The Life of Padma

The Life of Padma is a Jain retelling of the Ramayana, written by Svayambhudeva in the Apabhramsha language. It narrates Prince Ramas exile, search for his wife Sita, and restoration of his kingship. The second volume recounts Ramas exile with Sita and his brother Lakshmana, encountering sages in Dandaka Forest and setting the stage for war with Ravana. This is the first English translation of the oldest extant Apabhramsha work.

Format: Hardback
Length: 832 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2023
Publisher: Harvard University Press

The Life of Padma, also known as the Paümacariu, is a captivating Jain rendition of the renowned Ramayana tale, penned by the poet and scholar Svayambhudeva during the early tenth century in south India. Like its epic heritage, The Life of Padma unfolds the tale of Prince Rama's exile, his relentless quest to find his beloved wife Sita, who had been abducted by King Ravana of Lanka, and his eventual restoration to the throne.

The second volume of The Life of Padma vividly depicts Rama's exile alongside Sita and his brother Lakshmana. During their journey, they visit a series of cities, deviating from the traditional ashrams depicted in most versions. The trio celebrates Lakshmana's marriages and encounters a remarkable city constructed in honor of Rama. In the Dandaka Forest, they encounter sages who possess profound knowledge of Jain doctrine.

However, the tragic discovery of Sita's disappearance sets the stage for a fierce war with Ravana. This remarkable translation marks the first direct rendering into English of the oldest extant Apabhramsha work, accompanied by a corrected text in the Devanagari script, based on Harivallabh C. Bhayanis critical edition.

Weight: 856g
Dimension: 145 x 213 x 42 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674271234