________________
317
in the ear of a deaf person, as a benefit to a slanderer, as rain on saline ground, as a concert in a large forest, as a fall of fire on a mass of snow.
Then the son of Sunandā (Bāhubali) raised his fist high, watched by the gods with anxiety at the thought, “Is he angry with us?” He struck the Cakrin on the breast with his fist like a mahout striking an elephant on the temple with a goad. From that blow the Lord of Bharata fell on the ground in a swoon, like a mountain from a blow with a thunderbolt. The earth trembled at his fall, like a well-born woman at the fall of her husband. The mountains also shook, like relatives at the fall of a relative. “What is this evil whim of warriors for persistence in heroism in which there is such a quarrel between brothers ending in destruction ? If my elder brother does not live, enough of life for me." With these thoughts, Bāhubali made a fan out of his upper garment and fanned Bharata, sprinkling him with tears. He is indeed a brother, who is a brother. The Cakrin regained consciousness in a moment, as if he had been asleep, and stood up. He saw Bahubali standing like a servant in front of him. The two brothers stood apart with downcast faces. Ah! Defeat by others, and victory also, are sources of shame to the great. The Cakrabhịt withdrew a little, walking backwards. For this is characteristic of a desire to fight on the part of men exhibiting strength.
“I suspect the noble lord wishes to fight again with some kind of fight. For the proud never abandon pride at all, so long as they livé. There will certainly be strong censure of Bāhubali, caused by his striking his brother. I think it will not stop even at death." While Bāhubali was engaged in these reflections for a moment, the Cakravartin took his staff, like Dandapāņi (Yama). With his staff upraised, the Cakrabhịt looked like a mountain with its peak, like the sky with the Milky Way. Then the Lord of Bharata whirled the staff in the
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
