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The Story of Brahmadutt Chakri
The Yogashastra, Second Illumination, Verse 27, has been paralyzed, just as a cloud paralyzes fire. The shower of arrows released by the prince has scattered both the enemy commanders and their army. When a lion is ready to attack, how can a deer stand its ground? The minister's son said to the prince, "Your Highness, you must be very tired from the battle. So, rest here on this chariot for a while." Just as an elephant sleeps with a young female elephant in the valley of a mountain, Brahmadutt too slept on the chariot with Ratnawati.
After some time, when the prince woke up, he did not see the charioteer, the minister's son. Thinking he must have gone to fetch water, the prince called out for a long time, but received no response. Seeing the front part of the chariot soaked in blood, the prince suddenly cried out, "Alas, I am killed!" Lamenting thus, he fainted and fell into the chariot. When he regained consciousness after some time, he stood up. Then, remembering something, he began to sob like an ordinary person. "Friend Vardhana! Alas! Where have you gone, leaving me behind!" In this way, he started lamenting. Ratnawati consoled him, saying, "I don't think your friend has died. Therefore, my lord, it is not appropriate to speak such inauspicious words for him. He must have gone somewhere for your work. It is certain that sometimes servants go without being asked, for the sake of their master's work. My heart says that he is safe under the influence of your devotion and will surely return. The influence of devotion to the master is such that it acts as a shield for the servants. Upon reaching the place, we will have the servants search for him. Now, it is not right to linger even for a moment in this terrible forest like Yama."
Reassured by Ratnawati's words, the prince urged the horses forward, and they reached a village on the border of the Magadha kingdom. The village headman, sitting in his home, saw them approaching and warmly welcomed them to his house. When the prince had somewhat recovered, the village headman asked him, "Your face suggests that you are in sorrow. If there is no objection, please tell me the reason for your concern." The prince said, "While fighting with the thieves, my friend has disappeared, and I am unable to find him." Thereupon, the headman said, "Just as Hanuman found Sita, we too will search and bring him back." Saying this, the headman, along with the villagers, thoroughly searched the entire forest, but could not find any trace of him. Returning, the village leader said, "No one injured by an attack was seen in this great forest; however, this one arrow was found there. It seems that Vardhana has surely died."
Hearing this, Brahmadutt sank deeper into the darkness of sorrow. Soon, the arrival of night made that darkness of sorrow even more palpable. In the fourth watch of the night, thieves suddenly attacked the place. But on being challenged by the prince, they all fled in the opposite direction. Then, following the guidance of the village leader, the prince and Ratnawati reached Rajgriha. There, the prince left Ratnawati at the hermitage of an ascetic outside the city and entered the city. As soon as he entered the city, he saw two young, beautiful women standing at the palace window, as if they were personifications of Rati and Priti. They said to the prince, "Prince, is it proper for you to leave the company of those devoted to love?" The prince asked, "Who are these devoted to love, and when have I abandoned them?" Welcoming him, they said, "Lord, please come here and rest. Are you not pleased?" Entertaining him with sweet words, they took Brahmadutt into their home. After bathing him and feeding him, they began to narrate their true story:
"In the southern range of the Vaitadhya mountain, which is like the tilaka mark on the earth made of golden rock and is endowed with the abodes of the Vidyadharas, there is a city named Shivamandira. In that city, there was a king named Jwalanashikha, who had a radiant, lightning-like wife named Vidhushikha. After their son Natyonmatta, we two, Khanda and Vishakha, were born as their beloved daughters. Once, our father, along with his friend Agnishikha and all of us, had gone to..."