Jain Journal 1979 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 24

Bahubali
GANESH LALWANI
For becoming sovereign monarch, Bharata, son of Rsabhadeva, conquered whole of India. He was victorious everywhere.
On his way home he remembered his younger brother. He had not received his submission as yet.
So he sent his messenger to Taksasila requesting him to come down to Ayodhya. He thought, he would acknowledge his supremacy without giving him any trouble.
But things did not happen as he thought. The messenger returned from Taksasila with a message. There was no difficulty in Bahubali's coming to Ayodhya, specially when Bharata was requesting for it. But he wouldn't like to return as his vassal.
Bharata became angry on hearing this. He called his generals. Taksasila was to be taught such a lesson so that men will remember it for ever.
The fight continued for a long time. Many warriors were killed. But that did not settle who was victorious.
When Bharata saw that most of the army with which he advanced on Taksasila had been destroyed he apprehended humiliation and defeat. That evening when Bahubali came to Bharata's camp to enquire about his health after the day's fight Bharata said to him, "O Bahubali, we both are losing men and material in this fight. It is not good for both of us. Why not then we settle our dispute by a duel ?"
Bahubali said, "I agree with you. I also was thinking in this line."
Then they both chalked out the ways by which they would fight the duel.