Chitrasena Padmavati Charitra

This is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Chitrasena Padmavati Charitra" by Mulraj Jain, based on the provided pages.

Book Title: Chitrasena Padmavati Charitra (The Story of Chitrasena and Padmavati) Author: Buddhivijaya (edited by Mul Raj Jain) Publisher: Jain Vidya Bhavan Lahore Year: 1942

Overall Theme: The "Chitrasena Padmavati Charitra" is a Jain narrative that emphasizes the virtues of śīla (chastity) and karma (action and consequence). It illustrates how virtuous deeds, adherence to principles, and the consequences of past actions play out in the lives of individuals, ultimately leading towards spiritual liberation (moksha).

Synopsis:

The story begins with King Virasena of Vasantapura, whose wife is Ratnamala. Their son is Chitrasena. Chitrasena's close friend is Ratnasara, the son of the king's minister. The two young men are so handsome that they attract the attention of the townswomen, leading to disapproval from elders. Enraged, King Virasena banishes Chitrasena, who, accepting it as the consequence of his karma, bids farewell to his parents and departs with Ratnasara.

While traveling, they take shelter in a forest. Ratnasara stays awake to guard Chitrasena, who falls asleep. At midnight, they hear music and discover a gathering of gods and kinnaras celebrating a festival at a splendid Jina temple. Inside, Chitrasena sees an exquisite image of a girl and falls instantly in love with it, fainting away. Upon regaining consciousness, he vows to marry the girl depicted or die.

A Kevalin (omniscient monk) arrives and, upon Ratnasara's inquiry, reveals the identity of the girl in the image: Princess Padmavati, daughter of King Padmaratha and Queen Padmashri of Ratnapura. Padmavati has developed a strong aversion to men, which troubles her father. The Kevalin explains that Padmavati's hatred stems from a past life.

The Kevalin then recounts the previous lives of Chitrasena and Padmavati. They were a pair of swans living by a lake. One day, a fire broke out in the forest. The male swan went to fetch water, but his mate, suspecting his faithfulness due to his prolonged absence, became consumed by suspicion and grief, ultimately burning herself and their offspring to death. The male swan returned too late to find them. This incident, fueled by suspicion and mistrust, led to their rebirth as Chitrasena and Padmavati, with Padmavati carrying the lingering aversion to men. Chitrasena, upon hearing this, faints again, recalling his past actions.

The Kevalin advises Chitrasena that showing Padmavati a depiction of their past life might help her overcome her aversion. Chitrasena and Ratnasara then continue their journey, and after resting in a temple where spirits are celebrating, Chitrasena receives a boon of victory in battle from the Yaksha Dhananjaya.

Upon reaching Ratnapura, they hear a royal proclamation: whoever cures Princess Padmavati of her hatred towards men will win her hand and half the kingdom. Chitrasena commissions a picture depicting the swans' tragic end. Padmavati sees the picture, regains her past-life memories, and faints. When she recovers, she understands the cause of her aversion and misses Chitrasena.

King Padmaratha arranges a svayamvara (self-choice ceremony). The condition for winning Padmavati's hand is to string the ancestral bow, Vajrasara. Many princes fail. Chitrasena, with Ratnasara's support, successfully strings the bow. Padmavati joyfully garlands him. The other princes attack Chitrasena, but he, even alone, defeats them. A bard announces that the prince is Chitrasena, son of Virasena of Vasantapura, satisfying the princes' pride. The marriage is celebrated grandly.

Chitrasena and Padmavati decide to visit his parents. Before leaving, King Padmaratha advises Padmavati on marital duties. During their journey, they camp in a forest. The Yaksha Gomukha and his mate Cakreshvari observe them. Gomukha reveals that Chitrasena's mother has died, his father has remarried Vimala, who has a son Gunasena. Vimala plots to secure the kingdom for her son and plans to eliminate Chitrasena. She orchestrates several attempts on his life: a vicious horse, a falling gate, poison in food, and a snakebite. Ratnasara's loyalty and quick thinking save Chitrasena from each danger. Gomukha warns Ratnasara that if he reveals these events, he will turn to stone.

Upon reaching Vasantapura, Chitrasena is presented with a vicious horse by his father, but Ratnasara secretly swaps it for a gentle one. As they approach the city gate, Ratnasara startles the horse, causing it to retreat, and the falling gate crushes others. Chitrasena attends a dinner hosted by his stepmother Vimala, who serves him poisoned sweets, but Ratnasara substitutes them with safe ones.

