________________
Now came the third and the final round. The two adversaries walked into the arena and grappled each other. Bāhubali got an. opportunity and he twisted the arm of Bharata with one hand and with the other gave a mighty blow. Bharat stumbled and before he could regain his balance Bāhubali lifted him high over his head with both hands and whirled him like a top, intending to toss him high. However, *thinking that Bharata was elder and deserved a better treatment, he rested Bharata on his shoulder. Bāhubali was the winner of all the three contests.
Bharata could not tolerate this insult. In anger he launched his Cakra on Bahubali but it circumambulated Bāhubali three times and returned. This lowly deed of Bharata filled Bāhubalī with disgust. He put Bharata on high ground and expressed his feelings in few words, “Brother, you have dared to commit grave misdeed. Depriving all your brothers of their kingdoms, you want to enjoy all the power yourselves. You are welcome to have it all. I will now take to the supreme path of austerities.” With these words Bāhubali left. He went to mount Kailash and became an ascetic. He took special ascelle vows (pratimā) and started his meditation standing in the kāyotsarga (complete dissociation of mind from the body) posture.
He observed such impossible and extreme austerities that were never seen or heard of. While he stood immobile at one spot, termites made anthills leaning on his legs. Snakes made their holes in these anthills and laid eggs. Tiny snakes slithered around over his body. Creepers covered his limbs and body. Birds made nests in these creepers and chirped around all the time. Vidyādhara damsels (a species of gods) would came from time to time and remove the creepers. He acquired many miraculous or magical powers due to his austerities but was not even aware of that. He became free of attachment, aversion, and fondness but he could not be rid of the thought that he was still standing on the land of Bharata.
After one year Bharata came there. He bowed and touched his head at the feet of the great ascetic, Bāhubali. The acute emotion of repentance forced a stream of tears from his eyes. Washing the feet of Bāhubali with dripping tears he uttered, “Lord! Please remove from your mind the thought that this land belongs to Bharata. This land was
181
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
