expressive Jain retelling in the Apabhramsha language of the famous Ramayana tale. It was written by the poet and scholar Svayambhudeva, who lived in south India around the beginning of the tenth century. Like the epic tradition on which it is based, The Life of Padma narrates Prince Rama’s exile, his search for his wife Sita after her abduction by King Ravana of Lanka, and the restoration of his kingship.<br /><br />The second volume recounts Rama’s exile with Sita and his brother Lakshmana. The three visit various cities―rather than ashrams, as in most versions; celebrate Lakshmana’s marriages; and come upon a new city built in Rama’s honor. In Dandaka Forest, they encounter sages who are masters of Jain doctrine. Then, the discovery of Sita’s disappearance sets the stage for war with Ravana.<br /><br />This is the first direct translation into English of the oldest extant Apabhramsha work, accompanied by a corrected text, in the Devanagari script, of Harivallabh C. Bhayani’s critical edition.

About this title

About the Author

Eva De Clercq is Professor of Indian Language and Culture at Ghent University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0674271238
• ISBN 13: 9780674271234
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 832