Jain Journal 1979 07

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

Page 25

18
But in the first four tournaments Bharata was defeated. The last was a combat with fists. Bahubali said to Bharata, "You strike me first, because you won't be able to withstand when I strike."
JAIN JOURNAL
Bharata by this time had realised that what Bahubali spoke was true. So he struck first.
Bahubali's leg unto the ankles went down into the earth. But he recovered himself and stood before him again.
Now is Bahubali's turn to strike. Bharata became afraid of the result. For his own life he took a measure what was unbecoming and threw his cakra (disc) at him.
It harmed not Bahubali, and returned to the thrower. The cakra kills not relatives.
But this unjust act of Bharata enraged Bahubali. As a pugilist of super-human strength he raised his fist to strike with vengeance.
But in the meantime something happened unexpected.
Suddenly he became conscious of his own self. It was all bliss, free from the dust of pride or injury.
Then why he would kill his own brother Bharata ? Tears rolled down his eyes.
The raised fist automatically fell on his own head to tear his own hair, an act to be performed at the time of initiation in the way of the Nirgrantha. He then told to his elder brother Bharata, "Take this kingdom of Taksasila. What shall I do with this? I am going to conquer that kingdom by which I will get bliss eternal."
Bahubali became a monk and gave himself to austerities. He was so absorbed in meditation that creepers scrolled round his legs and ant-hills rose beneath.
Brahmi and Sundari were two daughters of Lord Rsabha. Long since they had renounced the world and had become nuns. One day they asked the Lord, "Where is Bahubali? Has he attained kevala-knowledge ?"