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The Tale of Brahmadatt Chakra
Yoga Shastra, Second Light, Verse 27 | Even a Chandala would not do this. Therefore, go and tell Dirgharaja that Brahmadatt is coming, either fight him or flee from here with your black face. Saying this, he sent the messenger back. Thereafter, Brahmadatt advanced with unimpeded speed. Reaching Kampilya, he surrounded the entire city, including Dirgharaja, just as clouds cover the sky along with the sun. Just as a great serpent emerges from a hole when a stick is struck on it, Dirgharaja emerged from the city with all his family and war materials. On the other hand, Chulani Rani, having become extremely detached from the world, took initiation from a Pravartini Sadhvi named Purnā and gradually became eligible for liberation. Just as aquatic creatures of a river clash with those of the sea, so too did Dirgharaja's soldiers clash with Brahmadatt's soldiers. Many of Dirgharaja's soldiers fell wounded. Then Dirgharaja himself, grinding his teeth in anger, with a terrifying countenance like a boar, rushed to kill the enemy. But Brahmadatt's infantry, chariot force, and cavalry spread out rapidly like the swift current of a river. After that, Brahmadatt also, with red eyes in anger, roared like an elephant and clashed with Dirgharaja himself. Like the waves of the ocean during the time of destruction, they both attacked each other with weapons. In the meantime, knowing that the opportunity had come, a Chakra Ratna, shining like a servant, all-conquering, appeared in the service of Brahmadatt. Brahmadatt immediately used that Chakra Ratna to finish off Dirgharaja. What effort does lightning need to kill a gnat? Does it take time? The gods, praising him like the Magadhas, showered flowers on him, saying, "Victory to Brahmadatt Chakravarti!" The citizens began to see Brahmadatt as their father, mother, or deity. Just as Indra enters Amaravati, so too did he enter Kampilya. Upon ascending the throne, King Brahmadatt summoned all his wives from all places, with whom he had married in the past; and among them, he established Pushpavati as the "Strirata." Then, conquering the six continents with different boundaries of ownership, Brahmadatt made the earth into one continent. That is, he established a single-umbrella Chakravarti kingdom. For twelve consecutive years, kings from all directions came and performed his coronation, just as they had done for Bharata. He married sixty-four thousand women and kept them in his inner palace. Thus, Brahmadatt Chakravarti was enjoying all the pleasures of the kingdom as the fruit of the tree of penance performed in his previous birth. One day, there was a play, music, dance, and melody in the palace; in the meantime, one of his maidservants presented Brahmadatt with a wonderful bunch of flowers woven by the celestial nymphs. Brahmadatt looked at it intently and began to think, "I have seen such a bunch of flowers somewhere before." Pondering repeatedly in his mind, he remembered his five previous births. Then he remembered that he had seen such a bunch in the Saudharma Devaloka. The intense recollection of his brother, who had been with him in his five previous births, made the king impatient. He fainted and fell down with a thud. Seeing the Chakravarti in this state, they sprinkled sandalwood water on him; from which he regained consciousness. Upon recovering, he began to think, "How and where will I find my brother from my previous birth? To recognize him, I will give the servant half a verse, the identifier of my previous birth, 'Aasva Dasau Mrigao Hansi, Matangavamarau Tatha.' He also had a proclamation made in the city, "Whoever completes this half-verse of mine, I will give him half my kingdom." Hearing this announcement, the people of the city became very curious to know this half-verse. Everyone memorized it almost as if it were their own name. But no one could fulfill the problem of the meaning of the verse. At that time, Purimatal was born in the city of Chitrak as the son of a Seth. He had the knowledge of jati-smriti. Therefore, he took initiation and wandered from village to village. 1. One story describes Chulani fleeing and taking initiation from a Sadhvi on the way.
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