Shraman Mahavira

Author(s): Dineshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Mitra Parishad Calcutta

Page 57

THE GLOOM OF FEAR THE LIGHT OF FEARLESSNESS
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at him with a will to fell him aground To his astonishment the figure refused to fall It was as erect as ever his defeat gave an edge to his fury. He withdrew a little He, then, dashed ahead and gazed at the Lord with his poison-filled eyes The Lord was unaffected The third time he gazed at the sun to activate his venom and sought to shoot it at the Lord No reaction, however, occurred The Lords till stands steady and unmoving
The wrath of Chandkaushik knew no bounds. He crawled forward He portrayed ferocity with his invading hood, wrathfully writhing body, venomous eyes and swordlike tongue.
He crawled near the Lord's toe He bit the left toe of the Lord with all his might The power of concentration prevailed upon the venom The monster kept gazing. The leg was his next target and thence creeping up the leg the Lord's throat But his exertions yielded no results He was consumed in anger He was prostrated by the terrific strain of repeated attacks He receded a little and sat still
The Lord awoke from his meditation He found Chandakaushik seated before himself, his vast body entwined The Lord eyed him with a pacific and compassionate glance The venom of the python's eye was purged The whole of his being was quiet, composed and tranquil
Such is the dignity and triumph of non-violence and fellow-feeling
The vigilant cowherds were not far behind From tree-tops they saw the sight It was so marvellous a sight They circulated the news that Chandakaushik had been pacified It was a momentous and auspicious news The masses were so much relieved to learn that the way to Kanakhal was no more unsafe Anybody might traverse it now There was an upsurge of spectators There they saw in the centre of the place a yogi standing in a meditative posture, with the serpent facing him gently Whose very name scared them to death was being watched by the thousands What a curious sight! They would scarcely believe their eyes Lord Mahavira continued to be there for a fortnight His camp there signified the four great