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23
GLIMPSES ALONG LIFE'S JOURNEY
forgot himself, and stood like a statue, motionless and unmoving. All of a sudden a ray of light came into his eyes; recognition of the past shot through his recollection; he felt the warmth of intimacy grow in his soul! He immediately lost consciousness, fell senseless to the ground, and was at once caught in the arms of the watchful nurse!
In the meanwhile the Emperor had discovered the divine weapon termed chakra in his arsenal. He first of all went to worship the Saint who had obtained Omniscience as the reward of his tapascharana (austerities). Still greater luck awaited him there; for at the very sight of the Arhant his own mind became so much purified that he acquired the gift of clairvoyance on the spot.
He afterwards proceeded to examine the chakra that had come of its own accord, as the reward of great meritorious work in the previous lives. The chakra is a divine weapon which would seem to be attracted by the magnetism of certain really great kings. Its possessor is known as chakravarti (the owner or wielder of the chakra). There have been only twelve chakravartis (emperors) in Bharatvarṣa, since the commencement of the present cycle, which began untold millions of ages ago!
