Book Title: Aatmanushasan
Author(s): Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp Printers

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Page 228
________________ Atmānuśāsana आत्मानुशासन and that it was useless to proceed with it in an ordinary manner. Neither Bharata nor Bāhubali, both having the final and superior bodies, could be overwhelmed by any weapon and, therefore, let the two brothers fight out the issue by themselves in other ways. It was decided that they should settle their dispute by means of three kinds of contests, namely, eye-fight (constant staring at each other), waterfight, and wrestling. Bahubali won all the three contests but instead of throwing Bharata down on the ground in the last fight (wrestling), he lifted him up on his shoulder and then gently placed him on the ground, out of an affectionate regard for him. Humiliated and infuriated, Bharata called for his irresistible, all-powerful and divine cakraratna. Instead of harming Bahubalī, it merely circled around him and descended in his vicinity. This had happened because such divine weapons lose their effectiveness when confronted with the master's close relations. While the assembled kings and courtiers were praising Bahubali on his extraordinary prowess, he himself was contemplating the folly of fighting with his own brother for the sake of pride and kingdom. He quickly realized that all sense objects although look attractive in the beginning, end up giving very painful results. He begged for Bharata's pardon, gave his kingdom to son Mahābali, and worshipping the Holy Feet of his Father, Lord Rṣabha Deva, entered the order of homeless, naked monks. Bahubali performed severest of austerities, standing motionless in 'pratimayoga', and immersed in contemplation for one whole year. The thought, 'I have caused angst to Bharata, or, Bharata has suffered angst due to me,' remained persistently in the heart of Bahubali. On completion of one year, Emperor Bharata came and worshipped the pious feet of his younger brother Bahubali. Soon after, Bahubali attained indestructible and supremely glorious omniscience; it seemed that to spring forth, omniscience had demanded such adoration from Bharata. 180 ...........

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