Bharat and Bahubali

SR No.: 201053
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 4
Language: English
Classification: Article, Jaina_Education, & 0_Jaina_education_Story
File Size: 1 MB

Page 2

STORIES PRECEDING BHAGAWÄN MAHÄVIR
how unbearable and shameful his defeat would be. His ambition to rule the entire world was also at stake if he did not defeat his brother. He grew desperate and ignored the rules of the duel by unleashing his miracle wheel, the Chakraratna, at Bähubali. Bharat forgot one important characteristic of the miracle weapon that it would not harm any blood relatives of the bearer. Therefore the wheel returned to Bharat and Bahubali remained unharmed. Bähubali became enraged by Bharat's violation of the rules of the duel. He thought of smashing the elder brother with his mighty fist. As he raised his hand for that purpose, the onlookers trembled at the thought of Bharat's imminent death.
Incidences in the lives of King Bharat and King Bahubali
Just as he was about to unleash his wrath, a flash of insight came to him. “What am I doing?" thought Bähubali. "Have I gone mad? Am I going to kill my elder brother for the sake of some worldly possessions that my revered father willingly abandoned and which my other brothers have given up?" He shuddered at the prospect of the imminent death of Bharat. At that moment he changed his mind. He saw the evil in killing a brother he respected. Instead of lowering his hand to hit his brother, he used it to pull out his hair (as the monks do during Dikshä - renunciation ceremony) as a symbol of giving up everything and of renouncing the worldly life.
But Bähubali had not lost his pride and ego. He realized that if he went to his father and stated his intention of renouncing the world he would be required to bow down and be subservient to his 98 younger brothers who were senior to him in monkhood. This was unacceptable to him. Instead, Bahubali decided to seek enlightenment on his own and started meditating on the very spot that he stood. He became so immersed in his meditation that he lost track of time and could not remember how long he had stood there. He stood in that very spot for so long that creepers began to grow around his feet.
A year passed with Bähubali standing in that posture of meditation. Yet, he did not gain enlightenment. How could he gain it without shedding his ego? At last, Lord Rishabhadev sent Brähmi and Sundari to bring him to the right path. They came to the place where Bähubali was meditating. Seeing their mighty brother standing like a rock, they calmly told him, "You cannot get enlightenment while sitting on an
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