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Gommagesvara Commemoration Volume
penance. Here it is recorded that Bahubali attained liberation immediately." Jambūdivapannatti too does not speak of the family relation of Bharat and Bahubali." All these variant readings legitimately prompt one to conclude that the life-story of Bahubali has seen its development in numerous different traditions. However, the following points occur in all the texts available with almost no variations.
1. Bahubali was the ruler of Taxila. According to some of the texts he got it from his father. The other sources, on the contrary, describe him as an independent King who developed enmity with Bharata. According to Jambūdvipaprajñapti Bahubali was given the state of Bahali situated near Taxila."
The conversation held between Bāhubali and Bharata's messenger is undoubtedly an invaluable treasure of ancient Indian culture from the point of view of political standards of those days. In it one finds a vivid description of duties and rights of kings". The description of Bahubali's struggle for freedom and the efforts to defend his kingdom is an event unparalelled in the literature of the world. This indeed accounts for the fame and glory he attained.
2. The real greatness of Bahubali lies in his character and his belief in non-violence. All the texts describe his fight with Bharata which was far from being violent. However, Bharateśvara-bāhubalivștti states that they fought terribly for as many years as twelve. The proposal for fight without involving violence comes either through Indra, or messanger, or ministers. But it may be underlined that according to the Paumacariyam" and Āvas yakacūrņi." it was Bahubali himslef who proposed it. It was his policy that he must try his utmost to avoid violence as far as he could inspite of the fact that he was sufficiently strong. This factor earned for him fame and glory far and wide.
There is a controversy regarding the type of the non-violent fight. One text mentions Drsti-yuddha and Malla-yuddha while other one describes Jala-yuddha." Jinadāsaganimahattara has further added Vag-yuddha. At other place one learns about five types of fight including Danda-yuddha'?. It all indicates that the authors meant that there took place a fight between Bahubali and Bharata which, though not involving violence, could decisively prove one as a winner. The Prakrit authors might have desired to throw light on Bahubali's physical strength. Despite the fact that he was strong enough he clinged to the moral values whereas Bharata acted just opposite.
3. Another point common in all the texts available is that Bharata gets angry when he finds himself defeated, and strikes Bahubali with the Cakra.' This is a clear violation of the accepted principle of fighting. With the result Bharata degrades himself; and further, on the other hand this incident brings complete transformation in Bāhubali's life. He renounces the world and embraces
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