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The Tale of Brahmadatt Chakra
Yoga Shastra, Second Light, Verse 27
In the midst of it, I hid myself. After the thieves left, I hid in the hollow of the tree, like a water bird hides in water. When silence fell all around, I reached the village with great difficulty, looking here and there. After learning your news from the headman of the village, I came here searching. Just as the peacock is delighted to see the clouds, so I am overjoyed to see you. Brahmadatt, expressing great joy, said to him, "When will we become cowardly and inactive?"
During that time, the spring festival, which bestows dominion upon Kamadeva and intoxicates young men like wine, arrived. Then, the king, the brother of Yama Raja, like a drunken elephant, broke the pillar, freed from his chains, and went out, terrifying everyone. A young woman, staggering under the weight of her hips, was going on the highway, when the elephant picked her up in its trunk like a lotus. Helpless, weeping, she began to lament pitifully, "Oh Matanga, oh Matanga! (meaning your Matanga - (Chandala) name is meaningful) Are you not ashamed to catch a helpless woman?" Hearing this, the Kumar came forward to rescue her from the elephant's clutches. The Kumar jumped up and placed his foot on the elephant's tusk, like placing his foot on a ladder, and easily climbed onto the elephant's back. And there he sat down comfortably. Just as a yogi subdues his senses and mind through yogic power, so the Kumar subdued the elephant with the reins of his voice and the pressure of his feet. The spectators standing there exclaimed, "Bravo! Bravo! Well done! Well done!" Thus, everyone began to cheer for the Kumar. The Kumar also took the elephant to the pillar and tied it like a female elephant. When the king heard this, he immediately came to the scene and, looking at the Kumar with astonished eyes, said, "Who is not amazed by his form and prowess? Who is this powerful man in disguise? Where did he come from? Or is he the sun or Indra?" Hearing this, Ratnawati told the king the whole story. Attracted by the qualities of the Kumar, the fortunate king gave him his daughters in a festive manner, just as Daksha Raja had given them to Chandra. After marrying the princesses, the Kumar stayed there happily. One day, an old woman, with one end of her garment trailing behind her, came to the Kumar and said, "In this city, there lives a wealthy Seth named Vaishramana, who is as wealthy as any other money-lender on earth. He has a daughter named Shrimati, like the Lakshmi born from the ocean. On the day you rescued her from the elephant's clutches, like the moon from the clutches of Rahu, she has accepted you as her husband in her heart. Since then, she has been restless and thin in your memory. Just as she has taken you into her heart, so you should take her by the hand." At the old woman's repeated request, the Kumar agreed. Thereafter, with great pomp and ceremony, with music and various auspicious events, the Kumar married Shrimati. At the same time, Vardhanu married Nanda, the daughter of the wise minister. In this way, gaining fame throughout the country and abroad through their prowess and engaging in charity, they both continued to progress.
Hearing that Brahmadatt was coming towards Varanasi, the king of Varanasi, knowing his glory like that of Katik Brahma, went to meet him and brought him to his place with festivities. Attracted by Brahmadatt's qualities, the king gave him his daughter, Katikavati, and as dowry, a four-armed army, like Jayalakshmi herself. In this way, kings like Karunudatt of Champanagari, Dhanumantri, and Bhagadatt, hearing of his arrival, came to welcome him. Just as Bharat Chakravarti had made Sushen his commander-in-chief, so Brahmadatt made Vardhanu his commander-in-chief and marched with him to make Dirghraja a guest of the other world. During this time, a messenger of Dirghraja came to Katik Raja and said, "It is not right for you to abandon the friendship you have had with Dirghraja since childhood." To this, Katik Raja said, "We five brothers, including Brahmaraja, were like brothers. At the time of Brahmaraja's death, Dirghraja was entrusted with the responsibility of protecting his son and kingdom. But he did not consider the future of Brahmaraja's son with foresight, nor did he consider his kingdom. On the contrary, he has become corrupt and committed so many sins that one
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