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the cakra being whirled by the Cakravartin for his destruction, the proud king of Bahali thought to himself : "Shame on his thinking himself his father's son ! Shame on his heroism, since the Lord of Bharata took the cakra against me who had a staff for a weapon. In the presence of the gods he promised the best fight. Shame on such an action like a child's play. 864 Displaying the cakra, like an angered ascetic a hot flash, just as he has terrified everyone, he wishes to terrify me. As he has learned the strength of his arms and staff, so let him learn the power of the cakra.” As Bāhubali, strong of arm, was thinking this, the Lord of Bharata hurled the cakra at Bahubali, throwing it with all his strength.
"Shall I break it quickly with the staff, like an old dish? Or shall I strike it gently and then throw it back like a ball ? Or shall I throw it up in the sky as easily as a knife? Or shall I put it in the ground like an infant's navel-cord 2 865 Or shall I catch it in my hand like a young sparrow flying up? Or shall I merely repel it to a distance immediately like a criminal unworthy of slaughter? Or shall I speedily crush the thousand Yaksas, its guardians, with my staff, like grain with a grindstone ? Still, all this must be considered later : first I must know the extent of its power." While the King of Takşasilā was making these reflections, the cakra approached and made the pradaksinā to him, like a pupil to his guru. The Cakravartin's cakra has no effect on even an ordinary man belonging to the same family, and especially such a man with the very best body. The cakra returned to the Cakravartin's hand again, like a bird to its resting-place, like a horse to its stable.
864 713. Samvyānādana. This is said to refer to children's play, in which they put their garments over their head and dance, in imitation of peacocks. There is a Gujarātí proverb which compares a shameless person with a child playing in this way.
866 718. As in the description of the birth ceremonies in Chap. II.
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