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Bahubali in Kannada Literature
“Möhave muktiyallembana bāyahoy Mohiyalladana nodadiru Mohavaballavanellava ballanes
Dā hādiyolagādutiharu" (Greed or lust itself is salvation. If there is anybody denying this, simply beat him. The person who is expert in the matters of lust, knows everything). Such kind of talk was heard by the messenger throughout the streets of Paudanpur while he was going to the palace of Bahubali. When we read such description, we feel disgusted and sorry to note that Bahubali belonged to such a culture being the son of Ādinātha and brother of Bharata.
Further, Bāhubali decided to fight. Here Ratnākara has brought his wives and mother who advised him not to fight. The poet writes that Bahubali told them a lie, which is common to Madana (Cupid). Bahubali is made a deceitful person.
In the battlefield, Bharata advised him that fight between Ādinātha's sons was not a good thing and at last told that he i. e., Bharata would be defeated. When asked by his people, he said, "Is there any person who is not defeated by Smara i, e., Cupid ?” and asked the Cakraratna to go to Bahubali. But it did not go, because, Ratnākaravar i writes, Bāhubali was not so meritorious as to hold that Cakraratna. Bharata pushed it to Bahubali. At that time, untimely omens took place. Seeing all, Bahubali felt sorry and begging pardon of his brother renounced the kingdom and went to practise penance.
Poets are uncrowned monarchs. They can do any thing. Ratnākaravarņi, to raise the status of Bharata-- his hero, has made Bahubali to stand a step below. Still, when admiring Bāhubali's handsomeness, strength, Ratnākaravarni, excels any other poet. Even then, as already said, to read Bahubali's description as a lustful man and as a person not so meritorious so as to have Cakraratna, one feels sorry. Even in modern Kannada, a good number of poets have composed poems on Bahubali of Sravanabelgola and have kept up the tradition of the ancient poets.
Anyway the Kannada people also have tried to keep up their pace, along with others, in giving due credit and place in literature as well as in sculpture to Bāhubali, recognising his highest qualities like valour, self-respect and intelligence, control over the mind etc. We should be grateful to all those who are responsible for this good and immortal work done in showing their devotion to and admiration for Bahubali.
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