Is there any english translation of Paumachariyam
Yes, you can get Paumacariyam (Paumacariya) in English form, but there are a few important nuances:
- Direct, full English translation of Vimalasuri’s Paumacariyam
- A complete, verse‑by‑verse English translation of the original Prakrit text is not easily available online in the same way as, say, a modern English Ramayana. - Most printed editions are: - Prakrit original + Hindi translation, or - Prakrit original with a long English introduction/summary (not full translation).
- English books based on Paumacariyam (Jain Ramayana)
You can study the story in English through works that summarize or retell Vimalasuri’s Jain Ramayana, for example: - English “Jain Ramayana” books which explicitly say they are based on Paumacariya / Jain Ramayana of Vimalasuri. - Scholarly works titled along the lines of “Paumacariya – a critical study” which give a detailed English summary of the whole epic and its Jain view of Rama, Lakshman, Ravana, etc.
- Practical way to read it in English
- Look for: - “Jain Ramayana (Paumacariya / Paumachariyam / Padmacarita) – English” from Jain publishers. - Jain libraries such as Jain eLibrary (search by “Paumacariya” or “Vimalasuri”). Many times you’ll find either: - English introductions and summaries, or - Hindi/English mixed material. - If you are comfortable with Hindi + English, the Prakrit‑with‑Hindi editions plus an English secondary book (critical study / outline) are currently the most realistic route.
- Guidance specifically from JainKnowledge
JainKnowledge has a Q&A that guides how to read Ramayana in Jain way, and explicitly mentions Paumacariya of Acharya Vimalasuri as the primary Jain Ramayana and notes that translations in modern languages are available from Jain publishers and libraries. You can read that guidance here:
Summary:
- There is English material on Paumacariyam (critical studies, detailed summaries, and Jain Ramayana retellings based on it).
- A simple, complete, line‑by‑line English translation of the entire original Prakrit text is not widely available online; you’ll likely rely on English summaries/retellings or printed editions from Jain publishers.