Frustrated, King Virasena, upon hearing a sermon from Lord Mahavira, installs Chitrasena on the throne and he and his queen join the Jain Order. Chitrasena rules Vasantapura justly with Ratnasara as his minister.

One night, while Chitrasena and Padmavati sleep, Ratnasara stands guard. A snake descends towards their bed. Ratnasara kills it, but a drop of blood falls on Padmavati's leg. While he cleans it, Chitrasena wakes up. Ratnasara is in a dilemma: telling the truth would turn him to stone, while lying would endanger his life. Remaining true to his duty and virtue, he decides to tell the truth.

As Ratnasara narrates the Yaksha's prophecy and the events, he gradually turns into stone, from his feet upwards. Upon finishing his story, he solidifies into a stone statue. Chitrasena grieves deeply and contemplates suicide. Padmavati dissuades him, suggesting that charity might bring about a solution. They engage in extensive charity, but it does not revive Ratnasara. Chitrasena then decides to seek the Yaksha who predicted these events.

He journeys back to the banyan tree where the Yaksha resides. The Yakshi, at the Yaksha's request, recounts the story of Ratnasara's petrification. The Yaksha reveals that Ratnasara will regain his form if a virtuous lady, with her son in her lap, touches all his limbs. Chitrasena returns to his capital.

Padmavati, who is pregnant, gives birth to a son, Dharmasena. During the celebrations, Chitrasena seizes the opportunity. Padmavati, holding their son, touches the stone statue of Ratnasara with pure devotion and declares his restoration to life. Ratnasara revives, and everyone rejoices.

Later, Chitrasena marches against a rebellious chief, Simhasekhara. In the Dandaka forest, he hears a man moaning and finds Hemamali, who has been captured and nailed to a tree by the Vidyadhara Ratnacudala, who eloped with Hemamali's wife, Hemachula. Chitrasena defeats Ratnacudala. Ratnacudala confesses that he lost his magical powers due to his infatuation with Hemamali's wife, who turned out to be from his own clan. He explains his friends fled upon seeing Chitrasena. Chitrasena praises his eventual virtuous conduct and lets him go.

As tokens of gratitude, Hemamali gifts Chitrasena a magic cot allowing flight and a rod that can revive the dead. Ratnacudala also gives a pill that changes one's form. Chitrasena then resumes his campaign against Simhasekhara, using the magic rod to conquer him. Impressed by the enemy's valor, Chitrasena revives their dead soldiers and reinstates Simhasekhara as governor.

Chitrasena and Padmavati return to a grand reception. They observe the twelve vows of a śrāvaka and pay homage to the monks. They use the magic cot to visit pilgrimage sites.

Eventually, Chitrasena is deeply affected by the sermon of the great monk Damasara. He installs his son Dharmasena on the throne and, along with Padmavati and Ratnasara, joins the Jain Order, eventually attaining moksha.

Key Jain Principles Highlighted:

• Karma: The story repeatedly emphasizes that present circumstances are the result of past actions. Chitrasena accepts his banishment as a consequence of his karma.
• Śīla (Chastity): The narrative centers on Padmavati's adherence to chastity and how it impacts her life and the lives of others. Chitrasena's love for her and his patience in winning her over also highlight this virtue.
• Dāna (Charity): Charity is presented as a powerful means to overcome obstacles and attain merit, as seen when Padmavati suggests it to revive Ratnasara.
• Tapas (Austerity): The eventual joining of the Jain Order by Chitrasena, Padmavati, and Ratnasara signifies the pursuit of austerity for spiritual advancement.
• Jati Smriti (Remembrance of Past Lives): The story heavily relies on the concept of rebirth and the memories of past lives influencing present actions and emotions, particularly Padmavati's aversion to men.
• Ahimsa (Non-violence): The emphasis on virtuous deeds and the general tone of Jain literature suggest an underlying commitment to non-violence.
• Loyalty and Friendship: The unwavering loyalty of Ratnasara to Chitrasena is a central theme, showcasing the value of true friendship and sacrifice.

Manuscript Information and Popularity: The text is presented as an edition based on several manuscripts. The story of Chitrasena and Padmavati is noted as being popular, with various versions attributed to different authors in Sanskrit, Gujarati, and Hindi, indicating its widespread appeal within Jain literature. The language used is described as "Jain Sanskrit," with specific linguistic peculiarities noted.

This summary provides a detailed overview of the plot, characters, and the underlying Jain philosophical themes present in the "Chitrasena Padmavati Charitra."