________________
BAHUBALI
145
personal magnetism of Bāhubali which even overmastered and turned off the fiery discus.
Bharata's action was disliked by all present. Bāhubali was filled with disgust for the world, whose infatuation could produce such intoxicating effect even on a good man like Bharata. “The kingdom,” he said, " is for you, brother mine! I will have nothing more to do with this world of tantalizing shadows ! ” Saying this he
left the world, went to the WORLD TEACHER, · who had gone to Mount Kailāsa in the mean
while, worshipped the Holy Feet of the Lord, and discarding all clothes and everything else of the world, entered the order of homeless monks! Bharata's heart was softened at his brother's renunciation ; he apologised for his rashness, but could not dissuade him from his firm resolve.
For a whole year Bāhubali performed the severest austerities, standing motionless immersed in contemplation. Creepers grew up round his legs in this period ; ant hills sprang up about him. But notwithstanding these austerities he could not get rid of the irksome little thought that he stood on Bharata's land. This stood in his way, and did not admit of his destroying his four kinds of inimical karmas. At last at the end of the year, it occurred to him that common lands were not capable of exclusive proprietary posses
T. 10
